The Adair County news., 1921-08-30
SYNOPSIS.

ing life of idle ease-and incidentally a
bride, Patricia Clavering, at the altar
determined to make his own way in life:
mountaineer girl. BY Heck, a charac-
ter of the hills, takes him to John More
lands home. Moreland is chief of his
Lttlefords. He tells Dale of the killing
Of his brother, David Moreland, years
ago, owner of rich coal deposits, by
man named Carlyle. Moreland's descrip-
ton OF Carlyle" causes Dale to believe
the man was his father.
CHATTER II.I,Dale arranges to make
bis home with the Moreland family, for
whom he entertains a deep respect
CHAPTER III.-Talking with Babe"
BLACK Adam" Bali bully of the district.
TO leave his girl alone. Dale replies
spirtedly, and they fight. Dale whips
ss es With h0Jsh john OrS Isss 70 develop
David's coal deposits. Ben Httleford
sends a challenge to John Moreland to
meet him with his followers next day. in
battle. Moreland agrees.
One Of his great arms suddenly
Strengthened toward Dale, and a voice
as gruff as the growl Of a bear said
hotly:
''Whst was you s-doin' here a-talkin'
10 my gyurl?"
Babe Littleford looked angry. Dale
flushed, then went pale.
81 have q habit of talking with
whom 1 please" he said evenly.
Spoke like a man." drawled the
lanky Heck in a very low tone.
Goliath of the hills stared unbeliev-
ingly. Dale said in an undertone to
John Moreland: as it that Ball fel-
Iow?'
'Yes," answered the hillman; Its
Black Adam Ball."
Ball dropped his rifle to the
violets, slowly clenched his huge and
hairy hands, and thrust his bearded
jaw out aggressively.
81 dare We over here, We pink cow
ard" he challenged.
'If you have any business with me,
come over here and transact it," Dale
retorted. 81 won't run"
That's Moreland TERRITORY" Ball
objected. But I'll meet ye half way,
and dare We to take me up, ye lace
trimmed pink mOllycOddle"'
Halfway would be the middle of the
river, and no place for fight, surely.
But Dale was nettled. His temper,
the temper that he had never been
able to keep wholly under control, was
rising fast He threw off his coat and
hat and rolled the sleeves of his soft
shirt to his elbows. Then he waded
into the pool. The slowly moving
water was up to his waist at the half
way point, and the bottom was of
kard-packed sand.
The Goliath stared unhelieviDgly.
He was not accustomed to having his
challenges thus accepted He threw
off his hat and went to meet the 1.-the
young stranger.
Bill Dale squared himself and put
up his guard. Adam Ball came on,
and he was scowIng wickedly.
Ball rushed, the clear water swirlng
in his wake, and let out with a power
full right. 1t was blow to crush an
ordinary mans chest in; but, to Balls
surprise, it failed TO land. Dale evaded
IT cleverly, and at the same time sent
a swift left uppercut to the others
bull-like jaw. Adam Bah muttered two
wicked words and Steadied himself; /;
he had caught a tartar. A moment,
and he led out again, and he missed
again; but he followed it with a blow
that made a red mark on Bill Dale's
shoulder
"How's that, We pink cowardT" he
crowed.
a
"All right-hOw's thiS?"
And Dale sent on a mighty blow
that rebounded duly from the giants
chest and elected only a harsh laugh
Of contempt There was little to be
gained by striking a man like Adam
Ball on the chest; Dale knew now
that he must reach a more vulnerable
spot
Then he feinted with his left and
drove his right to Balls mouth, bring
ing blood. Ball rOared in his blind
rage and dashed toward his antagonist,
resolved to get a ciinch. But Dale
eluded the terrible arms, although in
SO doing he received a blow on the
temple that made him dizzy for a few
seconds.
While Ball was again engaged in
trying to gain the advantage of a
clinch, Granny Heck made her appear
ance on the Moreland bank. She
promptly launched her sympathies in
q manner that pleased both her gaping
son and the watchful and silent John
MOreland.
"Hit him in the stummick, Mr. Bill p
she cried over and over. Hit him
whar he lives at :"
The combat grew hotter and hotter.
Both landed frequently now. The faces
of both were bleeding, and each Spat
red now and then. Their clothing had
been torn away to the belt, and their
magnificent wet bodies glowed in the
morning sunlight. Dale had seriously
damaged his soft hands: they felt as