The Adair County news., 1921-09-06

"Let US fall behind a little, if you
please. want to speak with you
privately"
They began to lag, and soon there
was a distance of several rods be-
tween them and the others.
81 heard through Addie MOrelund."
began Bradley, his friendly hand On
the younger mans arm, about you
and what you're planning to do for
the MOrelandS. l tell you, sir.
thanked heaven for your coming, and
you may count on me to help in any
way | can. The MOrelandS are quite
friendly to me now, though up to the
middle Of last summer they didn't like
me any too we'll because | made Ben
Littlefords cabin my home when out
here
ut was a simple thing that brought
Us together. John MOreland's little
nephew was lost in the woods and his
mother was frantic. There are pan
theirs, you know, and wildcats, rattlers
and cOpperheadS. | was fortunate
enough to find the boy, and carried
him home. That was all. They're
fine people, my boy, and so are the
LittIefOrds. Good old English blood
that somehow wandered off. There's
no purer, cleaner blood in America,
sir.
And now-how are you getting
along win your plans for the opera
ton Of H.. coal mine?"
"EXceIeutIy," answered Dale. We
have the necessary finance; a geared
locomotive and cars and light steel
rails have been bargained for"
"GoOd. Bradley gave Dale hearty
slap on tie shoulder.
"TheYe'> something else l wanted to
say, Mir. Dale" he continued, his
voice grave You're nearly certain
to have a barrel of trouble with
shySter coal man named Henderson
GOf. He's a villain, sir, if ever there
was one. And he's quite the smooth
est article I've ever seen. He can
make you believe black is white, if
only you'll listen to him long enough"
"Is he-has he been here recently?"
Dale wanted to know.
He's here now" answered the ma
jOr. He's been here for three days,
and he's been working devilment fast.
He was up here last summer, trying
to buy the MOreland coal for a song;
he knows all the people, you see. AS
soon as he landed here on this pres
ent trip, he found out about your in-
tentiOns. Then, at night, he freed
Adam Ball from his tobacco barn pris-
on, and went home with him.
"WeIl, By Heck followed them and
did some eavesdropping-pOOr By has
his strong points" the major went
on. "GOff learned that Adam Balls
| father knew about the coal vein long
and got lawful possession of the noun
tain. Then Goff made the Balls be-
| lieve that they were due a big share
of the proceeds of the MOreland coal !!
! 1t wasn't very hard to do, guess. The
| Balls, this set, at least. were originally
lOwlanders; they took to the noun
tafns. | understand, to keep from be-
ing forced to fight during the Civil
war"
"GOffs idea" muttered Dale. "is to
get the Balls to scare me into selling
instead of developing, eh?"
Exactly" nodded old Bradley.
"Then he would settle with the Balls
by giving them a dollar or two day
for digging coal; perhaps he would
put them off until the mine was
worked out for half of that, and then
skip. Anyway. Golf would come out
at the big end"
! 81 see," said Dale.
"If there's anything that l can do,
at any time, you won't hesitate to let
me know said the major.
you may consider yourself attorney
and legal adviser for the MoreIand
Coal company. of which | have the
honor TO he general manager" smiled
Dale, "tf you will"
Major Bradley's voice came happily,
MY dear boy, l am glad to accept
And there shall be no charge for any
service that | may render"
They were not long IL reaching the
! green valley, which lay very beauti-
full and very peaceful in the warm
light of the early July sun. The soft
murmuring of the crystal river and
the low, slow tinkling of the cOWbells
made music that was sweet and pleas
ing.
Suddenly John Moreland stopped,
uttered swearwOrd under his breath,
turned and went back to Dale.
"The's a man a-waitin' on US ahead
thar, Bill" he drawled, "at ye shore
want to watch like a hawk to keep
him from a-steaIin' the eyeteeth out
O. yOre head. His name is Hender-
son GOff, and he wants COAL"
They went on. Soon they met a
man who, in clothing and manner
made Dale think of stories he had
heard and read of Mississippi river
steamboat gamblers of the long ago
His eyes were black, and as keen as
a pair of spear-points; his mustaches
too, were black, and they had sharp
upturned ends like those of a Mephis
70 boH ha a