Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1921-08-25

on the M0Feland side Of the river the
singer Of the rakish old song: he had
a minn0w pail In one hand sind white
hickory rod In tie other.
HI. thar, Bill. old b0yr' he yelled.
HI. thar. Babei Either Of ye'uns
ketched anythingT"
Ben Littieford's daughter held I'D q
fish proudly. Heck slapped his thigh
with his si0uch hat.
Good 70 youl" he exclaimed. But
they Amt a-bFriB jest right. The
moons wrong. and the signs is wrong.
20 hsh,n"
Al that instant John Moreiand ap
I'eard at Heck's side lie seemed very
serious about something.
"BIli Dale" he called. "corne over
here"
Wondering. Dale put down his rod
and turned 10 obey. Two minutes later
he stood before John Moreland.
Il jest wanted TO tell ye." and the
mountaineer almost closed one alert
grey eye. Eat ye're purity shore to
git into trouble over thar"
Tin an able-bodIed man." Dale re.
turned smilIngly.
"You shore are" frowned MoreIand.
but mebbe you amt used to burned
hard fightIn'."
Not used to hard fightingi Dale's
smile brOadened. Once he had whipped
heavyweight pugilist: and he had
fought as a matter Of principle, and
not for money or prestige.
M0rel0nd suddenly jerked one thumb
toward the other side of the stream.
Dale looked and saw, standing beside
Babe Httleford. a quite formidable
man. He had the height and breadth,
almost. Of Goliath. He was black.
eyed and biack-haIred. and his thick,
short beard was curled like the hair
between a bulls horns. In one hand
he carried a repeating rife as lightly
as though II were a mere straw.
One Of his great arms suddenly
Strengthened toward Dale, and a voice
rs gruff as the grOwl Of a bear said
hOtly:
''what was you a-doin' here a-talkin'
to my gyurlT'
Babe Littleford looked angry. Dale
flushed, then went pale.
81 have a habit OF talking with
whom | please" he said evenly.
Spoke like a man." drawIed the
Ianky Heck In a very low tone.
Goliath OF the hills stared unbeliev-
ingly. Dale said In an undertone to
John Moreland: "Is IL that Ball fel.
IOwf"
"Yes." answered the hillman; "it's
Black Adam Ball."
Ball dropped his rifle to the
viOlets. slowly clenched his huge and
hairy hands. and thrust his bearded
Jaw out aggressively.
Il dare ye over here. We pink COW.
ard !" he challenged.
"If you have any business with me,
come over here and transact It.r Dale
retorted. II won't rum"
\'"rhat's MOreland TERRITORY Bali
objected. But I'll meet ye half way.
and dare ye 10 take me up. ye lace
trimmed pink moIIycoddle
Halfway would be the middle OF the
river. and no place for n fight. surely.
But Dale was nettIed. His temper,
the temper that he had never been
able to keep wholly under control. was
rising fast. He threw of his coat and
hat and rolled the sleeves Of his soft
shirt to mis- elbows. Then-he waded
into the pool. The slowly moving
wafer was up to bis waist at the half.
way point. and the bottom was of
Eard-packed sand.
Tie Goliath stared unbelievingiy.
He was nOs accustomed to having his
challenges thus accepted. He threw
on his hat and went to meet the 1.-THE
young stranger.
Bill Dale squared himself and put
up his guard. Adam Ball came ON,
and he was scowling wickedly.
Ball rushed, the clear water swirlIng
In his wake. and let out with a power
full right. II was a blow TO crush an
ordinary mans chest In but. to Balls
surprise. It failed to land. Dale eyaded
It cleverly. and at the same time sent
a swift left uppercut to the others
ouli-like Jaw. Adam Ball muttered two
wicked words and steadied himself ;
he had caught a tartar. A moment,
and he led out again. and he missed
again; but he followed 1t with blow
that made q red mark on Bill Dale's
shoulder.
slows that. ye pink coward?" he
cr0wed.
"All right-rhow's thIsT'
And Dale sent on a mighty blow
that rebounded duly. from the giants
chest and ELECTED only a harsh laugh
or contempt. There was little to be
gained by striking a man like Adam
Ball on the chest; Dale knew now
that he must reach q more vulnerable
spot.
Then he tented with his left and
drove his right to Balls mouth, bring
ing blood. Bali reared In his blind
rage and dashed toward his antagonist,
resolved to get a ciinch. But Dale
eluded the terrible arms, although I'm
so doing he received q blow on the
temple that made him dizzy for a few
seconds.
While Ball was again engaged In
trying TO gain the advantage Of q
clinch, Granny Heck made her appear
ance on the Moreland bank. She
promptly launched her sympathIes In
a manner that pleased both her gaping
son and the watchful and silent John
M0reland.
"Hit him In the stumrnick, Mr.. BIZ"
she cried over and over. "Hit him
whar he lives att"
The combat grew hotter and hotter.
Both landed frequently now. The faces
ieklIfiI1ilijj