Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1921-09-22
CHAPTER XVII.

AOA tAC SAAAA
neys of the cabins of the Littlefords on
the other side Of the river the bowling
wind snatched sprays of blue wood
smoke. The Morelands had gone to
farms lying around Gainesville in the
lowland, on each of which fair-Sized
6rst payment had been made. the Dor
rOwed capital was to remain borrowed
for another year. The Morelands were
already losing their outlandishness
and growing into universal respect.
David Moreland's dream was at last
being realized.
Then Dale frOwned heavily. If only
he could do as much for Babes peO-
pile! But he couldn't. The men Of the
LittlefOrds still worked the coal mine.
They received almost twice the custom
AIRY wages, but even that wouldn't buy
them farms and educate their children.
Under his eyes lay two unanswered
letters from his parents. He found
little pleasure in answering their let
tiers, for he was still somewhat bitter
toward them-tOward his father be-
cause of his fathers Ill treatment of
David Moreland and David MOreland's
people; toward his mother because she
had let him go hungry for mother-love
as baby, as child, as boy, and as
a man; toward them both because he
had been reared a do-nothing.
The door opened suddenly, and By
Heck came stamping in with gust of
cold air at his back. He carried in
one hand the mail satchel in the other
was his ever-present rifle. After throw
ing the Satchel to the floor at Dale's
feet, he turned to the glowing wood
stove.
I'm dang nigh friz, Bill" he chat
tered. "My gosh, couldn't be no cold
er'n what l EN- eff I'd ha' clim' the
nawth pole neck-ed. Say, Bill, why'n't
We burn coal Std O. wood2 IgOd, it's
hotter"
Goal is worth money. Wood isn't"
Dale ran through the mail hastily.
He threw aside letter from the Alex
ander Crayfeld Coal corporation, which
took the entire output of the mine at
an extraordinary figure, and picked up
a letter which bore the postmark of his
home city.
1t was from Babe Littleford. Since
he paid so little attention to the letters
of his parents, they had requested her
to write to him-they wanted him to
come home for Christmas dinner.
Wouldn't he conner
He arose and paced the Office floor
for two or three minutes, then he sat
down at his desk and dashed off a let
ter that contained only two sentences.
By Heck sat beside the stove and |
watched his god with thoughtful eyes.
He understood, he believed. How any
woman on earth could turn down a
man like Bill Dale was utterly beyond |
him. By Heck was great deal like a
good-natured dog.
If Bill would only laugh, it would be
good for him. 1t had been so long since
be had heard Bill laugh. BY Heck de-
cided that he would make Bill Dale
laugh.
"Old boyr
"WelI?"
do We want me to tell We a funny
tale2" drawled Heck. He barely heard
The answer:
Il guess I don't mind, By"
Heck's sympathy made him gulp. |
But he swallowed the lump that came
1p in his throat and began bravely:
"One time the was a teller named
Smith. Odd name, Bill, amt it1 'Hoss-
iy' Smith, they called him, cause 1t
vas said at he could easy shoot a
losshy often a hoss's ear and never
Freak hide on the animile. He was
lellion, too. One time Hossfly. he was
l-tryin' to git appointed the chairman
J some sort o politics doin's, and on
hat same day he was a-drinkin' sort
; tol'able heavy. They agreed to
make him the Temporary chairman, but
1ossfly, he didn't want that. So he
lops right up In the middle o. the meet
n, and he hollers out and says:
"'FeIler citizens he says, 4 want
0 be the permanent chairman amt
l-goin' to act in the capacity Of
turned Temporary chairman; / abso-
I-n-lutely ain'tr
"His old inemy, Eb Wright, he yeIls
'ack and says smart-like. Set down
har, Hossfiy.' says Eb- you're drunk,
nd you don't know the difference q
ween Temporary and permanent
"Well, they knowed ED had 1t e.
omin' to him right then, and they lis
ened TO- It. Hosshy, he addresses the
Whole meetin'. and this here is what
1ossfy says:
FeIler citizens says he, sEb
Wright thar lows l don't know the diff
erence atween Temporary and perna-
lent. III prove to you that do know
he difference. Eb Wright says I'm
runk. ! am. That's temporary. Cd
Wright is pOkenOsed idjIt, That's
ermanentp r"
Heck finished with q lazy laugh:
Haw. haw, hawl Hee-haw, hee-haWle
sThat story" Dale said YEARLY.
has been told on dozens Of politicians
has become q part Of the history of