The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1921-11-25

mine 10 the only vein tn the whole
country"
where did you get thisr' Dale re-
peated.
do We think" drawled the other,
"'at I'm plumb fool enough to give
my find away TO- nothin'? l been pore
all O. my life, misterI"
"How am I to know" frowned Dale,
that you've really got a fndT
"Ye'd believe yore own two eyes,
wouldn't ye?"
"Yes," Dale agreed, "Td believe my
own two eyes, Of course. What's your
name, and where are you from?"
What do I git outen it? I don't
own the mountain It's in, but 1t shore
can be bought TO fifteen cents a acre.
And nobody knows about 1t but jest
me. 1t lays closer to the railroad AN
this here Moreland vein, too. What
do I git outen 1t, mister?"
The m~ountaineer seemed more hon
est than ever. but Dale was still on
his guard. He asked again:
whats your name, and where are
you from?"
This time the answer came readily {:
my name it's Walt Turner, and I'm
from Turner's Laurel, Madison county,
state o. Nawth Ca'liner. But my find
1t amt nowhars clost to home. "Tain't
no more'n about two hours o walkin'
from right here, mister. Eff you'd jest
up and 60 along wi me, I'd show 1t to
ye."
Dale considered. There might be a
considerable vein Of this new coal.
Even If he was sent to the state peni-
Tertiary for a term Of years. Hayes
was entirely capable Of carrying on the
mining operations.
"Td like to take my mining man,
Hayes"
"No!" quickly objected Walt Tur-
ner. ~ don't want nobody else to
know whar It's at but jest you and
me. That away, We see, eff I'm treated
crooked I'll know edZactly who done 1t
and I'll shore git you! But l heerd
tell at you was pow'ful square, mis-
ter"
Gould I get back here before night
fall?"
Turner's eyes lighted. ashore"
Then lead the way" ordered Dale.
Walt Turner from Turner's Laurel,
Madison county, state Of North Caro-
lima, crossed the little creek on stones
and went straight to the northeast,
missing the Ball settlement by q good
mile, and hard on his heels followed
the Moreland Coal company's stalwart
general manager.
The way was exceedingly rough.
The two men climbed rugged cliffs,
threaded dense thickets Of great laurel,
mountain laurel, sheep laurel, and
huckleberry bushes. They were one
hour In q stretch Of woods where the
hemlocks, poplars and hickories stood
so thickly that the interlacing branches
overhead shut out completely the light
Of the sun and half the light Of day.
Fearing a panther, or a wildcat, Dale
kept his revolver loosened and ready In
It's holster. Walt Turner armed him
self with q long staff-for snakes, he
said; and then he proved 1t by killing
q RATHER that had eight rattles to its
tail.
But they travelled rapidly. notwith'
standing the fact that the going was
difficult; and two hours after the be-
ginning Of the little journey Dale. saw
before him q small and almost circular,
level-bottomed basin walled in by low
cliffs. A small creek ran through this
basin and made two easy ways Of en-
trance. In the hollow they saw clumps
OF laurel and huckleberry bushes, and
wild grasses knee-high; toward the
center stood a solitary big and gnarled
black walnut tree.
They entered at the point at which
the creek ran In, and went to the wal
nut tree. There Turner halted and
faced Bill Dale with a peculiar CLINT
in his eyes. Dale was looking at the
rugged walls of stone, and at the
thick green forest that rose above
them; he was %marveling, as only a
true lover Of beauty a marvel, at
the wonderful grandeur Of 1t all.
Walt Turner, Of Turner's Laurel,
opened his slit Of a mouth and spake.
Here's the kitty!"
Dale was brought out Of his en-
joyment most rudely. From behind
clumps of laurel and h~uckleberry
bushes, from the tall grasses, from
everywhere-it seemed from nowhere
there sprang dozens Of Balls and
Torreys with rifles in their hands !!
Bill Dale had walked, as gently as q
kitten, straight into a trap.
His right hand moved toward the
butt Of his revolver, then dropped
at his side. 1t was foolish, worse
than useless, to show fight; dozens
Of rifles were staring at him with their
frowning, murderous eyes, and their
bullets would riddle him If he showed
fight. He glanced toward Walt Tur-
ner, kinsman Of the Balls.
Turner was laughing openly. pore