The Ordway new era., 1921-09-09
CHAPTER III-contiuued.

consciousness, he was lying under
covers in the carved black walnut bed
Beside MIN stood John Moreland who
held in one hand a bowl containing
hot herb brew that his wife had pre-
pared Granny Heck, her son BY. and
Mrs. Moreland stood not far away.
''This herelI be good TO ye, 1 think. "
said Moreland, nodding toward the
bowl In his hand. He went over and
put an arm around Dale's shoulders
and helped him to sit up.
Dale drank the stuff with difficulty.
"Much obliged" he muttered thickly
end? He didn't lick me. did he-that
fellow Ball?"
He shore didn't" smiled Moreland.
"Not by big sight He fell out fust.
His own pap won't hardly know him,
Bill"
News travels rapidly in the big hills.
The Morelands began to gather at the
home of their chief to see the man
who had whipped Black Adam Ball
every Moreland able to walk came to
see Bill Dale. For three hours he was
liOnized, but he didn't enjoy it; the
water had left many pains in his
chest, and his head ached duly, and
his hands still felt as though the bones
were shattered in them.
Game thundershower that after
noon, and the mountain evening fell
with chill. A fire was made in the
wide stone fireplace In the guests
room. and when supper was over the
family gathered there with Dale, who
refused to be kept in bed
After a few minutes of silently
watching grotesque shadows fit across
the log walls. Dale said TO John More
land:
'If your brother David could know,
don't you think he'd want you to get
the value out of the coaI?"
John Moreland bent forward to rest
his chin In his hands. His sober grey
eyes stared thoughtfully toward the
fire.
81 amt never looked at 1t that
away" he said.
That's the right way to look at it."
declared Dale. But you shouldn't
sell the property as 1t is
The mountaineer turned an inquir-
ing face toward his guest.
How In thunder could 1 handle 1t
eft I didn't?"
"Why not let me develop it for
you?" Dale said earnestly, eagerly. II
won't charge you anything above ex-
penses, and | won't be extravagant."
ltd take considerable money to start
things a-movn' Have you got it?'
asked MoreIand.
mo. but | can get it. Almost any
body would be willing TO lend money
on so good u thing as this, y'know"
For little while Moreland sat there
and looked squarely at Dale. who re-
turned his gaze without sign of
fiinching The hillman was trying to
find motive
How comes it at you. who amt
knOwed us hut two days" he de-
manded, "can be so much interested
I'm us?'
The question demanded straight
forward answer. Dale realized that
there was but one way in which he
could give satisfactory explanation,
and that that was by telling the truth
but not the whole truth, as he
surmised it, for then his efforts would
60 for naught.
Moreiand was speaking again, and
his eyes were brighter now.
II agree at David would want us
to develop the coal. ef he could know.
It's like light a-breakin' to me. But
that coal Is sacred to US. Bill Dale
and afpre ye 60 any fu'ther I'll haf
to az ye to tell me all about yeself.
A city man up here in the wilderness
It don't look s'picious, Bill, mebbe,
but-weil. hopes ye can pardon me
10 AKIN 1t. shore got to be keer-
fuI about Brother David's coal. Addie
end the boys'll go out and leave jest
= tuo IN here: ind when ye're stalk
~ - - ifsS ~ sams ~ tAilEins to :
tsnbetoas - - - teiii.' 4. CO.