The Belding banner-news., 1921-12-07

After some two hours OF these worse
than bacchanallan orgies the first
watch, heavy with drink. stopped play
Ing cards and singing outlandish
songs. forgot all orders and began TO
nod. Then II was that Dale thought
Of the man who had been his faithful
guardian for many days tlr lanky
By Heck. Why hadn't he thought OF
Heck before? He wondered II Heck
had followed him 10 the trap. If Heck
was near him even then. II Heck had
gone for help.
BY Heck had not followed Bill Dale
10 the little basin. But he had fol-
lowed Henderson Goff, and Henderson
Con had followed Dale TO the little
basin. Con had returned to the Big
Pine Mountain country only that day
and he knew nothing of the plans ~
the Ball-Torrey faction until he wit
messed the mOckery of trial. Con
was now crouching in the darkness on
the low line Of cliffs TO the eastward
from the walnut tree; and not far
behind him. well hidden In the black
Iaurels, watching him and watching
Bill Dale. crouched BY Heck.
Dale's guardian had not gone for
help, because he feared to leave Dale
utterly unprotected I'm the hands Of
the gang OF cutthrOats. He believed
that he could rescue Dale himself.
When the first watch became a little
more drowsy. he would steal up be-
hind the tree and cut the cotton rope.
Then he realized that GOff had dis.
appeared entirely. He crept forward
silently, his eyes alert, and a moment
later he saw Goff stealing toward the
walnut tree. He climbed noiseicssly
down over the face OF the clifr and
followed Gon like shadow. When
COTS hands touched the tree. by Heck
was within ten feet OF IT.. Heck made
sure his rifle was ready and took an
other step forward. watching, listen
Ing.
Tie shyster coal man leaned around
the tree 10 the left. In the glow OF
small knife In his hand CLEANED dull
red. He whispered cautiously:
you're in fix. Dale. And it's
none of my doing either. Give me
vc-r wn-1 .,,.t T.. - 49, coal prop-
erty for fifteen thousand, and I'll SLASH
the rope. How about II? Sick OF
this country, aren't your"
There came few seconds OF silence
save for the lusty snoring of the sleep
ers and the musical tinkie OF the little
creek. after which Con muttered dis
appolntedly:
well then, hang"
And Heck knew that Dale had re-
song even to save his life. As Goff
stepped backward. the muzzJe Of the
tall hillman's rife went against the
small OF his hack. and the tall hillman
whispered hoarseiy.s through teeth
tightly clenched.: a.
''Slash al rope. d-n yore soul
Slash 'st rope. or wisht l. may drap
dead ef | don't shoot yore backbone
into four thousand pieces. igod. Slash
IL :"
Con Iraightened In surprise. rne
rifles muzzle went harder against his
back and he knew II for exactly what
N WAS. He moved hand upward,
then downward and the cotton rope
was severed in hqlf a dozen places.
"Stlddy thar, now!" whispered BY
Heck. and he begsn 10 back away.
Come along wi me. We dadslatted.
banjerbellicd skunk. Bill he'll foller.'
The three Of them hurried into the
deeper shadows Soon Heck halted
Con and turned TO Dale.
"S'srch him 70 o gun, Bill, old boy"
Dale lifted from Henderson Cons
right-hand coat-pocket blued and
stub-nosed agazine pistol
"Dany my eyes and. blast my for
rard." Heck exclaimed in muffled
voice. He's plumb death on them
little popguns. amt he? Say. Gof.
ef ever We shoots me with q thing like
that and lind it out. DANCED ef ] don't
spank W ontel yore nose bloods: Now,
les 90. youuns. And ef ye jest cheep
out a noise. Mister Con, the buzzards
Will pick the meat often yore bones
afore tomorrer night"
Move, shysterr' frowned Bill
Dale.
By Heck led the way TO the line OF
cliffs 10 the westward. They had
climbed the rugged wall and were
about 10 set ont through the pitchy
dark woodland. when voice that
they knew we'll hailed them softly
from the laurels 70 their left:
"Hold on. thar"
-John Moreland. by jiggers." NUT
tered Heck.
Moreland FASTENED soundlessly TO
them. IL reckon We didn't mean no
harm, BY" he said In tones that eI-
pressed = deep regret. but yIt shore
wisht We hadn't ha' done It."
Samuel Heck was very proud OF
himself. He strsightened there In the
darkness.
"What'n the name o the devil makes
ye wisht sech thing as that, JohnT'
he dema nded I'm n half angry voice