Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1921-08-18

During those two days they had
several times seen Henderson Golf in
company with Black Adam Ball and
some of his relatives. Once they had
come upon Goff talking earnestly with
Saul Littleford, the big, bearded, gaunt
brother of the Littleford chief. Hayes
reminded Dale OF this, and said to
him further:
"Goff will haze the Littlefords on
his side the first thing you know
Maybe some of the LittlefOrdS, as well
as some of the Balls, knew about this
coal before David Moreland got his
mountain by states grant at a few cents
per acre. If you'll take my advice, MIR.
Dale, you'll make friends of these two
sets just as quick as you cam
Dale thrust his hand-aX inside his
belt and turned to the mining expert.
"Dyou know, was thinking of that
same thing when you spoke" he re-
piled. And l believe can manage it,
now that Miss Littlefords accidental
wounding has given the old feud such
a big blow. I'm fairly sure l can man.
age it so far as Ben Littleford is con-
cerned; it's John that's going to be
hard to bring to taw. He should be
home this evening, if he's had good
luck, and I'll tackle him as soon as he
comes"
Together they started across David
Moreland's mountain, walking rapidly,
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 impenetrabIe
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 animal's feet
on the dry hard leaves of bygOne
years. A solitary brown owl poured
out it's heart in weird and melancholy
cries to the night it loved. There was
and the soft swish of a nighthawks
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
motionIess 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.
Its you, is it, Bill, old boy?" He
yawned sluggishly. II was a-waitin'
here fo' you. l reckon l must ha'
went to sleep a-standin' here on my
feet! I've got news, BILL"
"Out with it,
1--WE been a-trailin' Henderson Golf
all day." Heck said in guarded tones.
He's shore got them lowdown Balls
| hairs."
81 knew that" said Dale. That's
not news
But that amt ALL" By Heck went
on. "Goff's got Saul LittlefOrd, too
lock, stock, bar'l and sights. He owns
Saul jest the same as l own my old
spotted coon dawg Dime. Saul he
gifts him job a-bein' mine boss, and
what other Littlefords at will stick
| gifts jobs a-diggin' the black di'mOnt at
two dollars a day. Asides, all of 'em
is to have a big lot O. money when
the dividin'-up time comes, says Golf. .
Much obliged to you, By" Dale ac-
knowledged. Let's go; bout face,
By! I'm goin' to tie a hard knot in
that villainous game of Henderson
Goff's."
| They reached John Moreland's cabin
less than an hour later. Moreland
and his son had just returned from
Cartersville, and Dale learned through
Hayes that the two hillmen had shown
| good judgment and some business
sense in making their purchases.
When the evening meal was over
Dale drew John Moreland out to the
cabin yard, where the many old-fash-
ioned flowers made the night air sweet
with their blended odors. For a mo-
ment Dale stood looking toward the
very bright stars and thinking; then
he told the big man at his side of
GOtf's plan concerning the Littlefords,
and strongly urged the making of
friendship between the two clans.
1.-The snake" mumbled John More
land.
He appeared to be worried about it.
He folded his arms. walked to the gate
and back to Dale without uttering an
other word. 1t was hard for him to
throw down completely the hatred of
years upon years. Had it been any
other person than Bill Dale, fighter
after his own heart, who had asked
"that we send to the little town in
it, he never would have even cOnsid-
cred it; he would have said quickly :
wen thrash the Balls and the Lit
tlefords, tool"
The younger man read something of
the others thoughts.
with the help of the law" said he,
I'VE might whip them all But it
would mean a great deal of blOOdShed
at best. The LittlefOrds are Babes
| y
like her, too, or you never would have
gone with her TO the hospital now
don't your
Il reckon | cain't deny" the More
land leader muttered, lat like Babe
Littleford. She amt like none O. the
rest of 'em, Bill"
Dale went on:
"All there is to do to enlist the Lit
tlefOrds on our side is this: you go to
old Ben and say 10 him: Let's begin
anew; let's be friends, your people
and my people, you and me- He'll be
glad you did it. Then it Will be easy
sailing for us. The Balls never would
dare to attack such force as the
| Morelands and the Littlefords COM
bined. Don't you see? l admit it will
hr something of a sacrifice on your
na"f But man like you can make
sacrifices. Any man who is big