Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1921-08-11

lnluule OI last summer tneY d1dn t ike
me any too well because l made Ben
LittlefOrd's cabin my home when out
here
1T was simple thing that brought
US together John Moreland's little
nephew was lost in the woods and his
mother was frantic. There are pam
theirs. you know, and wildcats, rattlerS,
and copperheads. l was fortunate
enough to find the boy, and carried
him home. That was all. They're a
fine people, my boy, and so are the
Littlefords. Good old English blood
that somehow wandered off There's
no purer, cleaner blood in America,
sir.
And now-hOw are you getting
along with your plans for the opera
ton of the coal mine?"
"EXcellently," answer-1 Dale I'VE
have the necessary finance; a geared
locomotive and cars and light steel
rails have been bargained for"
"GOOd!" Bradley gave Dale "a hearty
slap on the shoulder.
There's something else / wanted to
say, Mr.. Dale" he continued, his
voice grave. You're nearly certain
to have a barrel of trouble with
shyster coal man named Henderson
Golf. He's 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
plxr 20 ,
SIS he-has he been here recently?"
Dale wanted to know.
Hes 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 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.
"Well, 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
before David MoreIand discovered it
and got lawful possession of the noun
tain. Then Golf made the Balls be-
lieve that they were due 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
tains, l 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, ehT'
Exactly" nodded old Bradley
"'Then he would settle with the Balls
by giving them a dollar or two a day
for digging coal perhaps he would
put them off until the mine was
worked out for half of that, and ther
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 lei
me know?" said the major.
You may consider yourself attorney
and legal adviser for the Morelan(
Coal company, of which have the
honor to be general manager" smiled
Dale, ''if you will"
Major Bradley's voice came happily
'My dear boy, / am glad to accept
And there shall be no charge for an!
service that / may render"
They were not long in reaching tn,
green valley, which lay very beauti
ful and very peaceful in the warn
light of the early July sun. The sof
murmuring of the crystal river ant
the low, slow tinkling of the cowbell
made music that was sweet and pleas
ing.
Suddenly John MOreland stopped
uttered a swearword under his breath
turned and went back to Dale.
"The's a man a-waitin' on us aheat
thar, Bill" he drawied, "at We shor
want to watch like a hawk to kee
him from a-stealin' the eyeteeth ou
o yore head. His name is Hender
son GOff, and he wants COAL"
They went on. Soon they met
man who, in clothing and manner
made Dale think of stories he ha
: heard and read of Mississippi rive
:. steamboat gamblers of the long age
His eyes were black, and as keen a
a pair of spear-points; his mustaches
: too, were black, and they had SHARP
upturned ends like those of a Mephis
to. The major had said that he wa
smooth article; he certainly locke
it.
He met John Moreland with an oil
: smile and thrust out his hand Bu
MOreland wouldn't see the hand,
; Anything we've got to say abou
l COAL" he grOwled, ''ye can say to Bi
Dale thar" pointing with a callouse
thumb. bill he's the high light {
: the whole business; and when h
opens his mouth, We can cock yor
head to one side and listen fo' gaws
pei"
Golf was delighted to meet Mr.. Dale
of whom he had already heard. Dal
had nothing whatever to say. The
; walked on toward the cabin of tn
Moreland chief, with Golf keeping u
a running fire of talk concerning tn
> scenery, the climate-anything bu
coal.
At John Moreland's gate. Go
: nudged Dale with an elbow and whis
: pered:
Meet me at one o'clock down ther
where the big sycamore lies acrOs
the river. I've got something to te
you that will interest you"