New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1921-09-23

words my Uncle Saul Littleford's las
baby said was these here: 'D-n JOIN
Moreland! Ii started a long time age
and II started over nothin'. GrandpaI
Littleford and John Moreland's pal
got in a dispute over whether Kahn
lucky was in Nirginny or Nawth Ca
liner, and went To tightin' about il
Purity soon my Uncle Saul and .Abnel
Moreland happened along. and the!
went TO fightin', ~. Thank goodness
II was on Sunday. and none of EN-
didn't have their rifles with 'em. What
ever else we are or amt up here, Bill
Dale, We gen'ally respects the Sabbath
day 10 keep il holy. :"
Il see Dale muttered %sylnpathet
ically.
i've seen my OWN mother set dow
in the floor and take her boys head
in her lap-oh, such IA big, fine boy ht
was while the blood run through hel
dress from a MOreland's bullet. He
died with mothers arms and min,
around him. II was all we could II,
70 him, WAS to love him. I've Seen sis
tiers watch their brothers die from
Moreland bullets, and young winner
watch their s~weethearts 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
fectly safe in a-lettin' any of 'em shoot
dimes from tween 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 MOreland knows what it is
to take her dyin' boys head in her lap,
whilst blood run through her dress tn
her knees. His name was Charley.
and he was bad he'd drink. and oncet
he shot up Cartersvillp. But Addie,
she allus loved him better'n Gale or
Luke. Wimmen like her allus loves
the worst boys the best cause they
need II the most. the worst boys does.
ITS the wimmen that pays. Bill
Dale, when the's fightin'. The vim
men a. this valley is right now on
needles; they're afeard the men1l find
their rifles. You can guess whar the
guns went to now CANT ye? The VIM
men hid EN- last night after the men
had gone to sleep! BY good luck. they
had almost IA whole night fO' it. You
must he shore to keep il To Yourself
but | know ye win. Addie Moreland,
She started the idee. She got Granny
Moreland TO spread the word amongst
the wimlnen o my people. When the
tightin' fever sort a. dies down the
gunsll all be brought back and put
whar they belong"
She arose and stood there smiling
down upon him, lie was staring nj
the swirling water without seeing 1t
AT all.
Her voice brought him To himself.
"What're you a-thinkin' about, Bill
Daley"
Dale went to his feet. lie saw that
she was smiling, and he smiled. too
Il was thinking" he said, ''of the
difference between you and some other
women | know"
Her clear brown eyes widened.
And reckon | seem purity no count,
don't ~
NO, not at all. II is-er. quite the
opposite, Babe. You make them mp
pear unreal, artificial"
Babe L%ittleford'S c%ountcnance bright
ened. She did not doubt that he meant
IL. He was not of the sort that fiat
tered. She began to like Bill Dale AT
that same moment.
And Bill Dale told himself rs he
went homeward that he was beginning
To like Babe Littleford. lie did not
fight the feeling, because it somehow
made the world seem n better place.
Early the following morning Dale
matt. Having learned the evening be-
fore that he was going, BY Heck had
come To accompany him To the Half
way switch.
The two set out. They had three
hours In which To cross David More
lands mountain before the arrival of
Dale's train, and they walked lei
surely.
They had not gone Il dozen rods
there came from somewhere
down near the river the sound of a
rifle shot. Both stopped and faced
about quickly.
"Ill be %dadgummed Of the Little
fordS amt found their weapons :" ex-
by Heck. They have. igod,
aS shore as dangit."
How do you know Dale's voice
was troubled.
II shore know" and Heck narrowed
gaze. AT was Ben Littleford's
~ Winch. I'd know that gun ef
! heered it at the nawth pole. The
bari its been cut of. aud it don't
sound like other Winchcstcrs."
Caleb Moreland was down near the
cleaning out the springhouse
Dale muttered. facing his com
II think we'd better 20 back
Together they went back to the
John Moreland and his wife
md their son Luke were standing at
wea~therbeaten front gate. with
heir eyes turned a~nXiously toward the
liver. Caleb was coming up through
he meadow, and he carried his hat in
liS hand.
who fired that shotI" asked Dale.
Ben Littleford," John Moreland an-
'wered readily.
Two minutes later Caleb leaped the
I'D rail fence on the other side Of the
Dad and approached them hastily. He
vas breathing rapidly and his strong
ace was drawn and pale-with
he old hate.
Well" said his iron father. what
$ it!"
Caleb held up his broad-rimmed
hat and ram a finger thrnurh a