Mrs. Grundy. (Tracy City, Tenn.) 1903-1930, 1921-09-29
LittIeford took chair and crossed


his legs.
as it the Ball OUTFIT" he irawled.
"Yes," answered the younger man,
and forthwith he told the other Of the
news that By Heck had brought him
a few days before; he had not given
the matter really serious considera-
ton until that morning. "Now," he
finished, Il want to know whether you
think there's any danger7"
Littleford tugged at his blackened
beard and frowned.
"Bill," he said soberly, "do you
rickollect what John Moreland told
you oncet about them Balls? He told
We at you wasn't safe, and at he
wasn't safe, ontel they was dead and
buried. didn't he? ! believe he did.
BY Heck says the's whole big passed.
O. them Nawth Ca'liner Turner's; he's
shore them and the Balls'll outnum-
Der us more'n two to one. Yes, the's
danger, Bill, and specially to you.
They think It was you killed Adam,
and they don't think the law handed
'em square deal at the trial."
"Then listen to this PLAN" said
Dale.
"Tll keep By Heck up the river
watching for them. He will have
three sticks Of dynamite tied together
and capped and fitted with fuse. II
he sees them coming this way In any
thing like force, he will fire of the
dynamite asa signal to us. Our men
will gather here In the upstairs Of this
building, and bar the doors"
ooh, BILL" moaned the old fighter.
"you shorely don't think we'd ever let
'em git to the doorsl''
II hope they don't, certainly"
smiled Dale. "Where are your rifles.
BillY
Eat the mine,n said Littleford. sYe
see, Bill, we've been a-lookin' TO
trouble"
Dale went on: AT BY Heck's sig
nal, I'll get on my horse and ride to
the lowlands for the MoreIands. can
get them lot quicker than ! can get
competent help from the law. What
do you think Of it7"
Its good plan. ! reckon"
growled Ben Littleford, "only l don't
cotton very easy to the idee O. us
a-runnin' from the mine to this here
buildin'. I never did like to run from
any man wo'th durn, Bill"
"But that wouldn't be cowardly,"
Dale protested. 1T would be purely
strategic move, and 1t would save
lives for us. For, when the Balls and
their kinsmen come, you'll have to de-
liver me into their hands or you'll
have to fight like the very devil, that's
sure; and, according to BY Heck's fig-
ures, they outnumber you more than.
two to. one."
"All right" Littleford replied, with
a shrug of his huge shoulders. what
ever you say, that same we'll do
So By Heck was sent for, and short
ly afterward he sneaked into the lau-
rels and went Off toward the settle
ment of the Balls. In'the crook of his
arm he carried his rifle, and inside his
shirt he carried three pieces Of dyna-
mite all ready for the match-and he
chose every step with great care for
fear Of Earring the explosive too much.
He had not been gone an hour when
Bill Dale heard dull, smothered roar
from somewhere to the northward.
Dale sprang up from his desk, IAN to
his ready and waiting horse, mounted
and rode like streak toward the
lowland.
Dale arrived at John Moreland's big
white farmhouse little before the
middle Of the day, and halloed Justify
at the gate. John Moreland and his
two sons hurried out In response to
the call. Dale waved aside all greet
ings and inquiries after his health,
and told that which he had come to
tell. The elder Moreland turned quick
ly to his two stalwart sons
"Guns and bosses, boysl It'll be
our last fight, and les be at 1t and
make 1t good fight"
Less than five minutes later the
three erstwhile mountaineers rode out
at the barnyard gate with full belts of
cartridges around their waists and
with repeating rifles across the POM
mels Of their saddles, and Joined
Dale. The four fastened to the homes
Of the other Morelands; and not long
afterward the old clan. In full
strength, rode toward the big, dim
blue hills with Bill Dale acting as its
leader. 1t was to be the clans last
fight, and fight for a good cause,
and every man Of 1t was eager for
the fray.
Bill Dale bore himself proudly, and
he rode like man born to the sad
die. He found queer joy--a joy
that frightened his steel-grey eyes
and flushed his sunburned cheeks,