Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1921-09-15


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turned and went back to Dale.
'%The's . man a-waitfn' on us ahead
thar. BILL ne drawied. eat ~ shore
want 90 watch like q hawk % keep
aim from a-steaIin' the eyeteeth out
O. gore head. ais name 10 Hender.
son Con, and he wants coal"
They wen: on Soon they met O
man who. In clothing and mannef.
made Dale think Of stories he had
heard and read OF Mississippi river
Steamboat gamblers Of the long ago.
HIS eyes we're black. and as keen as
q pair Of spear-polnts; his mustaches.
too. were black. and they had sharp.
upturued ends like those Of q Aephis-
20. The major had said that he was
q smooth article: he certainly looked
10.
He met John Aoreland with an oily
smile and thrust out his hand But
Moreland wouldn't see the hand.
Anything we've got to say about
coal" he growled. '.ye can say to Bill
Dale thar" pointing with a caliOused
thumb. "Bnl he's the high light O.
the whole business; and when he
opens his mouth, ye can cock yOre
head to one side and listen To- gaws-
pei"
Con was delighted to meet Mr. Dale.
Of whom he had already heard. Dale
had nothing whatever to say. They
walked on toward the cabin OF the
Moreland chief. with Goff keeping up
a running fire of talk concerning the
scenery. the climate-anything but
coal.
At John Moreland's gate. Gof
nudged Dale with an elbow and whis-
pered:
meet me at one o'clock down there
where the big sycamore lies across
the river. I've got something to tell
you that win interest YOU"
He didn't wait for q reply, but
turned away with By Heck. He went
TO the home Of the Hecks ostensibly
to have his fortune told-really. to
get his dinner. The old woman didn't
like him. but her Unborn spirit Of hos
pitality wouldn't permit her to refuse
him a meal. She felt that she was
almost even with him when. after
shufiiing and reading the cards. she
told him that IL would be wise for
him TO look out for q big, tall. grey
eyed young man with an oak tree In
one land and a couple Of cliffs In the
other.
.
Dale told Major Bradley and John
Moreland OF that which Goff had said
to him at the gate. The major sug-
gested forthwith that he 60 to meet
the man; It couldn't possibly do any
harm, and there was a chance that ne
would learn something Of Cons In
tentions.
So Dale went.
Con was already there, waiting. He
was sitting on a stone on the More
land side OF the river. whiting idly.
When he saw Dale approaching. he
smiled and nodded, rose and pocketed
his knife.
WANT " udhC yVu uh ohCk Ava
that COAL" he said Mt once,
IAN right" Dale replied. EFF your
offer is big enough, It will be consid-
cred. But no shyster price is going
TO get that coal, Goff."
Goff frowned uneasily.
You don't know coal. Mr.. Dale.
You don't know the business Of min
ing-or I've got you sized up wrong.
Thousands of men have gone busted
trying TO do things they weren't used
to doing. There's a big chance, too.
that the coal isn't what IL looks to be
on the surface. You'd better take a
sure thing. and avoid a possibility of
loss. I'll give you five thousand. spot
cash, for that coal"
Dale shook his head. you'll have
to come heavier than that. y'know. II
you get the Moreland coal"
"And an extra thousand for your
self"
Dale laughed n low. queer laugh.
"You amuse me, Goff." said he.
Seems to me you've missed your call
ing In life. What a peach Of a king
villain you'd make In melodramai You
wouldn't have TO act. either; you'd
have TO be Just your natural self. And