Polk County news. [volume] (Benton, Tenn.) 191?-1983, 1921-10-13
cODyrisht. By D0ublsday, Page = %.
CHAPTER XVII.
Bin Dale Laughs.

had done there In the Big Pine coun-
try. From the stone-and-clay chlIh-
neys of the cabins of the Littlefords on
the other side of the river the bowling
wind snatched sprays of blue Woou-
smoke. The Morelands had gone 10
farms lying around Gainesville in the
iowland, on each of which fair-slzed
first payment had been made. the Dor
Fowed capital was to remain borrowed
for another year. The Morelands were
already losing their outlandishness
and growing into universal respect.
David Moreland's dream was at last
being realized.
Then Dale frowned heavily. If only
lie could do as much for Babes peo-
pie! But lie couldn't. The men OF the
Littlcf0rds still worked the coal mine.
They received almost twice the custom
airy wages, but even that wouldn't BUY
them farms and educate their children.
Under his eyes lay two unanswered
letters from his parents. He FOUND
little pleasure In answering their let
tiers, for he was still somewhat bitter
toward them-toward his father be-
cause of his fathers Ill treatment OF
David Moreland and David Moreland's
people; toward his mother because she
had let him go hungry for mother-loVe
as baby, as child, as boy. ana as
a man; toward them both because he
had been reared do-nothing.
The door opened suddenly, and BY
Heck came stamping in with a gust OF
cold air at his back. He carried In
one hand the mail satchei; In the ether
was his ever-present rifle. After throw
ing the satchel to the floor at Daie's
feet, he turned to the glowing wood
stove
I'm dang nigh friz, BILL" he chat
tered. my gosh, couldn't be no cold
er'n what | EN- eff I'd hn' elm the,
nawth pole neck-ed. Say, Bill, why'n't
re burn coal Std o. wood2 Igod, it's
hotter"
Goal Is worth money. Wood isn't"
Dale ran through the mail hastily.
lie threw aside letter from the Alex
ander Crayfield Coal corporation, which
took the entire output Of the mine at
an extraordinary figure. and picked up
a letter which bore the postmark OF his
home city.
It was from Babe Littleford. Since
he paid so little attention to the letters
of his parents. they had requested her
10 write to hlm-they wanted him TO
come home for Christmas dinner.
Wouldn't he come?
He arose and paced the office floor
for two or three minutes, then he sat
down at his desk and dashed off q let
ter that contained only two sentences
BY Heck sat beside the stove and
watched his god with thoughtful eyes.
He understood, he believed. How any
woman on earth could turn down a
man like Bill Dale was utterly beyond
him. BY Heck was great deal like
good-natured dog. -.
If Bill would only laugh, it would be
good for him. 1t had been so long since
he had heard BIZ laugh. BY Heck de.
cided that he would make Bill Dale
laugh.
"Oid boy?"
"Well?"
"Do We want me to tell We funny
tale?" drawled Heck. He barely heard
the answer:
81 guess l don't mind, By"
Heck's sympathy made him gulp.
But he swallowed the lump that came
IN in his throat aud began bravely:
"One time the was Teller named
Smith. Odd name, Bill, amt it2 'Hoss-
ay' Smith. they called him, cause 1t
was said at he could easy shoot
hossfy often hoss's ear and never
break hide on the animile. He was
hellIon, too. One time Hossfly. he was
a-tryin' to git appointed the chairman
o. some sort O. politics doin's, and on
TINT same day he was a-drinkin' sort
O. toJable heavy. They agreed to
make him the Temporary chairman, but
JIossfly. he didn't want that. SO he
hops right up In the middle O. the meet
IN. and he hollers out and says:
",FeIIer citizens he says, Il want
En- be the permanent chairman ] amt
a-eoin, to act In the capacity of
burned Temporary chairman; abso-
d--nlutely ain'tF
Ellis old inemy. Eb Wright, he yells
bnck and says smart-lIke: Set down
thnr. Hoysfly,' says Eb--'you're drunk,
and you don't know the difference a.
queen Temporary and permanent
swell. they knowed Eb had 1t I"
comm 10 him right then, and they lis
tened TO 1t. Hosstly. ha addresses the