Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1921-08-04
CHAPTER V-continued.


land rifles. then shots from both sides
= and the battle was on. Dale heard
the nasty whine of a bullet in full
flight; he heard the coarse "zzz" of
half-spent ricochet. He knew that he
was in some danger now, and he was
surprised to find that he was not
frightened.
When he halted again it was on his
knees behind the big white sycamore
that sheltered John Moreland.
Back, are yep frowned the noun
taineer. And with the grimmest hu-
NOR, Il reckon ye had fine, large
time in Cincinnaty. Yore friend Har-
ris was well, l hope. Git that money
from him?"
Cut that out" said Bill Dale. "lt
doesn't get us anywhere"
A bullet threw particles of sycamore
bark to his face, interrupting. John
Moreland pointed to green furrow in
the side of the tree.
ben Littleford hisself," said More
land. He's ahind O. that water oak
acrost thar. Don't stick yore head
out %
The mountaineer turned his gaze
over Dales shoulder, and his counte-
nance seemed to freeze. Dale looked
around quickly and saw Babe Little
ford, less than ten feet behind him
She had crept up through the tall
grasses and weeds. In one hand she
carried a white flag made of mans
handkerchief and willow switch. She
halted and sat up.
Babe ~ Dale cried out. what are
you doing here"
Babe gave him a pale smile. "Ef
pap'd shoot me, a-thinkin' l was a
Moreland, mebbe it'd stop the ever
Iastin' tightin," she said.
John Moreland stared, and Bill Dale
stared. They were in a Presence, and
they knew it. Babe went on:
I've come to save all O. yore lives /;
but eff l do it, yell hat to make yore
men quit a-tghtin' right now-jest or
der em to stop a-shootin', and hold
up this here-and l promise ye on q
Littlefords word at pap'll call ye a
better man AN him cause We done
it"
She tossed the white flag to him.
''rhe' amt no time to lose, John More
land hold up the tiagl Eff ye don't,
yen every one be killed, cause ye're
every one in trap"
Il don't believe ye, BabeI" snapped
the Moreland chief. "Yore people can
hold up white rag jest as we'll as
we canv
Babe went paler. There was a sud-
den burst of firing from the Moreland
rifles, and she crept a little nearer to
John Moreland in order that he might
hear plainly that which she had to tell
him next.
I'm a-goin to tell We O. this dam
ger" she said "and trust to you a-bein'
man enough to do what | axed We to.
Black Adam Ball, he's got a new-fash-
toned rifle and smokeless cartridges
and steel bullets and in a few min
utes he'll be hid in d clum O. sassafras
back thar in yOre meadow, whar he
means TO set and pick off you More,
lands one by one-and you and Bill
Dale fust. count O. the beatin's YOU
to do with it, and rickollect that Now
I've saved all o. yore lives, cause We
couldn't ha' heerd the sound o. his rifle
in all O. this noise; and We couldn't
ha' seed the smoke O. his gun, cause
it don't make no smoke. Hold I'D the
white flag, John Moreland-hurry 7"
Babe thoughtlessly arose to her feet.
and one side of her brown head ap-
peared before the sights of her fathers
ritie-her father fired quickly. too
quickly for a perfect aim-the bullet
burned its way across her temple and
through her hair, and she crumpled at
Bill Dale's knees, totally unconscious.
Date gave hoarse cry and gathered
her limp figure into his arms. John
Moreland waved aloft the white hand
kerchief and beloved to his kinsmen
to stop firing. Then silence came.
"Come over here, Ben Littleford -
shouted John Moreland. "Ye've shot
yore own gyrulv"
And to his brother Abner. whose
right forearm was wrapped in a blood
stained blue bandana:
"Black Adam is hid sOm'eres in this
meadow; go and ketch him, and don't
take no chanst with him. Shoot him
like a dawg eff he tries to trick We -
A dozen men ran to look for the
would-be sniper. The Littlefords. still
armed, came dashing across the river.
Ben Littleford threw down his rifle
and knelt beside his daughter; he
wrung his big hands and cursed the
day that had seen him born.
Dale held her close. Ills face was
as white as hers, and his eyes We're
flaming.
"Why don't you shoot all your wOm-
enfclk?" he said to the LittlefOrd
chief, and every word cut like knife.
"It's by far the simplest way; it's mer-
essSl, y'know. See, she isn't breaking