Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1921-06-23

| BOSu, Dill, every man OF EN- can bnOOl
gnat's eyelash on at four hundred
yards wisht may drap dead e1
they cain'tl Do ye see that big cabin
right plumb In the middle o the nigh
half O. the settlement, Bill2 Well. the
boss O. the Morelands he lives thar
John MOreland. That's whar you want
to 60, Bill, sence we've got a Oncyor.
able case o. the disease knOwed as
cOal-On-the-brain. But / can tell ye
afOrehand, you amt got enough money
to buy that coal, don't matter how
much money we've got"
Dale was not looking toward John
MOreland's home now. His gaze had
wandered to the other side Of the
river. BY Heck waited full minute
for a reply to his speech, then he
spoke again:
~The gyurl, or the GOALS that
what's a-bOtherin' ye, Bil?"
Dale's eyes twinkled. Must / choose
between themT he laughed.
''ShOrep BY Heck wasn't even smil-
ing. "Shorel The Morelands and
Littlefords hates each other wuss nor
a blue-tailed hawk hates crow. The
gyurl, or the coal, Bill"
"We'll go down to John Moreland's,"
announced Dale.
The mOuntaineer took up his rife.
Let me gi' We word or two o. warn
In" he continued seriously. Don't
nffoYs n So
eatin' his grub, nor fo' sleepin' in his
bed, nor TO chawin' his tobacker. Ell
We do, yore goose will shore,be cooked
with John MOreland. But eff We was
to brag on the vittles a little, Johns
wife a-bein' pow'ful handy in the
kitchen, 1t wouldn't do a DANCED bit
o. harm. Do We understand 1t all now,
Bill?"
Dale nodded, and they began the de-
scent.
John Moreland's house was built Of
whole oak logs. which were chinked
with oak splits and daubed In between
with clay; the roof was of handmade
boards, and chimney of stones and
clay rose at either end.
John MoreIand himself sat on the
front porch, and beside him lay a re-
peating rifle, two young squirrels that
had been very neatly shot through the
head, and q weary black-and-tan
hound. He was an uncommOnly big
man, and about forty-seven; his eyes
were gray and keen; his thick hair
and full beard were a rich brown, with
only q few threads of white. There
was a certain English fineness about
the man. One felt that he could trust
John MoreIand.
AS the moonshlner and his ccmpan-
ion reached the gate MOreland rose
and pushed his hat back from his fore
head.
Hi, john" grinned Heck. "This
here Teller wants to stay with ye a
few days, John. Seems to be all
right"
'Come right In" invited the chief
Of the Morelands. He indicated the
homemade chair he had just vacated.
"Set down thar and rest, stranger. I'll
be back in minute or So"
He fastened into the cabin, carrying
the squirrels with him.
Hes went to tell his wife to hatch
up a extry good dinner, BILL" whis-
pered Heck. "Pepper-cyored ham,
young chicken, hot biscuits, fresh but
ter, wild honey. huckIeberry pie and
peach pie and strawberry preserves
Bill, CANT hardly stand It. Blast my
picture eff l couldn't eat two whole
raw dawgs right now. I'm that ding
busted hOngFy, Well, got to ramble
on home. live down the river half
mile. we and my nav. Come to see
me. Bill, and wen go a-tishin'. So
long, BIZ old boyl"
John MOreland returned presently. |
The man from the city rose and prof
fered HIS hand.
my name" he began. old habit |
strong upon him, us Carlyle"
Before ne could get any farther with |
it, John Moreland flung the hand from
him as though it were a thing Of I'M
speakable contamination. His bearded
face went deathly white with the |
Wilderness OF an old and bitter hatred.
His great fists clenched, and every |
muscle in his giant body trembIed.
whats the matter, manT" Dale
wanted to know.
"Carlylel" Moreland repeated in a
hOarse grOwl. "You say yOre name is
CarIylei"
YES" wonderingly, but that's only
/ part Of It. Ny name is Carlyle VIII
burton Dale-BIl Dale. What's the
natterP'
"Did you come from West vir-
yinnyT sharply.
Dale gave the name Of his home
own and state.
that's dlfrent." The mountain
ser's countenance became lighter.
This man I'm a-thInkln' about he
vas from West virginny. hope you
won't hold nothln' ag'in me TO- actin
lp that away. | couldn't hep It, shore,
{ seems. You'll know how / felt when
tell ye about IL. Mr.. Dale. owe II
o ye to explain. Jest minute
He stepped into the cabin and
'rOught out another chair, sat down
lsavily and crossed hIs legs. Dale,
90. sat down.
'srhe mountain you had to come
!