Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1921-07-22

/
How do you know~ Dale's voice
was troubled.
II shore know" and Heck narrowed
his gaze "'At was Ben Littleford's
old As Winch. I'd know that gun ef
/ heered 1t at the nawth pole. The
bari it's been cut of, and 1t don't
sound like other Winchesters."
| "Caleb Moreland was down near the
river cleaning out the springhouse
ditch" Dale muttered, facing his COM
panion. II think we'd better go back"
Together they went back to the
cabin. John Moreland and his wife
and their son Luke were standing at
the weatherbeaten front gate, with
their eyes turned anxiously toward the
river. Caleb was coming up through
the meadow, and he carried his hat In
his hand.
who fred that shot?" asked Dale.
ben Littleford," John Moreland an
swered readily.
Two minutes later Caleb leaped the
old rail fence on the other side Of the
road and approached them hastily. He
was breathing rapidly and his strong
young face was drawn and pale-with
the old hate.
WELL" said his iron father, what
is it?"
Caleb held up his broad-rimmed
black hat and ran finger through q
hole in the upper part of the crowns
peak.
He didn't miss !" snapped John
Moreland.
NO." quickly replied Caleb, "he
didn't miss. He don't never miss. You
know that, pap, as well as ye know
God made ye. He done it jest to show
me he meant what he said He told
me to go and tell you to gether up
yore set O. rabbit-hearted heatherns
and come down to the river fo' a lead
and-powder picnic, onless ye was a.
skeered to come! He said to~tell ye
the wimmenfolks had hid our guns,
and we'd find 'em onder the house
tioorS."
John Moreland took 1t with utter
calmness, though his face was a little
pale behind his thick brown beard.
He turned to his wife, who looked at
him squarely.
"Addie, honey" said be, I'm mighty
sorry"
"Ef-ef you was much sorry, John,"
Mrs. Moreland half sobbed, I'VE .
wouldn't go down thar to the river"
me a coward" Moreland appeared
to grow an inch in stature. ME let
Littleford send me news like this here
which Gale brings, and not do nothin'
at all about it? l thought you knowed
me better'n that, Addie."
He faced his two stalwart sons. AL
ways he was the general, the leader
of his clan. He sent Caleb in one di-
rection and Luke In another, to arouse
his kinsmen.
Then he beckoned to Dale, who had
been trying hard but vainly to think
Of something to do or say that would
be of aid to the cause of the women.
II don't want you in this here mix
up" he said decisively. You must
stay clean out of it. You amt used
to this way O. tightin'. Asides, you're
our hope. More'n that, mebbe, you
owe yore life to Babe Littleford; you
CANT get around that, Bill Dale"
He went On, after a moment, EFF |
git my light put out today, want ye
to do the best ye can with the coal.
But O. course We will. l want ye to
do me two favors, Bill Dale, eff l have
my light put out today. VIII ye do
'em TO- me, my friend?"
Certainly" Dale promised.
Much obliged to We, shore. The
fust is this: want ye to take good
pay out O. what the coal brings, pay
fo' yore work. The second is this:
want ye to go to Ben Littleford after
I'm done-pervided he is yet alive
and tell him about the end o. my bed
time prayer; l want him to know l
went him one better, at | was q big
ger man inside an him. Remember,
Bill, you've done promised me. Now
you go ahead to Cincinnaty, and do
Jest like ye didn't know the least thing
about this trouble we're a-goin' to
have. So long to ye, an good luckP
II don't like the idea"-DaIe began.
when the big hillman interrupted
sharply:
Go on! You CANT do no good
here! %
Heck started. Dale turned and fol-
lowed the lanky moonshiner; there
seemed to be nothing else to do.
When they had reached q point a
little way above the foot of David
Moreland's mountain, the pair halted
and looked back. They saw the Little
fords and the Morelands every one OF
them armed, going toward the river.
1t had strange and subtle fascina-
ton for Bill Dale, a fascination that
he did not then try to understand.
AS the fighters reached dangerous
ground they dropped to their hands
and knees and began to crawl through
the tall grasses, the ironweed and the
meadow clover. They were intent
upon reaching the shelter Of the trees
that lined the banks Of the river with
out being seen. The stream here was
more than fifty yards wide; this was
Blue Cat shoals