The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1921-09-09

they CANT! DO We see thar Dig caDln
right plumb in the middle o the nigh
half O. the settlement, Bill? Well, the
boss o. the Morelands he lives thar
John Moreland. That's whar you want
to go, Bill, sence we've got a oncyor-
. able case o. the disease knowed as
coaI-on-the-brain. But | can tell ye
%aforehand, you amt got enough money
TO buy that coal, don't matter how
much money we've got"
Dale was not looking toward John
Moreland's home now. His gaze had
wandered to the other side of the
river. BY Heck waited a full minute
for a reply to his speech, then he
spoke again:
THE gyurl, or the coal--is that
what's a%-botherin' We, Bill?"
Dale's eyes twinkled. Must / choose
between them?" he laughed.
"Shore!" BY Heck wasn't ever smil-
ing. Shore! The Morelands and
Littlefords hates each other wuss nOr
a blue-tailed hawk hates a crow. The
gyurl, or the coal, Bill?"
Wen go down to John Morelend's,"
announced Dale.
The mountaineer took up his rifle.
Let me gi' We a word or two O. warn
in" he continued seriously. Don't
you offer to pay John Moreland TO
eatin' his grub, nor fo' sleepin' in his
bed, nor TO chawin' his tobacker. Ell
We do, yore goose will shore be cooked
with John Moreland. But eff We was
to brag on the vittles a little, Johns
wife a-bein' pow'ful handy in the
kitchen, it wouldn't do a DANCED bit
O. harm. Do We understand 1t all now,
Bill?'
Dale nodded, and they began the de-
scent.
John Moreland's house was built Of
whole oak logs, which were chinked
with oak splits and Gaubed in between
with clay; the roof was of handmade
boards, and a chimney Of stones and
clay rose at either end.
John MOreland himself sat on the
front porch, and beside him lay a re-
peating rifle, two young squirrels that
had been very neatly shot through the
head, and a weary black-and-tan
hound. He was an uncommonly big
man, and about forty-seven :. his eyes
were gray and keen; his thick hair
and full beard were a rich brown, with
only a few threads OF white. There
was q certain English fineness about
the man. One felt that he could trust
John Moreland.
AS the moonshiner and his compan-
lon reached the gate Moreland rose
and pushed his hat back from his fore
head.
Hi, john" grinned Heck. "This
here Teller wants to stay with We a
few days, John. Seems to be all
right"
Come right in," invited the chief
of the Morelands. He indicated the
homemade chair he had just vacated.
"Set down thar and rest, stranger. I'll
be back in a minute or So"
He fastened into the cabin, carrying
the squirrels with him.
Hes went to tell his wife to hatch
up a extry good dinner, Bill" whis-
pered Heck. "Pepper-cyored ham,
young chicken, hot biscuits, fresh but
ter, wild honey, huckleberry pie and
peach pie and strawberry preserves
Bill, l CANT hardly stand 1t. Blast my
picture eff l couldn't eat two whole
raw dawgs right now, I'm that ding
busted hongry. Well, l got to ramble
on home. l live down the river half q
mile, We and my nav. Come to see
me, Bill, and Wen 60 a-fishin'. SO
long, Bill old boyw
John Moreland returned presently.
The man from the city rose and prof
fered his hand.
my name" he began, old habit
strong upon him, lis Carlyle"
Before he could get any farther with
1t, John Moreland flung the hand from
him as though 1t were a thing of I'M
speakable contamination. His bearded
face went deathly white with the
whiteness of an old and bitter hatred.
His great fists clenched, and every
muscle in his giant body trembled.
whats the matter, MANI" Dale
wanted to know.
"Carlyle!" Moreland repeated in n
hoarse srowl. you say yore name is
Carlyle
"Y4," wonderingly, but that's only
a paH of 1t. My name is Carlyle Will
buFCOn Dale-Bin Dale. What's the
maSterT
did you come from West vir-
kSnny?' sharply.
Dale gave the name of his home
own and state.
That's dif'rent." The mountain
GERS c~ountenance became lighter.
'"This man I'm a-thinkin' about, he
was from West virginny. l hope you
won't hold nothin' ag'in me TO- actin
up that away. couldn't hep 1t, shore,
Ii seems. You'll know how l felt when
l tell We about 1t, Mr.. Dale. ! owe 1t
10 We to explain. Jest a minute"
He stepped into the cabin and
brought out another chair. sat down
heavily and crossed his legs. Dale,
too, sat Gown.
IN -LA---A--