Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1921-07-21
CHAPTER discontinued.

When Dale came back to a state of |
Consciousness, he was lying under
covers in the carved black walnut bed. |
Beside MIN stood John Moreland, who
held IN one hand a bowl containing a
hot herb brew that his wife had pre-
pared. Granny Heck, her son By, and
Mrs. Moreland stood not far away.
This here'll be, good fo' ye, l think"
said Moreland nodding -0ward the
bowl in his hand. He went over and
put an arm around Dale's shoulders
and helped him TO sit up.
Dale drank the stuff with difficulty.
"Auch obliged" he muttered thickIy.
"I-let's see, did ! whip-how did it
end? He didn't lick me, did he-that
fellow Ball?"
HE shore didn't" smiled Moreland
"Not by big sight. He fell out fust
His own pap won't hardly know him,
Billr'
News travels rapidly in the big hills.
Tie Morelands began to gather at the
home of their chief to see the man
who had whipped Black Adam Ball;
every Moreland able to walk came to
see Bill Dale For three hours he was
lionized, but he didn't enjoy it, the
water had left many pains in, his
chest. and his head ached DULY, and
his hands still felt as though the bones
were shattered in them.
Came a thundershower that after
noon, and the mountain evening fell
with a chill. A fire was made in the
wide stone fireplace in the guests
room, and when supper was over the
family gathered there with Dale, who
refused to be kept in bed.
After few minutes of silently
watching grotesque shadows fit across
the log walls, Dale said to John More
land:
IF your brother David could know,
don't you think he'd want you to get
the value out of the coal?"
John Moreland bent forward to rest
his chin in his hands. His sober grey
eyes stared thoughtfully toward the
fire.
Il amt never looked at it that
away" he said.
That's the right way to look at it,"
declared Dale. But you shouldn't
sell the property as it is"
The mountalneer turned an inquir-
ing face toward his guest.
How in thunder could 1 handle it
eff / didn't?"
"Why not let me develop it for
yOu?" Dale said earnestly, eagerly. 81
won't charge you anything above ex-
penses, and 1 won't be extravagant" :"
ltd take consd'able money to start
things a-movin'. Have you got it?'
asked Moreland.
mo, but l can get it. Almost any,
body would be willing to lend money
on so good thing as this, yknow."
For little while Moreland sat there
and looked squarely at Dale, who re-
turned his gaze without a sign of
finching. The hillman was trying to
find a motive.
How comes it at you, who amt
knowed US but two days." he de-
manded, "can be so much interested
in us?"
The question demanded a straight
forward answer. Dale realized that
there was but one way in which he
could give a satisfactory explanation,
and that that was by telling the truth
but not the whole truth. as he
| surmised it, for then his efforts would
| go for naught.
Moreland was speaking again, and
his eyes were brighter now.
II agree at David would want us
to develop the coal, eff he could know
| It's like light a-breakin' to me. But
that coal is sacred to us, Bill Dale
and afore ye go any fu'ther I'll hat
to ak We to tell me ell about yeself
A city man up here in he Wilderness
it don't look s'picious, Bill, mebbe
but-well, l hopes We can pardon me
fo' AKIN it. / shore got to be keer
full about Brother David's coal. Addie
and the boys'll go out and leave jest
rs two in here; and when ye're a-talk
in to me it's the same as talkin' to 6
tombstone so fer as tellin' is con
Sarned. Addie, honey; Luke, you ant
Gale"
Mrs. MOreland and her sons arose
and left the room, closing the door be
hind them. Bill Dale paced the floor
arms folded. brOws drawn. Finally he
falted before the MOreland chief
There's nothing I'm ashamed of,
E11ess," he said. Il don't like to tell il
simply because I don't like to tell it
But-Fll do it,
He sat down in his sheerskin-lineC
rocker. lay back and closed his eye.
as though to visualize the story, Il
live it over.
Maybe it's not very much in m!
favor, John Moreland," he began. q.
never could get along with my parents
or with the set l was born into. Some
how. | was different. Father anC
mother wanted me to be a dandy; the!
even wanted me to let a servant dress
rue. The climax came when they trieC
to marry me to a young woman wht
didn't want me any more than l want
ed her"
He opened his eyes, looked straigh
at Moreland, and went on:
you see, they wanted to marry u
in order to unite old Clavering's for
tuaa md my dads; Patricia, like me