Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1921-08-16

with a good force Of men the last raIi
could be nut down within two months.
During those two days they had
several times seen Henderson GCtf in
company with Black Adam Ball anu
some of his relatives. Once they had
come upon G6lr talking earnestly with
Saul LittlefOrd, the big, bearded, Eaunt
brother of the LittefOrd chief. Hayes
reminded Dale of this, and said to
him further:
"Gofl will have the IIittlefOrdS Oh
his side the first thing you KNOW
Maybe some of the Iittleiords, as well
as some of the Balls. knew about this
coal before David Moreland got his
mountain by states grant at few cents
per acre. If you'll take my advice, MIR.
Dale, you'll make friends of these two
sets Just as quick us you cam"
Dale thrust his hand-GX inside his
belt and turlted to the mining expert.
"D'you know, | was thinking of that
same thing when you spoke" he re-
u.
now that Miss Littleford's accidental
wounding has given the old feud such
q big blow. I'm fairly sure | can man
aye it so far as Ben Littleford is con-
cerned: it's John that's going to be
hard to bring to taw. He should be
home this evening, IL he's had good
luck, and I'll tackle him as soon as he
comes"
Together they-startcd across David
Moreland's mountain. walking rapidly,
with Dale leading.
Darkness came down on them when
they had covered half the distance.
The great hemlocks and poplars
loomed spectral and gaunt in the early
starlight. The almost impenetraDIe
thickets of laurel and Ivy whispered
uncanny things, and their seas of pink
and snowy bloom looked somehow
ghostly. Now and then there was the
pattering Of some little animal's feet
OH the dry, hard leaves Of bySone
years. A solitary brown owl poured
out its heart in weird and melancholy
cries to the night 1t loved. There was
the faint, far-off baying of hound,
and the soft swish of nighthawk's
wings.
Men from the core Of civilization
must feel these things Of the wilder.
Suddenly Dale drew back and stood
still. In the trail ahead, standing as
motionless as the trees about him, was.
the tall figure of man. 1t was almost
as though he were there to bar the
way.
The two went on slowly. The figure
didn't move. Dale spoke, and the form
came to life 1t was BY Heck; he WAS
leaning on the muzzle of his rifle.
ITS you, is it, Bill, old DOy!" He
yawned sIuggishly. 81 was a:waitin'
here fo you. l reckon l must ha'
went to sleep a-standin' here Oh my
feet! I've got news, Bill"
"Out with It,"
"I've been a-trailin' Henderson Goit
all day" Heck said in guarded tones.
Hes shore got them lowdOwn Balls
to bellevin' they're already million
hairS."
Il knew that" said Dale. That's
not news"
But that aln't ALL" BY Heck went
on. "Gor's got Saul Littleford, too
lock, stock, bari. and sights lie owns
Saul Jest the same as l own my OLD
spotted coon dawg Dime. Saul he
gifts him q job a-bein' mine boss, and
what other LittlefOrds at will stick
gifts jobs a-diggin' the black di'mOnt al
two dollars n day. AsidcS, all OF EN-
Is to have a big lot O. money wien
the dividin'-up time comes, says Goft.'
Much obliged to you, BY" Dale ac'
Enowledged. Lets go; bout face,
By! I'm goin' to tie hard knot in
that vilainous game OF Henderson
GOn'S."
They reached John Morcand's cabin
less than an hour later. MOrc!and
and his son had just returned from
CartersvilIc, and Dale learned through
Hayes that the two hillmcn had shown
good judgment and some business
sense in making their purchases.
When the evening meal was ovel
Dale drew John MOreland out TO the
cabin yard, where the many Old-fash
iOnCd flowers made the night air sweet
with their blended OdorS. For q mo-
mcnt Dale stood looking toward the
very bright stars and thinking; then
he told the big man at his side Oi
CONS plan concerning the LittlefOrdS,
and strongly 'urgee the making OF
friendship between the two clans.
"rhe snaScm mumbled John More.
land.
Ha appeared TO be worried about ii
lie folded his arms, walked to the gate
and back to Dale without uttering an
other word It was hard for hin 70
throw down completely the hatred CT
years upon sears. Had it been any
other person than Bill Dale, a fighter
after his own heart, who had asked
1t, he never would have even cOnSid-
cred it; he would have said quickly:
"Wcrl thrash the Balls and the Lit
tlefOrGs, tool"