The Belding banner-news., 1921-09-21

ana heS Deen WOrklnS ueNliineit ldsl.
He was up here last summer. trying
10 buy the Moreland coal for Il song;
he knows all the people. you see. As
soon as he landed here on this pres
ent "trip. he found out about your i'm
tentiGns. Then. M night, he freed
Adam Bal from his tobacco barn pris-
ON. and went home with him.
"Wel. By Heck followed them and
did some eayesdropping-po By has
his strong points, the major went
on. "Gof learned that Adam Balls
father knew about the coal vein long
before David Moreland discovered II
and GOT lawful possession of the noun
tain. Then Con made the Balls be-
lIeve that they were due a big share
of the proceeds 81 The Moreland coal
Ii wasn't very hard 10 do, guess. The
Balls. this set. at least, were originally
lowlanders they took to the noun
tains. understand. to keep from be-
ing forced TO fight during tle Civil
war"
.Gonrs idea" muttered Dale. sis to
get the Balls 10 scare me into selling
instead Of developing, ehT
EXACTLY" nodded old Bradley.
."rheu he would settle with the Balls
nv giving them a dollar or two day
for digging coal perhaps he would
put them of until the mine was
worked out for half of that. and then
skip. Anyway, Goff would come out
AT the biz end"
Il see" said Dale.
"if there's anything that | can do,
al any time. you won't hesitate to let
me know?" said the major.
You may consider yourself attorney
| and legal adviser for the Moreland
| Coal company. of which have the
honor 10 he general manager" smiled
| Dale, .'if you will"
! Major Bradley's voice came happily,
Ny dear hoy. am glad 10 accept
And there shall be no charge for any
| service that | may render.
They we're not long In reaching the
green valley. which lay very beauti-
ful aud 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 thar was sweet and pleas
ing.
Suddenly John Moreland stopped,
| uttered swearword under his breath
turned and went back 10 Dale.
"The's man a-waitin' on W. ahead
NJ. a l..H 'at
want to watch like a hawk To Keel
him from a-stealin' the eyeteeth ou'
O. yore head His name is Hender
son Con. and he wants coal
They wen; on. Soon rhey 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 ago
His eyes were black. and as keen al
pair of spear-points; his mustaches
, too. were black, and they had sharp
upturned ends like those Of Mephls
to. The major had said that he wa
a smooth article; he certainly looke'
Ii.
| 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
coal." he growled, "ye can say 10 Bi
dale thar" pointing with callouse
thumb. "Bill he's the high light
the whole business; and when u
opens his mouth, ye can cock yor
head TO one side and listen 70 Saw
pei"
: Goff was delighted TO meet MIR. Dai
\ OF whom he had already heard. Da
had nothing whatever to say. The
walked on toward the cabin OF III
| MoreIand chief, with Goff keeping
running fire OF talk concerning III
scenery. the clmate-anything b'
coal.
III AT John Moreland's gate. Go
j nudged Dale with an elbow and Will
: pered:
\ Meet me at one o'clock down thel
where the big sycamore Hes aero
the river. I've got something 10 u
you that will interest YOU"
He didn't walt for a reply. b
turned away WIN by hech. hc w
| TO the home OF the Hecks ostensib
to have his fortune told-really,
get his dinner The old woman did,
like him, but her inborn spirit of nc
pitality wouldn't permit her to refu
him meal. She felt that she W
- almost even with him when, aft
shutting and reading the cards,
| told him that Il would be wise
him to look out for a big. tall, gre
eyed young man With an oak tree
one hand and a couple Of cliffs in
other.
II Dale told Major Bradley and 10
- Moreland of that which Con- had 81
to him at the gate. The major 81
gested forthwith that he 20 to m'
the man; IL couldn't possibly do a
harm, and there was chance that
would learn something OF COTS
tentIons.