The Adair County news., 1921-09-06

Il reckon l CANT deny" the More
land leader muttered, "'at / like Babe
LittlefOrd. She amt like none O. the
rest Of 'em, Bill"
Dale went on:
GAIL there is to do to enlist the Lit
tlefOrds on our side is this: you go 70
old Ben and say to him: Let's begin
anew; let's be friends, your people
and my people, you and me- He'll be
glad you did it. Then it will be easy
sailing for US. The Balls never would
dare to attack such a force as the
MOrelands and the LittIefords com
bined. Don't you see? l admit it will
be something of a sacrifice on your
part. But a man like you can make
sacrifices. Any man who is big
enough to 90 down on his knees and
ask the blessing of the Almighty Oh
his enemies is big enough to make
sacrifice. COme-let's 90 over and see
Ben LittIefOrd now; won't yOUT'
The mOuntaineer didn't answer.
You won't throttle the cause born
in David MoreIand's good heart on &C
count Of a little personal pride-I
know you WON'T" Dale said earnestly.
MoreIand Strengthened.
you mean we'll" he said slowly "I
think you're one O. the very best men
in the world, Bill Dale. You often
make me think o pore David himself.
But I'm afeared ye don't quite onder-
stand, Bill. I've seed my own son lie
from a LittIefOrd's bullet To go and
offer to be friends with a man who
might be the same one at killed my
boy is a pOw'ful hard thing to DO. Tn
afeard We don't quite understand
1T was a terrible thing, l know
said Dale. But it was the fortunes
of war. The LittIefords have endured
the fortunes of war in exactly the
same way. Come with me; let's go.
need your help; can do very little
without your help. Come, John More
land!"
The hiIlman replied slowly: well,
I'll go with We over thar. But Ben
he'll hat to make the fust break at
a-bein' friends, cause I'm purity shore
1 never will. As soon as I git my
hat, Bill"
He went to the front porch and
took from a chairpOst his broad
trimmed headgear. Then the two set
out.
They crossed an Ox-wagOn road, a
sweet-scented meadow, the river by
means of the blOwn-dOwn sycamore,
opotbor craoF-Soap+a5 r,oodorz ov5
another Ox-wagon road, and entered
the cabin yard of the Littleford chief.
Here, too, many Old-fashiOned flowers
were in bloom; a cane fishingpole,
slender and white, leaned against the
porch; it made Dale think Of
Babe.
You wait out here" whispered
Dale, with a hand on his companions
arm. "I'll go in and see if can per-
suade LittlefOrd to make the advance.
I'm pretty sure ean."
He started forward when a hound
warningly. At that Dale halted and
sang out:
Hello, Benz"
The front door swung open, Creak-
ing on wooden hinges, and Babes ia
ther, bareheaded and with a lamp in
his hand. appeared in the doorway.
He knew the voice that had summoned
him.
Come right in, Mr.. Dale" he in
vited with the utmost COrdiality.
Come right in -
He ScOIded the dog away. and Dale
entered the primitive home. He was
shown into the best room. where he
dropped easily into a roOmy old rock
er that was lined with an untanned
Sheepskin. Ben LittlefOrd put the
lamp on a crude table. drew up an
other chair. and sat down facing his
visitor.
81 hope We amt Jest happened over
TO- a minute or two on business" he
draWIed; Il hope we've come to spend
the night wi me, anyway"
I'm here in the interests of peace"
Dale began, looking at the hillman
squarely. Il want you LittIctords to
be on good terms with your neigh
bors, the MoreIands. John is out
there at your gate now; he is waiting
for you to ask him in and say to him;
Let's begin anew; let's be friends,
your people and my people, you and
me- You want that don't you, Benz
Babe did, I'm sure
LittlefOrd frOwned, laced his big I'm
gers together and twirled his big
thumbs. Now that he was once more
at home. with assurance that his
daughter would entirely recover, he
was no longer weak; he had all his
old courage and all his old, stubborn
hill pride back.
I'll ak JOHN in" he finally de-
cided, but b.. af f6 make the fust
break at a-bein' friends. Me akin
him into my house is purity burned
good start toward friendship, amt
itT"
He arose, took up the lamp, walked
to the front door and opened it, and
"alled into the night: -
won't We come in, JOhn|
81 reckon | will. Ben" was the lazy
answer. "FO' a minute, anyhow. But
1 reckon l CANT stay long"
MOreland followed LittlefOrd into