The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1921-09-01
"what did w nnd out7"

II learned" was the answer, that
the Littlefords nll lost their guns just
ns the Morelnnds did"
"Thc devil !"
The mountnineers began to crowd
about Dale.
And who" nsked their leader. "do
ye think done III"
BiIl Dale shook his head slowly and
threw out his hands.
How should knowT" He went
on: Babe told me about the Littleford
guns disappearing. saw her down
at the river she was fishing"
Did she say anything pursued
John Moreland, "'at sounded like she
knowcd whar them guns went tor
"She told me-" said Dale, "she would
give her life to stop the fighting. She
seemed rather badly worked up over
IT,"
From the cabins front doorway came
II. woman's sorrowful voice:
"And me. too; I'd give my life to
stop this here tightin. had n boy,
big. strappin' boy"
wife and interrupted Nov, Addie,
honey, don't do that
II ended the talk.
Mrs. Moreland dried her eyes on n
corner Of her freshly ironed gingham
apron, and announced the. MONDAY
meal The mountaineers dispersed.
Grandpap Moreland went away claw
Ing at his long white beard and grum-
bling over the loss of his beloved old
Lancaster. s-.---
An hour later Dale cornered the
Morelund leader on the yine-hung
front porch and suggested that they
look over the coal property that after
noon He was eager to go to work,
eager to be doing something worth
while, he told Moreland. The hillman
stood very still for what seemed TO
the other very long time, and had
no word to say. Evidently she fehd
had all his mind now.
When he did speak, he said simply !:
"All right. Bill"
After half nm hour of fighting their
way through thickets of blooming lau-
rel and ivy, they drew up before an
Old and mildewed cabin at the north
end or David Morcland's mountain.
Moreland led the way In and pointed
TO spot under II small, paneless win
dow.
THAR" said he, "is whar we found
my brother David"
The two men turned for the point
at which the coal vein ran out 10 i;!e
light of day
Dale picked up piece of the shin
ing black stun. Judging by the little
he knew and the great amount of de-
scrlption pc had heard, the vein was
very large ard the coal itself of the
finest grade.
1T was big find" he told his com
panlon, IA big find. II was pity to
let II lie here untouched for SO long !;
and yet It's worth more today than 1t
was ever worth before"
Ills enthusiasm ran warm, and More
land caught II quickly. Together they
hastily planned out the little railroad
that was To wind its way through the
wilds and connect with the big rail-
road nt the Halfway switch.
II know I'm a-doln' right about It,
the mountaneer said twice for the
benefit of his conscience. II know
pore David he would want me TO do
this ef he could know"
I'm sure OF It," agreed Dale. III
start for Cincinnati tomorrow. I've
got enough money to take me there
and back. | have 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 cars,
and all the other necessary machinery,
while I'm In Clnclnnati-unless fail
to get the money from Harris. When
! get back, which should he within
eight days, well start the work. At
n guess, I'd say Wen need twenty
men Can we get them"
"Shore,' nodded the mountaineer.
"And all Moreands at that"
They turned homeward, At last
Bin Dale was happy lie had some.
thing to do now An aim In life. lie
had difficulties to overcome, obstacles
TO remove, barriers TO surmount-it
was his big chance
II was almost sundown when Dale
returned from his visit to the coal
vein-Big Pine mountain hid the sun
at little after three in the afternoon.
lie borrowed fishing rod and min
now pail, which made his going to the
river seem proper enough TO John
Moreland, and set out 10 meet Babe
Littleford. lie was glnd that nobody
expressed desire to'accompnny him.
.4e found Ben LIttleford's daughter
where he had found her twi@s before
sitting on stone the size OF . snka
barrel. She was fishing with an un.
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 Mt her side. She