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

sou make ne mad. too. Con. Eecause
I'm On the square with the More
lands and everybody eise--now, get
that"
The corners OF the shyster coal mans
mouth came down.
"Oh, bcsh-don't pass me that vir.
tue stuff. Every man has his price.
high or low. You've got yours. and
rye got mine. I'll give you FIVE thou
sand. spot cash. n you'll persuade
John Moreland 10 sell TO me for five
thousand. and nohody'lI ever know
you got rakedovn from me. It's all
the coal is worth. that ten thousand.
Well, yesT
Dale was Of the type that goes pale
with anger. and he was pale now. He
clenched his hands.
You can't insult me Ike that and
get away with It. Gotf." he clipped
'swe're going TO fight. Cor. and I'm
going TO put Q licking on you that
fifteen horses can't pull of. Get meT"
He threw aside his coat and rolled
his sleeves to his elbows. Henderson
Goff ran his right hand quickly to .
rear frouser pocket and brought back
q stub-nosed automatic pistol. which
he turned threatening'y toward Bill
Dale.
eco easy. friend" Coz said very
compiacently. There's no use in
getting sore. want the coal. that's
all. II ! can't get IL by fair means
I'll get Il in another way. on, don't
mind telling you; one mans oath is as
COOL in court as another mans. II
you don't take me up at ten thousand.
TIL give you so much trouble That
you'll be glad To sell IL To me later
for half that amount The Balls think
they own a big interest in that coal.
There's a lot of them, too, and they
can keep you from working the mine.
Well, can't waste time ia dickeriug
with you. What DO you say?"
Il say" and Dale smiled an odd lit
tie smile. that your plan appears TO
be perfect. except that you've over
looked one or two important details.
For Instance, there's the law, y'know."
THE law-now don't go and fool
yourselfi" exclaimed Con. "The state
couldn't AFFORD TO keep hundred men
here. month In and month out, just TO
protect your little mine. My patience
Is about gone. Dale-for the last time,
what do you say?"
Il say that I'll beat you at any
game you put up against me-" very
mt h..- 7
are a coward and a scoundrel. and
that you haven't got the insides In you
to fight me fair mans fight. II you'll
only pocket that thing you've got in
your hand, I'll NOW down half an acre
OF meadow bush with your body"
The other turned red. then white.
then red again. Bill Dale's words bad
dashed him keenly. His eyes became
like hard block beads. and he began
to raise the wicked-looklng pistol as
though he meant TO fire.
Then there was the sound OF a
breaking twig behind him. and a voice
drawled out:
''Drap II, Mfsrer--drap the funny
little gun, or the middle o. Tarmeht
Is yore potion right noww
1t was the moonshIner. by Heck.
and his rifle was leveled. Con dropped
the pistol. Heck grinned, advanced
slowly, took up the weapon that the
hillfolk call a towards gun" and
tossed il into the river.
Now git-cut the mustard-Iight a
rag away from here" he ordered,
''afOre l let Bill Dale loose on yer
GOff went away rapidly.
Il wonder If you heard him say
anything that would make you valu-
able as Witness" muttered Dale,
''in the event We want TO have him ar
restedf"
II heerd you tell him at he was
afeard to fight ye fair mans fight,
and at ef he'd pocket that thing he
held In his hand ye'd NOW down TWEEN
ty acres o meadow bush with his low
down body-that'd be yallyable in cote
wouldn't it?"
Dale smiled. Then he frowucd.
continued Merit IFeckl.