Licking Valley courier., 1921-09-15


with Dale leading.
Darkness came down on them when
they had covered half the distance.
The great hemlocks and poplars
loomed spectral and gaunt In the early
starlight. The almost impenetrable
thickets Of laurel and Ivy whispered
uncanny things, and their seas Of pink
and snowy bloom looked somehow
ghostly. Now and then there was the
pattering of some little animals feet
on the dry, hard leaves Of bygone
Years. A solitary brown owl poured
out its heart In weird and melancholy
cries to the night 1t loved. There. was
the faint, far-ofr baylng Of hound,
and the soft swish Of nighthawk's
wings.
Men from the core OF civilization
must feel these things Of the wilder
Suddenly Dale drew back and stood
still. In the trail ahead standing as
motionless as the trees about him, was
the tall figure OF man. 1t was almost
as though he were there to bar the
way.
The two went on slowly. The figure
didn't move. Dale spoke, and the form
came to life. 1t was BY Heck; he was
leaning on the muzzle OF his rifle.
"lt's you. is 1t. Bill, old boyf" He
yawned slugglshly. II was a-waitin'
here TO- you. reckon l must ha'
went to sleep a-standin' here on my
feeti I've got news, BILL"
"0ut with It."
-I've been a-trailin' Henderson Con
all day." Heck said in guarded tones.
Hes shore got them lowoowh Balls
to beIievin' they're already million
hairs"
II knew that" said Dale. "That's
not news"
"But that aln't ALL" BY Heck went
on. "Goff's got Saul Littleford, too
lock, stock, bari and sights. he owns
Saul Jest the same as l own my old
spotted coon dawg Dime. Saul he
gifts him Job a-beln' mine boss, and
what other Littlefords at will stick
gifts jobs a-diggln' the black dimont al
two dollars a day. Asldes, all Of 'em
Is to have a big lot o. money when
the dividin'-up time comes, says Con.
"Much obliged to you. By" Dale &C
knowledged. Let's go; bout face
Byi I'm goin' to tie q hard knot ir
that yillainous game OF Henderson
GOfr's."
They reached John Moreland's cablr
less than an hour later. MorelanC
and his son had just returned from
Cartersville, and Dale learned through
Hayes that the two hlllmen had showl
good judgment and some business
sense In making their purchases.
| When the evening meal was owe
Dale drew John Moreland out to tn
cabin yard, where the many old-fash
ioned flowers made the night air swee
with their blended odors. For a mo
ment Dale stood looking toward tn
1 very bright stars and thinking; thel
/ he told the big man at his side o
4 Goir's plan concerning the Littlefordi
and strongly urged the making o
| friendship between the two clans.
"rhe snake!" mumbled John More
land.
| lie appeared 10 be worried about 4
he folded his arms, walked to the gat
and bnck TO Dale without utterlng al
other word. II was hard for him
thr0W down completely the hatred {
years npon years. Had II been an
other person than Bill Dale, tightt
after his own heart, who had aske
It, he never would have even consl'
cred IL; he would have said quickly
"Well thrash the Balls and the III
tlefords, toor
The younger man read something
the others thoughts.
I "with the help Of the law" said h
1--WE might whip them all. But
would mean a great deal Of bloodshe
at best. The Littlefords are Babe
, people, y'know. I like Bhbe. W
like her, too, or you never would ha'
gone with her to the hospltal-nc
don't your"
"I reckon l caln't deny" the MOI
land leader muttered, "'at / like Ba
:. Littleford. She amt like none O. Z
:. rest Of 'em. BILL"