Cheyenne Wells record., 1921-10-27

upon reaching the shelter OF tne trees
that lined the banks OF the river witn'
out being seen. The stream mere wa
more than fifty yards wide; TINS was r.
pine Ont shoals. The two lines OF
trees stood back a rod or SO from tne
water. making the final shooting ols-
tance some seventy yards.
Drawled Heck: LES set down mere
and watch it hey?'
Dole was silent. The very air was
filed with the spirit of tragedy. ING
furoff tinkle of cowbeli seeiheu
tragic: tragic, too, sounded the song
NJ a bird somewhere in the tree
branches overhead.
did ye hear me. Bill|
~ think" Dale muttered. "that IL
better NOT go away until tomorrow.
I can't leave matters like this. DO
YOU know of any way to stop that
down there?"
By Heck shrugged MS shoulders.
"Do YOU know O. any way to stop
the risin' and settin' o the sun!' ne
grinned.
They went back to John Morelands
cabin.
| 1t was altogether by accident that
the Littleford chief found his weapons.
He had dropped small coin through
a crack in the floor. Bnbe was quick
| to say that she would crawl under the
house and look for the coin, although
she had just put on freshly laun-
dered blue-and-white calico dress. her
anxiety showed plainly in her race.
Her father questioned her sharply, and
she staminered in spite OF herself. Ben
LittlefOrd's suspicious were aroused.
So he came out from under the cabin
floor with his hands full Of the steel
Of rifle barrels. and with the money
forgotten. lie placed the rifles care
fully on the floor OF the porch, turned
and caught his daughter by the arm.
"Who hid 'em?" he demanded gruftiy.
II hid 'em," was the ready answer.
defiant and bitter-"l, me! What're
you a-goin' to do about it,"
LittlefOrd flung his daughters arm
from him. He was king. even as John
MOrelnnd was king. His keen eyes
stared ut the young woman's face as
though they would wither it.
what made you hide 'em?" he
growled. "Say. what made ye do it?"
"To try and save human lives, ats
why!" Babe answered. THAT man
from the city-whnt'Il he think O. us
a-doin' this-away. a-tightin' like crazy
wildcats!"
"Ef he don't like the way we do
here, he can go back home" retOrted
the angry mountaineer. "He amt tied.
Is he?"
Babe smiled smile that was some
how pitiful. and turned off.
"The' amt no use In n-argyin' with
you, pap" she said hOpelessly. IL
might nigh wisht l was dead"
At that instant the gate creaked
open. Babe glanced toward 1t and saw
coming that black beast of a man.
Adam Ball the Goliath, and he was
armed heavily; in one hand he carried
a new high-power repeating rifle, and
around his great waist there was
new belt bristling with long, bright
smOkeless cartridges fitted with steel
jacketed bullets.
When Dale and his companion
reached the cabin, Addie MOreland met
them. Anxiety was breaking her
heart
mir. Dale she pleaded, II want YOU
to go down thar TO the river and see
eff the's anything ye can do to stop
1t afore it begins. You jest walk out
bold in the open and ye won't be shot
at, and I'll be Obleeged to We. Oh. l
know the amt but one chanst in ten
thousand, but I'm a-prayin' yell strike
that one chanst."
Dale knew that he could do nothing
toward bringing peace, and he knew
that John Moreland would be angry
at his interfering. But he nodded and
went toward the river. He didn't have
the heart in him to refuse.
Theu there came the keen thunder of
rifle shot.
Dale halted for moment. Between
TWO sycamores on the nearer side of
the river he saw pun Of smoke ris-
ing lazily from behind water oak on
the farther side; Littleford had fired
nrst. Dale went on. moving rapidly
ana trying to keep himself always In
plain view