Mrs. Grundy. (Tracy City, Tenn.) 1903-1930, 1921-07-14

at the right time, shore. We're a-goin'
to have young squirrels To- dinner, and
a billed hamshank with string beans.
and cawnbread made with the yeller
o. hen aigs. Live whilst ye do live.
says l. Come right In, Bill, old boy"
fla, la. lal" cried Granny Heck.
looking over the brass rims Of her
spectacies. allow glad am to see We.
Mr.. Billi Come right In and tell US
the news"
Bill Dale crossed the threshold and
accepted creaking chair. His eyes
took in at sweeping glance the home
made dining table with Its cover OF red
oilcloth, the broken cast-iron stove, the
strings of dried peppers hanging on
the log walls, the broken stillworm
lying In the corner.
"The Littlefords," said Dale, shave
declared war;"
"Sakesl" laughed the old woman.
I'VE knowed that last night when we
heered them ten Shots"
And all the Moreland rifles are
missing" Dale watched the effect Of
his words.
"WhatI" the Hecks cried in one
voice.
Their surprise seemed genuine.
Dale pressed the subject further and
learned only that II they knew any
thing concerning the disappearance
OF the rifles they were not going to
tell. Then he started homeward by way
of the pool above the downtown syc-
amore.
There was a chance that Ben Little
ford's daughter would be there fishing,
Dale told himself. and 1t was barely
possible that she, could throw some
light on the mystery Of the rifles.
He crossed the river by means of
the PROSTATE tree. Babe was there;
she sat on the stone on which she had
been sitting the morning before; her
back was to. him, and her bare feet
were in the wntcr.to her ankles. Dale
went up close stepped and gathered
a handful of violets and dropped them
over her shoulder and into her lap.
Babe looked around and smiled.
"What luck. Miss Littleford?"
"Nothin'. don't much want. to
ketch anything" she said slowly, "A
spirit of sadness In her musical voice.
Il jest come Off down here to be
whar it's quiet. You ought to hear the
noise at pap and the rest of 'em is
a-makin!"
Dale narrowed his eyes. Are they
er, making noise2 And what aboutT
MY goodness gracious alive! You'd
think so eff We could hear EN- Y'ought
to hear pap cuss John Moreland |"
She shrugged her pretty shoulders.
lifted the small end of her rod to Its
proper place, and went on, Il never
did see pap half as mad as he was
when he got home last night from
a-foilerin' me-"
mad at your" asked Dale.
mo; but he would ha' been ef he
hadn't ha' had all his madness turned
ag'in them MoreIands. You knowed
about pap's trouble on yam side o. tho
river last night?"
"Yes, ! knew about that" Dale an
swered slowly. But John Moreland
thought your father was my antago-
mist of yesteray."
"An-antagonist?" Babe muttered
inquiringiy. whats thatT
~ mean Adam Ball, y'know."
"Oh. That's what told pap. But
pap he wouldn't believe 1t, and no
won't never believe it-'cause he don't
want to believe 1t. told him at John
Moreland wasn't a-shootin' to hit, and
he wouldn't believe that, neither. Pap's
as hard-headed as brindle COW, when
he gifts fool notion on him. What
what did them Morelands say about
their guns a-bein' gomez"
Dale Strengthened.
allow did you find that QUIT"
"Dont matter howl" She smiled
almost saucily. II knowed about 1t
afore you did Mr.. Bill Dale. Don't
you think whoever done 1t done kind
fhinpY