Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1921-09-08

II WIS aItbbttneT 10y uctlNtut llaI
the LittIeford chief found his weapons.
lie had dropped small coin through
a crack In the floor. Babe was quick
20 say that she would crawl under the
house and look for the coin, although
she had just put OH Il freshly laun-
dered blue-and-white calico dress. Her
anxiety showed plainly In her face.
Her father questioned her sharply, and
she stammered In spite OF herself. Ben
LittlefOrd's suspicious were aroused.
So he came out from under the cabin
floor with his hands full of the steel
OF rifle barrels, and with the money
forgotten. lie placed the rifles care
fully on the floor OF the porch. turned
and caught his daughter by the arm.
"WhO hid 'em?" he demanded gruiliy.
II hid EN-" was the ready answer,
defiant and bittcr-"I, me! What're
you a-goln' to do about itT'
LIttlefOrd flung his daughters arm
from him. lie was king. even as John
M"reiand was king. Ills keen eyes
stared Mt the young woman's face us
though they would wither IL.
what made you hide 'emy' he
growIcd. Say. what made We do IT.
ITO try aud save human lives. ats
whyi" Babe answered. THAT man
from the city-what'll he think a us
a-dOin' this-away. n-tiGhtin' like crazy
wIIdcatsT"
"Ef he don't like the way we de-
here, he can go back home" rctorted
the angry moGntaincer. lie amt tied.
is her"
Babe smiled n smile that was some
how pltiful. and turned off.
The amt no use In a-argyin' with
you, pap" she said hopclcSsIy. II
might nigh wIsht was dead"
At that instant the gate creakcd
open. Babe glanced toward IL and saw
coming that black beast of man.
Adam Ball fIe Goliath. and he was
armed heavily; in one hand he carried
new high-powcr repeating rifle. and
around his great waist there was n
new belt bristling with long. bright
smokeless cartridges fitted with steel
Jackctcd bullets.
When Dale ana his companion
reached the cabin, Addic Morcland met
them. Anxiety was breaking her
heart.
mir. Dale" she pleaded. Il want you
TO 20 down thar To the river and see
If the's anything ye can do Ia stop
II afOre II begins. You jest walk out
bold In the open and yc won't be shot
Mt, and I'll be oblccgcd To We. oh. /
know the amt but one ChanSt In ten
thousand. hut I'm n-prayin' yen strike
that one Chanst."
Dale knew that he could do nofhin:
that John Moreland would be angry
Mt his interfering. But lie nodded ana
went toward the river. lie didn't have
the heart In him Ia refuse.
Theu there came the keen thunder Of
a rifle shot.
Dale halted for a moment. Between
TWO sycamores on the nearer side OF
the river he saw a pun of smoke riS-
Ing lazily from behind a water oak on
the farther side; a Littleford had fired
first. Dale went on, moving rapidly
and trying TO keep himself always In
plain view.
Then came pun of white smoke
and a report from one OF the More
land rifles, then shots from both sides
- and the battle was on. Dale heard
the nasty whine OF bullet in full
flight; he heard the coarse 'zzz" of a
half-spent ricochet. He knew that he
was In some danger now. and he was
surprised to lind that he was not
frightened.
When he halted again II was on his
knees behind the big white sycamore
that sheltered John MoreIand.
Back, are yeT" frowned the noun.
taineer. And with the grimmest hui
NOR. Il reckon We had fine, large
time In Cincinnaty. Yore friend Har-
SIS was well, ] hope. Git that money
from hIm?"
Cut that out" said 1911 Dale. lit
doesn't get us anywhere"
A bullet threw particles of sycamore
bark to his face. interrupting John
Moreland pointed TO a green furrow in
the side OF the tree
ben Littleford hisself," said More
land. Hes ahind o. that water oak
Ecrost thar. Don't stick yore head
QUIT"
The mountaIneer turned his gaze
over Dale's shoulder. and his couute-
nance seemed TO freeze. Dale looked
around quickly and saw Babe Little
ford. less than ten feet behind him
She had crept up through the tail
grasses and weeds. In one hand she
carried q white flag made OF a mans
handkerchief and n willow switch. She
halted and sat up.
Babel" Dale cried out. what are
you doing here7'
Babe gave him a pale smile. IF
Rapid shoot me, a-thinkin' ! was a