New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1921-09-09

1T sounds funny 10 hear a mar talk
o sech little things as vi'lets," she de-
clared. Most o men don't think o
nOthin' but wOrkin', huntin', lightin'
and eatin'. TIA n little mad at you
| went home yeste'day-and | think
| run might nigh the whole six mile
and fixed up dinner TO you, cause
understood you was a-comin' to our
house-and you went to them low
down Morelands. :"
Il beg pardon" he said cOntrltely ;
didn't know you were especially ex-
pecting me. | had business" he added,
with John Moreland."
There came to his ears from some
where down the river the chorus OF
II raklsh old hill song. and the voice
was that of the lanky moOnshiner, by
Heck
'Oh. when I die. don't-a bury me deep.
Put no tombstone at my head and feet.
Put a bears jawbone in my right hand
On my way to the Promised La-a-and,
Oh. On my way to the
Land"
A few minutes later there appeared
on the MOreland side of the river the
singer of the rakish old song; he had
Il mlnnow pail IN one hand and n white
hickory rod in the other.
Hi, thar, Bill, old boy - he yelled.
Hi, thar, Babe, Either OF ye'uns
ketched %anythlngT
Ben Littleford's daughter held up n
fish proudly. Heck slapped his thigh
with his SLOUGH hat.
Good To- you" he exclaimed. but
they amt a-bitln' Jest right. The
moons wrong, and the signs Is wrong,
70 fishin'."
At that instant John MOrcland ap-
Ieared at Heck's side. He seemed very
serious about something.
"Bill Dale" he called, "come over
here"
Wondering, Dale put down his rod
and turned to obey. Two minutes later
he stood before John Morcland.
IL Jest wanted to tell ye," and the
mountaineer almost closed one alert
EI'N WV. ai WV Puil ciioit w
cit into trouble over thar"
I'm an able-bodied man." Dale re-
turned smilingly.
You shore are" frowncd Moreland.
hut mebbe you amt used to burned
hard fightln'."
Not used to hard fighting. Dale's
smile b%roadened. Once he had whipped
n heavyweight pugilist: and he had
not for money or prestige.
MOreland suddenly jerked n thumb
toward the other side of the stream.
Dale looked and saw. standing beside
Babe Littleford. n quite formidable
man. lie had the height and breadth,
almost. of n Goliath. He was black
eyed and black-haired. and his thick.
short beard was curled like the hair
between a bulls horns. In one hand
he carried n repeating rifle as lightly
as though il were n mere straw.
one Of his great arms suddenly
Strengthened toward Dale, and a voice
as gruf as the growl OF a bear said
hotly:
What was you a-doin' here a-talkin'
to my gyurl;"
Babe Llttleford looked angry. Dale
flushed, then ven pale.
Il have n habit Of talking with
whom | please. he said evenly.
spoke like "A man." drawled the
lanky Heck In a very low tone.
Goliath OF the hills stared unbeliev-
lngly. Dale said In an undertone to
John Moreland: rs 1t that Ball fell
low"
YES" answered the hillman; "lt's
Black Adam Ball"
Ball dropped his rifle to the
violets, slowly clcnched his huge and
hairy hands. and thrust his bearded
jaw out aggresslvely.
Il dare we over here, ye pink cow
ard :" he challenged.
IF you have any business with me,
come over here ard transact IT," Dale
retorted. Il won't run"
That's Moreland TERRITORY" Ball
objected. "But I'll meet ye half way,