Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1921-10-20
CHAPTER xIx-continued.

hair-fine trigger. He had never expect
ed to hear the man whom he knew as
John X. Carlyle say that which he had
just said. 1t had never entered his
mind that John x. Carlyle could be
sorry.
Then the great and bitter desire for
revenge rushed into his brain again,
and his head went down, and his keen
right eye looked along the sights and
to the kneeling mans breast. His trig-
ger finger began slowly to crook
Until this instant Elizabeth Little
ford had been as one frozen, had been
as a figure carved In stone. Now she
sprang to her feet and went between
Moreland and his ancient enemy.
"Put at gun down-wait ontel tell
ye, John Moreland, WHIST I've got to tell
ye ~ she cried tensely, lapsing into the
old dialect in he: excitement. While
Moreland stared, she went on:
1T wasn't Newton Wheatley at put
up the money to start yore coal mine
a-goin'; it was this man here And the,
Alexander Crayfield Coal corp'ration--
which has been a-payin' you two prices
70, yore coal-that was this man here
Mr.. Hayes was his-his ally through 1t
all. And he's sorry, John Moreland,
this man is--so sorry that he wants to
die; and CANT We see 1t, John More
landT
She caught her breath again and
continued tearfully "Oh, he don't
desarve to be killed, and eff he did
you're too good man to kill him.
] do, how he's paid. You mustn't
fo'get that. And you mustn't fo'get
Bill Dale, his son. Put down that gun,
John Moreland Yore people is saved,
as David wanted 'em saved. Now
d-d-don't go and s-s-spoil it dill, TO-.
Gods sakeI'
The big mountaineer's eyes we're
wide with amazement. for Elizabeth
Littlefords every word had borne the
ring of truth. He was too dazed to
understand her allusion to Bill Dale
as his old enemy's son. The rifle came
back from across the palings, and its
steelshod butt found a place in the
Slowly John X. Dale arose and
drew close to him, and then from
John K. Dale's soul came pouring the
pent-up anguish of remorse that had
scared it through the years. The tor
rent of words flowed on, while the
1ntaineer stood rigidly regarding
him with strange light in his pierc-
fng eyes.
81 can't ask you to forgive me-"
Dale finished brokenly. 81 don't ex-
pect forgiveness; my crime was too
great. But can't you, for the sake of
the boy, let me keep on trying to
atone for my sinT
John Moreland looked long and
searShingly into the face of the plead
ing man before him. The bitter
struggle that was going on within him
was mirrored on his rugged coun-
tenance. But gradually the bitterness
faded; his huge frame trembled; he
put a hand slowly down on the others
shoulder.
"The boy" he muttered-"Bnl Dale !:
is he yore boy? Yore name was Car
lyle then"
my boy, yes-my boy, Bill Dale.
Carlyle is an old family name. Il My
father was at the head of big coal
concern; he sent me down here in
cognito to get line on the Moreland
vein. Maybe he thought the price
would be high if it were known that
he wanted it / don't know. IL can't
remember"
Ben Littlefords daughter was
watching closely, hoping against hope
praying to heaven with all her ho .rt
and then she saw John K. Dale put
his right hand up to John Moreland's
hand, take it and press it-and she
saw John Moreland, his bearded
mouth jerking, give the answering
squeeze that meant something very
akin to forgiveness.
She ran out at the gate, ran up t.
the giant hillman and put her arms
around his neck; she drew his grea
brown head down and kissed him OF
the cheek. And John Moreland lie
his rifle fall unnoticed to the snow
put his arms around her shoulders a
though she were his own daughter
bowed his head and sobbed out
few words she did not understand.
Night had fallen when they reache,
Ben Littleford's cabin home. The cir
was welcomed with much JOY; oil
Dale was received with almost affec
tionate cordiality. A roaring fire wa
soon going in the best room, and oil
Dale was given the cosiest of tn
sheepskin-lined rockers. Ben Little
ford, washed scrupulously clean Q
coal smut, sat near the guest of honol
John Moreland, who was so though
full that he seemed to hear and Sc
nothing, sat close TO Ben Littleford.
Suddenly Dale looked toward hi
host and asked: "Where is my son I
At that moment Dale the younge
in boots and corduroys, appeared |
the outer doorway and answered fC
himself:
"Here he is, father. Are you Welt
Dale the elder arose, and the
hands clasped warmly. Young Dal
then shook hands with Elizabeth, WI
blushed in spite of herself as 81
faced him.
To hide her confusion, Elizabet
turned TO the tall and lanky By Hec
who had come in behind Bill Dale.
"How are you, By?" she greetc
him.
''Hongry," grinned BY Heck, takir
her hand awkwardly. 81 never {
nothin' but couple o. baked 'possun
and a peck or two o. sweet 'taters
dinner, and I've been as busy as Il
dev-as thunder a'doin' nothin ev
sence. Doin' nothing shore does NAL
me hongry, M-M-M-Miss Babe"
Supper was announced. and tn
went into long, log-walled room tn
served as both kitchen and dinil
room
Bill Dale sat beside his father al
talked of nothing but coal veins-b
and little coal veins, long and sho