The Glenwood post. (Glenwood Springs, Colo.) 1897-current, 1921-11-10
CHAPTER XXX.
A Perfect Gross.


On the door of the richly furnished
library Of the Dale home. near a west
window, Miss Elizabeth LittlefOrd sat
reading by the fast fading light Of an
early March afternoon. Somehow she
liked to sit on the floor. aud always she
liked to read; for one thing. books
helped her to forget that she was
lonely.
There were footsteps behind her.
soft footsteps because Of the thick vel
vet carpet: then 4 low voice inquired:
Aren't you afraid you will injure
your eyes. Elizabeth Better have a
light, hadn't you, dearT The old coal
king turned toward the switch on the
wall.
Nor she answered quickly. I'm
through reading for today, and like
this twilight" =" -'HAi''Q
i. Her Improvement in speech and in
'eners had gone on at surprisingly
rate. She rarely spoke with any
/the simplest words. but she never
I'll into anything more than bare SEM
iblance OF the old drawing hill dialect
uVtCBS WWS WhstC oh0 Wuo uhNOa WV
stress Of some strong emotion.
She closed the book and looked up
with eyes that were like the first stars
In . summer sky. Her beauty was
vea6erful: II was 6ner and sweeter
than 1t had ever been before.
Old Dale stood looking thoughtfully
int her upturned face. He was q lit
tie pale. and he seemed troubled and
uneaay.
Elizabeth shook her head. you're
worrying againi
He dropped into q nearby chair.
leaned slowly forward and let one
hand fall gently on her thick and silky
chestnut-brown hair.
II WISH" he said as though to him
see,f. that had daughter like you"
He took his hand from her head, lay
back wearily In his chair aud closed
1.-The Morelands, Observation-Disclosures
moved away from the settlement,
haven't theyT-
yes: Bill Dale has done wonderful
things for themi" the girl answered.
John <. Dale was silent for tno-
ment. after which he said suddenly: II
want to see my son there is something
l must tell him. VIII you so with me.
Elizabeth
"Of course. I'll 90 with you"
She thought she knew what II was
that stirred him. BY Intuition supple
mented BY Bill Daie's occasional cryp-
tic utternnces. and pieced out by hill
tradition. Elizabeth Littleford gradu-
ally had oosne into possession of the
o,h coal mans grim secret.
Neither k them knew that John
Moreland was then visiting his beloved
old hills Tor the sake Of some shooting.
The following day John X. Dale and
Elizabeth Littleford aiiEhted from q
northboand passenger train at the
Halfway switch. The mountains were
covered With three inches Of snow, and
the hemiock and pines bore heavy bur-
deos Of the beautiful white stuff but
the air was still. and It wasn't very
cold.
You'd get your clothing all black
on the coal train" Dale said to his
companion. $50 you'd rather walk over,
wouldn't your Anyway. the train isn't
here. I'm good for six miles. I think"
YES" smiled Ben Llttleford's
daughter. I'D rather waikiki you're
sure that six miles won't be too much
- -. AAu''
tW -
Toeether. With the girl leading this
way, they set out across David More
lands mountain. The old trail showed
not ono footprint ahead Of them: II
was not so much used now. They said
little. Each thought their own thoughts.
and neither cared to speak them TO
the other. '!r.
lust before they reached the noun
taIc's crest. they passed a group 81
snow-laden pines that concealed big.
brown -bea rdod man who had been
stealthiiy following the trail Of lone
wild turkey. He wore khaki hunting
clothes and high laced boots. and there
was certain English nneness about
him. Il his bare hands he carried 4
reoeattag rife which marked him as
one boep II the hitis: iowiander
would have had q choke-bored shotgun.
When he saw John K. Dale he
stopped suddenly. II might have 't.er'
Intuition. or Il might have hesn sheer
curiosity. the average hIiiman being q
stranger to nesther-he followed ana
watched the two. unseen ~ them.
On the pine-friRged crest. Eaisai,etl'
LIttIef0rd halted to view that wshPh
,ay around and below him. Old Dale
stOpped close AZ her side, and he. Il"
looked 1t ttsat which nv 'sr0''n'i "'''
below thess ana TO his mind also tneVs
came 1emories crOwdinE.
Tke tOAng woman brushed back
wsywsfd Nlsp of brown ba'ra sns
turned st16-sssup-b ssttdol - = ---'.,'-.'''
'.The llore,and part o the ee't'e