Cleveland County herald., 1921-07-21


 ders and told him this:
 "Look here, Bobby, Pm going to give you some advice, and you take it. You steal Pat and marry her. Steal Pat and marry her if you have to live In hole in hillside. You're as good as any of them, and lots better than most of them. You can work your way to a better salary. You see,' I told him, we get about what we deserve in this world. Most of us don't deserve much
 'I asked him if mother was badly cut up. He said she was; that she had falnted. Dad swore aloud he said, there in church. I told Bobby good-by and got aboard the train without say Ing anything about where I was go- ing-but 1 didn't know myself where l was going, at the time.
 'NoW you've heard it. Every word was truth. If you'll trust me with the coal, I'll make this land my land, your people my people, I'll suffer with you when you suffer, and be happy with you when you're happy; and when you lISIlt, LII HSht with you.
 The Moreland chief arose, and Bill Dale arose. The hillman put out his hand, and Dale gripped it.
 T believe in ye, Bill" said John Moreland. "Fo another thing, I've seed ye fight You can work the coal.'
 He looked toward the closed inner door and called, "Oh, Addie; you and the boys can come back now
 Out of the night face appeared at one of the small windows. It was feminine face and handsome rather than pretty. Two slender sunburned hands gripped the window-ledge nerv- ously. The face pressed closer to the glass, then disappeared. Soon after ward the outer door of the guests room opened, and Ben Littleford's daughter entered. Her skirts were dripping wet,
 Mrs. Moreland arose and went to- ward the young woman. She knew that only something of great impor- tance could bring a Littleford into her home in this fashion.
 Whats the matter, Babe?"
 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 so?" Dale's smile was rather grim. How did you find that out, Miss Littleford?"
 q found it out, all right. As he went off from the river this mornin', 1 made fun of him. and he patted tho stock of his rifle and said he'd git you through a window! He was at our house this evenin' to help fix pap's gun, and when he left he started this way, a-goin' by the blowed-down syca- more. 1 waded the river at Blue Cat shoals to beat him here I thought you might want to know about it, sos ye could mebbe save other folks the trou- ble O maxim a funeral fo' 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 chimbley, Bill p he ordered, his native drawl for the moment absent. "Out, Addie, honey! Luke, bring my rifle and hat jump keen! Gale, bring water and drownd this here fire "
 It was done. Moreland took his hat and the repeater and went alone into the night
 When some fifteen minutes had passed, there came to Dales ears the sound of shooting There were ten shots in such rapid succession that they made almost continuous roar Then then silence Soon John Moreland let himself into the dark room.
 His wife's voice was low and filled with anxiety:
 "What happened, John?"
 A dull thud came through the dark ness as her husbands rifle-butt struck the floor.
 "This is what happened, Addie: As I passed the cawner O the house, got | down that thar old oxwhip to take along. I went acrost the road and into | the meadow, and thar l seen Adam Ball a-comin'. hid, and when Adam was about to pass me, l jumped up and ierked his rifle from him and busted it ag'in rock. Then lights in and thrashes him with the oxwhip | ontel he broke and run. And Zen this here happened, Addie:
 q was a-watchin' to see ef Adam had reely went off, when l seed man a-comin' toward me fast. l thought it was Ball, O course. So l up and tells him to show me how fast he can run and commences a-shootin' over his head to skeer him. But it 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 ye know it was Ben, pap? Caleb asked.
 How do l know?" growled John Moreland. '.When I got through a. shootin', he hollers at me and says Tomorrow John MOrelaDd' he says