The Ordway new era., 1921-09-30
.I,tleford,s cabin my home when nat

| nephew was loSt IN the NoouS """ ''
mother was frantic. There are pan
tbers Won know, and wildcats. rattlers,
and copperheads. was fortunate
enough to find the boy, and carried
MIN home. That was all. They're
fine people. my boy, and so are the
Iittlefords. Good old English blood
that somehow wandered on. 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
"Excellcntly," answered Dale. 1--WE
have the necessary finance; seared
locomotive and cars and light steel
rails have been bargained for"
"Goodl' Bradley gave Dale hearty
slap on the shoulder.
There's something else | wanted 10
say, Mr. Dale" he continued. his
voice grave. You're nearly certain
to have n barrel of trouble with Il
shyster coal man named Henderson
Con-. He's 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, If
only you'll listen TO him long enough
is he-has he been here recentlyT
Dale wanted to know,
He's 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 Moreand coal for 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 eavesdropping-po 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 1t
and got lawful possession Of the noun
tain. Then Gof made the Balls be-
lieye that they were due n big share
OF the proceeds of the Moreland coal! !
1t wasn't very hard TO do, ! guess The
Balls, this set, at least, were originally
lowlanders; they took to the noun
tains, understand, to keep from be-
ing forced to fight during the Civil
war"
'Gof's idea" muttered Dale. sis 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 dollar or two n day
for digging coal; perhaps he would
put them off until the mine was
worked out for half of that, and then
skip. Anyway, Con- would come out
at the big end"
81 see" said Dale.
If there's anything that | 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, | 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-
fui 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 swearword under his breath,
turned and went back 10 Dale.
ines man a-waitin' on us ahead
thar, Bill" he drawled, "at We shore
want To watch like hawk to keen
nm from a-stealin' the eyeteeth out
o yore head. His name is Hender-
son Con-, and he wants coal"
Ihey wen: 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 ns
a pair of spear-points; his mustacbes
'oo' were black, and they had sharp,
upturned ends like those of Mephls-
TO- The major had said that he was
smooth article; he certainly looked
| 1t.
lie met John Moreland with an oily
smile and thrust out his hand But
Mofeiand wouldn't see the hand.
anything we've got to say about
coal he growled, ''ye can say to Bill
Dale thar" pointing with calloused
thumb. Bill he's the high light o.
the whole business; and when he
opens his mouth, We can cock yore
mead TO one side and listen fo' gaws-
pel.''
"o1 was delighted to meet Mr.. Dale.
OF whom he had already heard nall