The Adair County news. [volume] (Columbia, Ky.) 1897-1987, 1921-10-04
CHAPTER XVII.
Bill Dale Laughs.

Bill Dale sat thinking Of what he
had done there in the Big Pine coun-
try. From the Stone-and-clay Chin
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
first payment had been made. the bor-
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-
pie! 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
IllIlC III obo"SAAAS NN~AN
tiers, for he was still somewhat bitter
toward them-toward his father be-
cause of his fathers i'll treatment of
David Moreland and David Moreland's
| people; toward his mother because she
had let him go hungry for mether-love
as baby, as a child, as boy, and as
a man; toward them both because he
had been reared 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. ---s.-~f.5,a-~
"pm dang nigh friz, Bill" he chat
tered. MY gosh, couldn't be no cold
er'n what 1 en- eff I'd ha' elm the
nawth pcle neck-ed. Say, Bill, Why'n't
We burn coal std o. wood? TgOd, it's
hotter"
Goal is worth money. Wood isn't"
Dale ran through tie mail hastily.
He threw aside letter from the Alex
ander Crayfield Coal corporation, which
took the entire output of the mite at
an extraordinary figure, and picked up
a letter which bore the pOstInark of his
home city.
1t was from Babe Littleiord. Since
he paid so little attention to the letters
of his parents, they had requested hei
to write to hina-ti1ey wanted him II
come home FOR Christmas dinner
Wouldn't he COME?
He arose and paced the office nool
for two or three minutes, then he sa
down at his desk and dashed of let
ter that contained only two sentences
BY Heck sat beside the stove ant
/ watched his god with thoughtful eyes
He understood he believed. How an,
j woman on earth could turn down
man like Bill Dale was utterly beyon
him. BY Heck was a great deal like
;, good-natured dog, 80.
| If Bill would only laugh, it would b
good for him. 1t had been so long sine
he had heard Bill laugh. By Heck de
cided that he would make Bill Dial
= laugh.
1t "Old boy?"
q "Well?" .
+ do We want me to tell We a funn
y tale?" drawled Heck. He barely hear
al the answer:
+ 81 guess don't mind, By"
u Hecks sympathy made him gul
s. But he swallowed the lump that can
TX up in his throat and began bravely;
III "One time the was Teller name
IT, Smith. Odd name, Bill, amt it? Hos
fly Smith. they called him, cause
OF was said at he could easy shoot
Is hosshy often a hoss's ear and new
to break hide on the animile. he was