Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1921-11-25


the magazine OF his repeater, and
sank behind the big chestnut to fill
it again with cartridges from his belt
Bullets now Whned OH both sides of
him; they cut greenish white burrows
in the bark of both sides of the tree,
and knocked up little spurts of black
earth to his right and to his left !;
they cut off twigs within an arms
reach of him. A dozen Balls were
now firing at him, seeking to avenge
the death of tl.eir kinSman. the
Goliath John Moreland'S strong voice
came to him through the din and roar:
Don't show no part o. yoreself now.
Bill; eff We do, yen shore be hit!"
Dale fired again, pumped a fresh
cartridge into the chamber Of his rifle
and slipped another into tie magazine,
and arose behind the chestnut
Down. Bill!' cried John Moreland.
Ii Dale heard, he gave no sign of
it. He fired four shots rapidly, and
before the wind had carried away the
binding smoke he was behind another
tree and shooting toward the Balls
again. Soon there came a short, loud
peal of laughter from his left; he
turned his head and saw Ben Little
ford taking a careful aim at a long
angle toward the side of Il boulder.
Then Lfttleford fired, and q puff Of
stone dust showed that his bullet had
gone true to its mark
whats that for?" demanded Dale.
I'VE haven't any ammunition to throw
aWay!"
why. Bill" replied I.ittleford,
didn't We never bounce q bullet often
a rock and make it so toward d man
ahind of d treei"
1t lasted holly for two hours, but
the casualties We're comparatively
few, because there was so much cover
available. From the beginning the
Balls and the Turner's had the worst
of it, which was due to uphill shoot
ing, White whisky, and lack of the
iron that makes real fighting men.
The cartridges of those below were
giving out; they had fred too many
SnOtS neeuieSSlF
It's about time to rush them" Dale
said to John Moreland, who had crept
up beside him.
Jest give the word" Moreland
nodded
A few minutes later, Bill Dale sent
the wings of his line down the noun
tainside, forming a half-circle Of his
force once more then the whole line
rushed, surrounded the enemy and
| called for q surrender.
But the Balls and their kinSmen
wouldn't give in yet. They left their
cover and started to run, found them
selves facing Morelands and Little
fords in every direction, dubbed their
rifles and fought 1t was not true
courage that prompted them to offer
resistance thus: it was utter despera-
ton; they had never been givers of
mercy, therefore they did not expect
mercy. Dale'S men forebOre to fire
upon them, which was at Dale's com
mand, and met them with dubbed
rifles The woodland rang with the
sound Of wood and steel crashing
! against wood and steel. Everywhere
there were groans and threats and
curses from the losing side, victorious
cries and further demands for a sur
render from the winners.
Bill Dale, ever a lover of fair COM
bat, threw down his repeater to Crap
pie with big North Carolnian whose
dubbed weapon had been knocked
from his hands. The two fell and
| rolled down the mountanside, locked
III each others arms
And then one Of the Balls struck
Bill Dale across the head with the butt
of his empty gun, and Bill Dale slack
ened his arms and lay as one dead.
4 * .
He was lying under cover in hand
/ carved black walnut fourposter, and
1t was night, when he opened his eyes
! again. Above him he saw the bearded
faces Of Ben Littleford and John
! Moreland, and they looked haggard
and anxious in the oil lamps yellow
light. Suddenly Moreland spoke:
"Dead-nothin !" jubilantly. Look,
Ben; he's done come to! Ye couldn't
put him in a cannon and shoot him
aginst cliff and kill him. Ben. l
hope ye're a-feelin' all right, Bill,
shore"
Dale realized everything quite clear
| ~ He put a hand to his head; there
was wet cloth lying over the swollen
place.
''He shore give We buster Of
! lick" drawied a voice that Dale in
stantiy recognized as that Of his wor.
shipper. BY Heck. DANCED eff Gale
| Moreland didn't might nigh it beat
him to death, Bill y
Many men crowded to the bedside
and smiled at him, and he smiled back
at them Soon he asked:
did you capture the OUTFIT"
every burned one of EN-" answered
John Moreland They're all shet up
tight in the Downstairs o the office