The Adair County news., 1921-08-30
while I'm In Cincinnati-unIess 1 fan

eight days, we'll start the work. At
a guess, I'd say We'll need twenty
men. Can we get themP
"ShOre," nodded the mountaineer.
And all MOrelands at that"
They turned hOmeward. At last
Bill Dale was happy. He had some
thing to do nOw-an aim in life. He
had difficulties to overcome, obstacles
to remove, barriers to surmOunt-it
was his big chance!
1t was almost sundOwn when Dale
returned from his visit to the coal
vein-Big Pine mountain hid the sun
at little after three in the afternoon.
He borrowed fishing rod and min
now pail, which made his going to the
river seem proper enough to John
MOreland, and set out to meet Babe
LittIefOrd. He was glad that nobody
expressed a desire to accompany him.
IIe found Ben LittlefOrd'S daughter
where he had found her twice before
sitting on stone the size of a small
barrel. She was fishing with an I'M
ing not at all, and she seemed pleased
| when she saw him coming. He sat
down on the stone at her side. She
moved over little shyly, and tried to
cover her feet with her calico skirts.
Needn't bother to hide them"
laughed Bill Dale. "They're pretty
enough. Most feet, y'knOw are neces-
ny-;I, oh nd in
SpOutS!'
Babe httIefOrd blushed. He went
on to hide her confusion. Tell me
| about the rifles"
You must shore keep 1t a secret"
she told him.
81 promise"
Better put yOre hook in. SOS eff any
| body comes along"
Dale threw out an empty hook.
81 want to tell ye some other things
| fust, SOS yen understand better when
| l come to the part about the rifles,
Babe began. looking thOughtfully
| across the water to where a kingfsher
sat in watchful waiting. She cOntin-
ued slowly. choosing her words care
| fully. 81 was brought up TO hate them
| MOrelandS. butt don't think do. Ny
| people is jest like the NOrpiandS. The
| biggest difference " can fnd is thl'
| one side mostly haS grey eyes Ike
| you and t'Other side mostly has brown
eyes like me. All but their everlaStin
hghtin'. they're good people. Bill Da'e.
Each side. We see. is brought UP 10
hate tOther side I'm ashamed TO tel!
| it. butt understand the fuSt plain
words my Uncle SIul LittlefOrd'S last
| baby said was these here: 'D-n John
| MOrelandr 1t started long time ago,
| and il started over nOthin'. Grandpap
| LittlefOrd and John MOreland's pap
| got in a dispute over whether Kahn
tucky was in Virginny or Nawth Ca
liner, and went to fightin' about it.
| Purity soon my Uncle Saul and Abner
| Moreland happened along. and they
went to fightin too. Thank goodness,
it was on Sunday, and none of EN-
didn't have their rifles with 'em. What
eTer else we ave or amt up here. Bill
Dale we gen'aIty respects the Sabbath
day TO keep il holy.
Il see" Dale muttered symp&;het-
:caIIy.
| "I've seen my own mother set down
| in the floor and take her boys head
| in her Iap-Oh. such Il big. tine boy he
! was while the blood run through her
dress from Il MOreIand'S bullet. De
died with mothers arms and mine
around him. Ii was all We could do
fO' him. was to love him. I've seen sis
tprS watch their brothers die from
MOreland bullets and young wimmen
watch their sweethearts die, and wives
watch their husbands die.
Il tell you. Bill Dale. them More
lands never misses when they have
even half a fair shot You'd be puff
fectIy safe in a-lettin' any of 'em shoot
lines from atween yOre finger and
thumb all day. And its the same way
with the Littlefords. They're fighters
too every one. and they don't give in
any more than the MorelandS does.
"Addie MoreIand knows what it is
to take her dyin' boys head in her lap
whilst blood run through her dress tC
tlCl LIS vas OLsii iCJ
and he was bad ; he'd drink. and OnCet
he shot up Gainesville. But Addie
she allus loved him better'n Gale Ol
Luke. Wimmen like her alluS love:
the worst boys the best; cause they
need it the most, the worst boys does
Its the wimmen that pays, Bill
Dale. when the's fightin'. The vim
men O. this valley is right now OF
needles; they're afeard the men'll tinC
their rifles. You can guess whar th'
guns went to now, CANT ye? The win
men hid em last night after the mel
had gone to sleep! BY good luck. the.
had almost a whole night TO it. YO'
must be shore to keep it to yourself
but know ye will. Addie MOreland
she started the idee. She got Cram.
MOreand to spread the word amOngs
the winmen O. my people. When tn
, tightin' fever sort O. dies down tn
guns'Il all be brought back and pu
whar they belong"
} She arose and stood there smiling
; down upon him. He was staring u
the 'swirIing water without seeing
at all.