Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1921-08-12


the mountaineer said twice for the
benefit of his conscience Il know
pore David he would want ME TO do
this eff he could know"
I'm sure of it, agreed Dale. I'll
start for Cincinnati tomorrow. I've
got enough money to take me- there
and back. | have a very wealthy
friend there-his name is Harris;
think | can borrow enough from him
to finance the beginning of this thing.
And I'll buy locomotive and ears.
and all the other necessary machinery,
while Pm in Cincinnati-unieSS fail
to get the money from Harris. When
l get back, which should be within
eight days, we'll start the work. Al
guess, I'd say Wen need twenty
men. Can we get them?"
'Shore," nodded the mountaineer.
And all Morelands at that"
They turned homeward. At last
Bill Dale was happy. He had some
thing to do now--an aim in life. He
had difficulties to overcome, obstacles
to remove, barriers to surmount-it
was his big chance
1t was almost shutdown when Dale
returned from his visit to the coal
vein-Big Pine mountain hid the sun
at little after three in the afternoon.
He borrowed a fishing rod and a min
now pail, which made his going to the
river seem proper enough TO John
Moreland, and set out to meet Babe
Littleford. He was glad that nobody
expressed a desire to accompany him.
lie found Ben Littleford's daughter
where he had found her twice before
sitting on stone the size of small
barrel. She was fishing with an I'M
baited hook, which was equal to fish
ing not at all, and she seemed pleased
when she saw him coming. He sat
down on the stone at her side. She
moved over little shyly, and tried to
cover her feet with her calico skirts.
Needn't bother to hide them"
laughed Bill Dale. They're pretty
enough. Most feet, y'know, are neces-
sary evils, like chimneys and rain
spOuts!"
Babe Littleford blushed. He went
On, to hide her confusion, Tell me
about the rifles"
You must shore keep 1t a secret"
she told him.
II promise"
Better put yore hook in, SOS eff any
body comes along"
Dale threw out an empty hook.
81 want to tell We some other things
fust, SOS yell understand better when
1 come to the part about the rifles"
Babe began, looking thoughtfully
across the water to where kingtisher
sat in watchful waiting. She contin-
ued slowly, choosing her words care
fully, II was brought up to hate them
Morelands, butt don't think do. My
people is jest like the Morelands. The
biggest difference We can find is that
one side mostly has grey eyes like
you and t'Other side mostly has brown
eyes like me. All but their everlastin'
tightin', they're good people, Bill Dale.
Zach side, We see, is brought up to
hate t'other side. I'm ashamed to tell
it, butt understand the fust plain
words my Uncle Saul LittlefOrd's last
baby said was these here: On John
Moreland!' 1t started q long time ago,
and it started over nOthin'. Grandpap
Littleford and John MOreland'S pap
got in a dispute over whether Kahn
lucky was in Virginny or Nawth Ca
liner, and went to fightin' about 1t.
Purity soon my Uncle Saul and Abner
Moreland happened along, and they
went to tightin, too. Thank goodness,
it was on Sunday, and none of 'ern
didn't have their rifles with 'em. What
ever else we are or amt up here, Bill
Dale, we gen'ally respects the Sabbath
day to keep it holy. :"
81 see,"- Dale muttered sympathet-
ically.
1--WE seen my own mother set down
in the floor and take her. boys head
in her lap-oh, such big, fine boy he