The Meridian times., 1921-08-26

| Always called me that, and it made
me feel like man. Then put my
bag down and feok him by both Shout.
ders and tsId Aim this:
f1ook here. Bebby, I'm going to
give Eou some advice, and you take
X. You sfead Pat and marry her. Steal
Pat and marry her IL you have to live
In q hole La Q 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,' told
him, we get about what we deserve
In this world. Nest OF us don't deserve
much
| Il asked him IL mother was badly
cut up. He said she war: that she had
tainted. Dad swore aloud, he said.
there In church. told Bobby good-by
and got aboard the train without say
Ing anything about where / was go-
ing-but didn't know myself where
l was going, at the time
| Nov you've heard 1t. Every word
was truth. II 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
fight, I'll fight with YOU"
The MoreIand chief arose, and Bill
Dale arose. The hiliman put out Ills
hand, and Dale gripped it.
Il believe In We, Bill,' said John
Moreland. ''Fo' another thing, I've
seed We 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. II 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-
tnnce could bring a Littleford into her
home In this fashion.
What's the matter, Babep
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 soT' Dale's smile was rather
grim. How did you find that out,
Miss Littleford?"
Il found It out, all right AS he
went Off from the river this mornin',
| made fun Of him; and he patted tho
stock Of his rifle and said he'd git you
through windowi 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. waded the river at Blue Cat
shoals to beat him here. thought you
might want to know about 1t, SOS We
could mebbe save other folks the trou-
BILE o. maxim funeral TO 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:
"Over thar aside o. the chimbley,
Bill Y 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 firer
| IL ,x,ass Aona Harolap5 toolr III. ~,
and the repeater and went alone into
the night.
When some fifteen minutes had
passed, there came to Dale's ears the
sound of shooting. There were ten
shots in such rapid succession that they
made almost continuous roar. Then
came echoes and reverberations, and
then silence. Soon John Moreland let
himself into the dark room.
Els wife's voice was low and filled
with anxiety:
"What happened, John?"
A duh thud came through the dark
ness as her husbands rifie-butt struck
the floor.
This is what happened, Addte: AS
/ passed the cawner O. the house, get
down that thar old oxwhip to take
along. went acrost the road and into
the meadow, and thar seen Adam
Ball a-cemin'. | hid. and when Adam
was about to pass nae, jumped up
and ierked his rifle from him and
busted 1t ag'in rock. Then lights
in and thrashes him with the oxwhip
cntel he broke and run. And 'en this
here happened, Addie:
81 was a-watchin' to see ef Adam
had RELY went of, when seed man
a-eoihin' toward me fast. / thought
It WIS Bah, o. course. So ! up and
tells him to show me how fast he can
run and commences a-shootin' over
his head to skeer him. But II didn't
happen to be Adam Ball--it was Ben
LittlefOrd He was a-foIlprin, Rahe