Polk County news. [volume] (Benton, Tenn.) 191?-1983, 1921-09-29
CHAPTER XIV.
A Letter and > Proposal.

\ Letter and Proposal.
The Moreland Coal company's tw,
big rough buildings were completes
In record time. There had been n,
further manifestations OF interference
from the Balls and Torreys, and Hen
derson Goff had been nowhere In evi
dence since the night of BIZ Dalea
ironclad verbal ultimatum. Work OF
the little railroad was progressing like
wildtire. and everybody was in hlgl
spirits.
BY Heck had just arrived with the
mail. He stalked with an air of great
| importance into Dale's office, and
threw the mail down on the new roll.
top desk; then he stepped backward
dropped into a straight-back chair and
began to nurse his rifle tenderly on
his knees. There was puzzled look
on his leathery face. Dale had re-
ceived half dozen letters, and BY
Heck was at a loss to figure out the
why of such an. overwhelming amount
of mail.
Dale finished his figuring, leaned
back In his swivel chair and took up
letter that seemed altogether too
bulky for business letter. More
over. it's address was in pencil, and
somewhat scrawled, though chirog-
raphy expert would have said that
the handwriting showed strength of
character.
ST wonder who 1t is" Dale muttered,
"that mistakes us for newspaper
office and is sending us copy?'
"Jest what was a-thinkin',"
drawIed BY Heck through his Niagara
Falls mustache, "Open her up, Bill;
mebbe It's money, by Jake"
Dale saw the postmark then, and
his brows drew with interest. 1t was
the postmark of his old home city.
"From Babe" he told himself-and
it was.
He opened it and read 1t. She had
spelled most of her words correctly,
but the only punctuation she used was
a period and her capitals were few.
For wonder, she had put it into
paragraphs:
Mr.. bill Dale.
cartersville.
tennessee.
Kind friend.
Iseat myself with pen in hand to drap
you few lines to let you know AM
well hoping you the same. well bill
/ have some news sell you about
what happened wnc.Jaa got back hear
and since got back and hear it is.
the first person seen when got
to the railrode stashun was Jimmy
fayne and he was dressed up like
millionair and reckon he is one. he
took me in his fnoter car up to pats
home. patrisha you know. pat she
Rugged me and Jimmy left rite away
but said he would be back. asked
pat had she heard about yore trubble
bill and she answered no what. then
/ told her bout you and the lowdown
black adam ball bill and she said pore
old bill he had such high temper no
cant be are you serious elizabeth.
well said yes mean It. pat shook
her head sorrowfie and said tell me
al about 1t elizabeth deer. when
had told her the hole story about 1t
we went up stares. pat went to |
closet and got butife dress my size.
ordered this the day before you left |
us pat said but 1t mite half to be al
tered. vile you are dressing pat said
will speak to Mrs. Dale over the |
telephone. pat said yore mother has |
tord-her son and promised
to tell her any news had conserving
him. said. all rite.
pat was gone down stares talking
over the telephone for long time and
when she returned to me was dressed
md we went down stares together
md the new dress diddent half to be
Uttered. after dinner was over me and
pat went to swing at the end Of
,randa which had dim lite on It,
,at spoke all of student and said
o me how would you like TO go to
i've with Mrs. Dale bills mother.
remembered haddent liked yore moth
n bill cause OF what she said about
ne and got about half mad. don't
'ou want me to live hear with you
,at | asked.
of course pat said. ide be glad to
ave you but Mrs. Dale wants you
90 pat said. her treatment Of her
on which is you bill has most broke
Ter hart pat said. pat said the only
lold Mrs. Dale has on her son is
through you elizabeth and she is a
ad and remorsefle woman. then
ot to thinking bill mite be the cause
4 bringing neece between you and