The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1921-10-14
Littleford's CABIN my home when on

here.
1T was . simple thing that brought
us together. JOnn Moreland's little
nephew vas lost In the woods and his
mother was frantic. There are JAM
theirs, you know, and wildcats, rattlers.
and copperheads. l was fortunate
enough TO find the boy, and carried
him home. That was all. They're q
fine people, my boy, and so are the
Littlefords. Good old English blood
that somehow wandered off. There's
no purer. cleaner blood In America,
sir.
And now-how are you getting
along with your plans for the opera
ton of the coal miner"
"Excellently." Dale. I'VE
have the necessary finance: a geared
locomotive and cars and light steel
rails have been %bargained for"
Good" Bradley gave Dale a hearty
slap on the shoulder.
There's something else l wanted to
voice grave. You're nearly certain
to have a barrel Of trouble with q
shyster coal man named Henderson
Gof. He's a villain, sir, If ever there
was one! And he's quite the smooth
est article I've ever seen. He can
make you believe black is white, IL
only you'll listen to him long enough"
us he-has he been here recently?"
Dale wanted to know.
Hes here now" answered the ma.
jor. Hes been here for three days
and he's been working devilment fast.
He was up here last summer. trying
to buy the Moreland coal for q song;
he knows all the people, you see. As
soon as he landed here on this pres
ent trip, he found out about your in
%tentions. Then, at night, he freed
Adam Ball from his tobacco barn pris-
on, and went home with him
"Well BY Heck followed them and
did some neutrality-suspicious. BY has
his strong points! !" the major went
on. "Goff learned that Adam Balls
father knew about the coal vein long
before David Moreland discovered it
and got lawful possession of the noun
tain. Then Golf made the Balls be-
lieve that they were due a big share
OF the proceeds of the Moreland coal
1t wasn't very hard to do, ! guess. The
Balls, this set, ut least, were originally
l~owlanders; they took to the noun
tains, | understand, to keep from be-
ing forced to fight during the Civil
war"
'Goff's idea" muttered Dale. "is to
get the Balls to scare me into selling
instead Of developing, eh?'
Exactly" nodded old Bradley.
'Then he would settle with the Balls
by giving them a dollar or two a day
for digging coal; perhaps he would
worked out for half Of that, and then
skip. Anyway, Golf would come out
at the big end"
IL see." said Dale.
IF there's anything that l can do,
at any time, you won't hesitate to let
me know?" said the major.
You may consider yourself attorney
and legal adviser for the Moreland
Coal company, OF which l have the
honor to be general manager" smiled
Dale, "if you will"
Major Bradley's voice came happily.
"My dear boy, l am glad to accept
And there shall be no charge for any
service that l may render"
They were not long In reaching the
green valley, which lay very beauti.
full and very peaceful in the warm
light Of the early July sun. The soft
murmuring Of the crystal river and
the low, slow tinkling of the cowbells
made music that was sweet and pleas
ing.
Suddenly John Moreland stopped,
uttered a swearworO under his breath,
turned and went back to Dale.
'The's a man a-waitin' on us ahead
thar, Bill" he drawled. '"at We shore
TO watch like a hawk to keep
him from a-stealin' the eyeteeth out
o yore head. His name Is Hender-
son Golf. and he wants coal"
They went on. Soon they met a
man who, in clothing and manner.
made Dale think Of stories he had
heard and read Of Mississippi river
steamboat gamblers Of the long ago.
His eyes were black, and as keen as
a pair Of spear-points his mustaches,
too. were black. and they had sharp.
upturned ends like those Of q Mephls-
to. The major had said that he was
a smooth article; he certainly looked
IL.
He met John MOreland with an Oily
smile and thrust out his hand But
Moreland wouldn't see the hand.
Anything we've got to say about
coal" he grOwled, I'VE can say 10 Bill
Dale thar" pointing with q callOused
thumb. 'Bill he's the high light o.
the whole business; and when he
opens his mouth. We can cock yore
head 10 one side and listen TO gaws-
pei"
Goif was delighted to meet Mr.. Dale,
CT whom he had already heard. Dale