The Glenwood post. (Glenwood Springs, Colo.) 1897-current, 1921-08-06
Illustrations By
Irwin Myers -

room opened, and Ben Littleford's
dripping wet.
Mrs. Moreland arose and went to-
ward the young woman. She knew
that only something of great impor-
lance could bring Littleford into her
home in this fashion.
whats the matter, Baber'
Babe Littleford gave no attention
to Mrs. Moreland. She went on to
Bill Dale, walking softly on bare feet
BLACK Adam is a-goin' to kill you
tonight, Bill Dale"
'That SOP" Dale's smile was rather
grim. How did you find that out,
Miss Littleford?"
Il found it out. all right. AS he
went off from the river this mornin',
l made fun of him; and he patted tho
stock Of his rifle and said he'd git you
through windowl He was at our
house this evenln' to help fix pap's
gun, and when he left he started this
way, a-goin' by the blowed-down syca-
more. l waded the river at Blue Cat
shoals to beat him here. thought you
might want to know about it, SOS We
could mebbe save other folks the trou-
BILE o. maxim funeral To- ye."
She backed toward the door. her
eyes never leaving Dale's face. Another
second, and she was gone.
They were all on their feet now.
John Moreland gripped Dale's arm.
lover thar aside O. the chiinbley.
Bill |" he ordered his native drawl for
the moment absent "Out. Addie,
honeyl Luke, bring my rifle and hat
jump keen Gale, bring water and
drownd this here firer'
1t was done. Moreland took his hat
and the repeater and went alone into
the night.
When some fifteen minutes had
passed, there came to Dale's ears the
sound Of shooting. There were ten
shots In such rapid succession that they
made almost continuous roar. Then
came echoes and reverberations, and
then silence. Soon John Moreland let
himself into the dark room.
His wife's voice was low and filled
with anxiety:
Wnbt happened, JOnn
A dull thud came through the dark
ness as her husbands rifie-butt struck
the floor.
''This is what happened, Addie: As
passed the cawner o. the house, got
down that thar old oXwhip to take
along. 1 went acrOst the road and into
the meadow, and thar seen Adam
nnI t-p hi 4
was about to pass nue., I jumped up
and jsrked his rife from him and
busted 1t ag'in a rock. Then I lights
In and thrnshes him with the Oxwhip
ontel he broke and run. And en- this
here happened, Addie:
II was a-watchin' to see eff Adam
had RELY went of, when I seed man
a-comin' toward me fast. thought
1t was Ball. O. course. So up and
tells him to show me how fast he can
run and commences a-shootin' over
his head to skeer him. But 1t didn't
happen to be Adam Ball-it was Ben
Littleford! He was a-follerin' Babe
to see what she was up to, o course"
"How do we know 1t was Ben, papr
Caleb asked.
"How do 1 known growled John
Moreiand. when got through n
shootin'. he ho,lers at me and says:
Tomorrow, John Aoreland.' he sayA
well have a little Gettysburg O. our
ownv And I might mind ye, Gale, at
he keeps his word the same a. do"
"And Littleford meant a." began
Dale.
That the1l be a big hsht tomor-
row." said Moreland. "Bill Dale. In
a-makin' this land yore land and these
people yore people. I'm a-feard ys're
a-goln' to git more'n ye expected. mob
be more'n ye can handle. Do ye want
to back out Of 1t and let the coal 60,
or are ye one o these fellers who
chaws what they bites OF ef it's
hOsss head7"
I'm stick" Dale's voice came firm
ly In the darkness. "Ili stick"