American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1921-12-30
CHAPTER v.
At the River Again.
John Moreland met Dale at the 81

II learned, was the answer, hht
the Littlefords all lost their guns just
as the Morelands did"
1.-THE devil"
The m~ountaineers began to crowd
about Dale.
"And who" asked their leader, d
We think done itT'
Bill Dale shook his head slowly and
threw out his hands.
"How should | known He went
on: Babe told me about the Littleford
guns disappearing. l saw her down
at the river; she was fishing"
ibid she say anything" pursued
John Moreland, lat sounded like she
knowed whar them runs went tot"
"She told me-" said Dale, "she would
give her life to stop the fighting. She
seemed rather badly worked up over
it,"
From the cabins front doorway can't
a woman's sorrowful voice:
"And me, too; I'd give my life to
stop this here tightin'. | had a boy,
a big, %strappin' boy"
John Moreland crowned toward his
wife and interrupted, Now, Addie,
honey, don't do that"
1t ended the talk.
Mrs. Moreland dried her eyes on a
corner of her freshly ironed Bingham
apron, and announced the MONDAY
meal. The m~ountaineers dispersed,
Grandpap Moreland went away claw
ing at his long white beard and grum-
bling over the loss of his beloved old
Lancaster.
An hour later Dale cornered the
Moreland leader on the vine-hung
front porch and suggested that they
look over the coal property that after
noon. He was eager to go TO work
eager to be doing something worth
while. he told Moreland. The hillmar
stood very still for what seemed e
the other a very long time, and hac
no word to say. Evidently the feut
had all his mind now.
When he did speak, he said simply
"All right, BILL"
After half an hour of fighting theiI
way through thickets of blooming Tau
rel and ivy, they drew. up before al
old and widowed cabin at the nortl
end of David Moreland's mountain
Moreland led the way in and pointet
to a spot under a small, paneless win
dow.
Thar" said he, "is whar we founI
my brother David
I The two men turned for the poin
at which the coal vein ran out TO ti
light of day.
Dale picked up a piece of the shin
ing black stuff. Judging by the littl
he knew and the great amount of d.
scription he had heard, the vein wa
very large and the Goa itself of tn
finest grade.
1T was a big find" he told his con
panion, "a big find. 1t was a pity I
!, let il lie here untouched for so long
: and yet It's worth more today than
was ever worth before"
His enthusiasm ran warm, and Nor
land caught 1t quickly. Together the
hastily planned out the little railroa
that was to wind it's way through Ii
wilds and connect with the big raj
road at the Halfway switch.
rs hiDW 1 III h-uOlU tight AbpuA ~
Ne the mountaineer said twice for Il
T. benefit Of his conscience. II kno
ID pore David he would want me to {
this ef he could know"
VI 'l'm sure Of It," agreed Dale, II
start for Cincinnati tomorrow. II
RI. got enough money to take me the
I'd and back. | have a very wealth
b. friend there-his name is Harris;
,k think | can borrow enough from hi
to finance the beginning of this thin
;" And I'll buy a locomotive and cal
IL and all the other necessary machincr
pg while I'm in Cincinnatl-unless | IL
to get the money from Harris. VIII
~ | get back, which should be with
eight days. wen start the work.
he a guess, I'd say well need TWEEN
Nd. men. Can we get themT'
"Shore," nodded the mountaine'
fe And all MOrelands at that"
They turned hOmeward. At Ia
Id BIZ Dale was happy. He had son
ds thing 10 do now-an aim I'm life. !
had difficulties TO overcome, obstacl
ng to relnOye, barriers to surmount-
he was his big chance!
nj 1t was almost shutdown when ia
returned from his visit TO the &C
nv vein-Big Pine mountain hid the g
AT a little after three In the afterno,
lie borrowed a fishing roc and a N
20. now pail. which made his going TO I
: river seem proper enough TO 10
pr Moreland, and sat out TO meet Ba
he LittlefOrd. He was glad that nobo
I'm expressed a desire 10 accompany hi
he ne found Ben LittlefOrd's daughi
where he had found her twice before
sitting on a stone the size OF a sni
m. barrel. She was fishing with an
Is: baited hook, which was equal 10 fl
be ing not at all. and she seemed pleas
M when she saw him coming. He
,ty down on the stone at her side. )
mn. moved over a little shyly, and tried
cover hpr feet with her callco gklf