The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1921-09-23
CHAPTER IH-Continued.

When Dale came back to a state OF
consciousness, he was lying under
v In the carved black walnut bed.
Beside him stood Jolsa Moreland, who
held In n hama 8 bowl containing d
hot herb brew that his Wits had pre-
pared. Granny Heck, her 30n BY, and
Mrs. Moreland stood not far away.
This here1l be good 70 ye, I think"
said Morelan& nodding toward the
bowl in hi. Sand. He went over and
put an arsn around Dale's shoulders
and helped him TO sit up.
Dale drank the stuff With difficulty.
Much obliged" he muttered thickly.
Tets see, did i whlp-how did It
ends He didn't lick me, did he-that
fellow Ball2'
"He shore didn't" smiled Moreland.
mot by a big sight. He fell out fust.
His own pap won't hardly know him,
Bill"
News travels rapidly In the big hills.
The Morelands began to gather at the
home Of their chief to see the man
who had whipped Black Adam Ball /;
every Moreland able TO walk came to
W Bill Dale. For three hours he was
licnized, but he didn't enjoy it; the
wster had left many pains in his
chest, and his head ached duly, and
hts hands still felt as though the bones
were shattered In them.
Came a thundershower that after
noon, and the mountain evening fell
With a chill. A fire was made in the
vide stone fireplace In the guests
room, and when supper was over the
family gathered there with Dale, who
refused to be kept in bed.
After q few minutes Of silently
watching grotesque shadows fit across
the log walls, Dale said TO John More
land:
IF your brother David could know,
don't you think he'd want you TO get
the value out Of the coal?'
John Moreland bent forward to rest
his chin In his hands. His sober grey
eyes stared t%houghtfully toward the
fire.
IL amt never looked at 1t that
away" he said.
That's the right way to look at t."
declared Dale. But you shouldn't
cell the property as it Is"
The mountalneer turned an inqulr-
ing face toward his guest.
"How in thunder could l handle it
Of ! didn'tT
"Why not let me develop it for
voup" Dale said earnestly, eagerly. II
ton't charge you anything above ex-
penses, and / won't be extravaganza"
IT'D take consid'able money to start
things a-movin'. Have you got it?'
asked Moreland.
mo, but l can get it. Almost any
body would be willing to lend money
on so good n thing as this, y'know."
Tor q little while Moreland sat there
and looked squarely at Dale, who re-
turned his gaze without a sign Of
hinching. The hillman was trying to
End q motive.
How 1t at you, who amt
knowed us but two days." he de-
manded, 'can be so much interested
In usT
The question demanded a straight
forward answer. Dale realized that
there was but one way in which he
could give a satisfactory explanation,
and that that was by telling the truth
but not the whole truth, as he
surmised it, for her his efforts would
60 for naught.
Moreland was speaking again, and
his eyes we're brighter now.
II agree at David would want us
TO develop the coal, eff he could know.
It's like a light a-breakin' to me. But
that ccal Is sacred to us, Bill Dale,
and afore We 60 any fu'ther I'll hat
70 ak We to tell me all about yeself.
A city man up here In the wilderness
It dol't look s'piciOus, Bill, mebbe,
but-well, l hopes We can pardon me
TO- AKIN 1t. l shore got to be keer-
ful about Brother David's coal. Addie
and the boys'l go out and leave Jest
as two In here; and when ye're a.talk-
In 70 me It's the same as talkin' to q
tnhotoas - 81 as telua' Is con-