Cleveland County herald., 1921-07-21
CHAPTER iiI-continued.

" Heil 0dIe came Dack 10 a state Of consciousness, he was lying under covers in the carved black walnut bed. Beside him stood John Moreland, who held in one hand a bowl containing a hot herb brow that his wife had pre- pared. Granny Heck, her son By, and Mrs. Moreland stood not far away.
 "This herell be good fo ye, I think" said Moreland, holding toward the bowl in his hand. He went over and put an arm around Dale's shoulders and helped him to sit up.
 Dale drank the stuff with difficulty.
 Much obliged" he muttered thickly. "I-lets see, did whip-how did it end? He didn't lick me, did he-that fellow BaH?"
 He shore didn't" smiled Moreland. "Not by big sight He fell out fust. His own pap won't hardly know him. Bill"
 
 News travels rapidly in the big hills. The Morelands began to gather at the home of their chief to see the man oiiV ittld NIIliJItti I)llth &ANdIU DtllI every MoreIaRd able to walk came to sec Bill Dale. For three hours he was lionized, but he didn't enjoy it; the water had left many pains in his chest, and his head ached dully and his hands still felt as though the bones were shattered in them.
 Came thundershower. that after noon, and the mountain evening fell with a chill A fire was made in the wide stone fireplace in the guests room, and when supper was over the family gathered there with Dale, who refused to be kept in bed.
 After a few minutes of silently watching grotesque shadows fit across the log walls, Dale said to John More land:
 If your brother David could know, don't you think he'd want you to get the value out of the coal?"
 John Moreland bent forward to rest his chin in his hands. His sober grey eyes stared thOughtfully toward the fire.
 q ain't never looked at it that away" he said.
 That's the right way to look at it." declared Dale. But you shouldn't sell the property as it is.'
 The mountaineer turned an inquir- ing face toward his guest
 How in thunder could I handle it ef l didn't?''
 "Why not let me develop it for you?' Dale said earnestly eagerly. T won't charge you anything above ex- penses, and I won't be extravagant."
 It'd take consid'able money to start things a-movin'. Have you got it?" asked Moreland.
 No, but I can get it. Almost any body would be willing to lend money on so good a thing as this, y'know."
 For little while Moreland sat there and looked squarely at Dale, who re turned his gaze without a sign of fiinching. The hillman was trying to find a motive.
 How comes it at you, who ain't knowed us but two days" he de- manded, "can be so much interested in us?"
 The question demanded a straight forward answer. Dale realized that there was but one way in which he could give a satisfactory explanation, and that that was by telling the truth-- but not the whole truth, as he surmised it, for then his efforts would go for naught.
 Moreland was speaking again, and his eyes were brighter now.
 T agree 'at David would want us to develop the coal, ef he could know. It's like a light a-breakin' to me. But that coal is sacred to us. Bill Dale, and afore ye go any luther I'll haf to ax ye to tell me all about yeself. A city man up here in the wilderness it don't look s'picious, Bill, mebbe, but-well, 1 hopes ye can pardon me fo' axin' It. I shore got to be keer- full about Brother David's coal. Addie and the boys'll go out and leave jest us two in here; and when ye're a-talk- in to me it's the same as talkin' to tombstone so fer as tellin' is con