Polk County news. [volume] (Benton, Tenn.) 191?-1983, 1921-08-18


Con. Hes a villain. sir. II ever there
was one And he's quite the smooth
est article I've ever seen. He can
make you believe black is white, II
only you'll listen 10 him long enough"
as he-has he been here recentlyT'
Dale wanted TO know.
Hes here now" answered the ma
jor. Hes been here for three days,
and he's been working deyilment fast.
He was up here last summer, trying
10 buy the Moreland coal for a song;
he knows all the people, you see. AS
soon as he landed here on this pres
ent trip, he found out about your in
tentions. Then, at night, he freed
Adam Ball from his tobacco barn pris-
on, and went home with him.
well, BY Heck followed them and
did some eavesdropping-poor By has
his strong pointsI" the major went
on. "GOff learned that Adam Balls
before David Moreland discovered it
and got lawful possession Of the noun
tain. Then Golf made the Balls be-
lieve that they were due a big share
of the proceeds Of the Moreland coal!
1t wasn't very hard TO do, guess. The
Balls, this set, at least, were originally
lowlanders; they took to the noun
tains, l understand, to keep from be-
ing forced to fight during the Civil
war"
"Goff's idea," muttered Dale, "is to
get the Balls to scare me into selling
instead of developing, eh?"
Exactly" nodded old Bradley.
Then he would settle with the Balls
by giving them q dollar or two day
for digging coal; perhaps he would
put them off until the mine was
worked out for half of that, and then
skip. Anyway, Golf would come out
at the big end"
II see" said Dale.
IF there's anything that l can do,
at any time, you won't hesitate to let
me known" said the major.
You may consider yourself attorney
and legal adviser for the Moreland
Coal company, Of which l have the
honor to be general manager" smiled
Dale, IF you WILL"
Major Bradley's voice came happily,
MY dear boy, am glad to acceptt
And there shall be no charge for any
service that may render"
They were not long in reaching the
green valley, which lay very beauti-
ful and very peaceful in the warm
light of the early July sun. The soft
of the crystal river and
The low, slow tinkling of the cowbells
made music that was sweet and pIaas-
ng.
Suddenly John Moreland stopped,
uttered a swearword under his breath,
urned and went back to Dale.
"The's a man a-waitin' on us ahead
har, Bill" he drawled, "at We shore
want to watch like a hawk to keep
him from a-stealin' the eyeteeth out
J yOre head. His name is Hender~
ION Golf, and he wants COAL"
They went on. Soon they met 6
nan who, in clothing and manner,
made Dale think of stories he had
leard and read of Mississippi river
teamboat gamblers of the long ago,
His eyes were black, and as keen as
pair of spear-points; his mustaches,
90, were black, and they had sharp.
pturned ends like those of Mephis-
o. The major had said that he was
smooth article; he certainly looked
He met John Moreland with an oily
mile and thrust out his hand But
wouldn't see the hand.
Anything we've got to say about
oal," he growled, I'VE can say to Bill
Dale thar" pointing with calloused
numb. bill he's the high light O.
ne whole business; and when he
pens his mouth, We can cock yore
cad to one side and listen TO gaws-
ell"
Golf was delighted to meet Mr.. Dale,
f whom he had already heard Dale
ad nothing whatever to say. They
alked on toward the cabin Of the
Loreland chief, with Golf keeping up
running fire Of talk concerning the
the cllmate-anything but
bal.
At John Moreland's gate, Goft
judged Dale with an elbow and whis-
cred:
Meet me at one o'clock down there
here the big sycamore lies across
le river. I've got something to tell
on that will interest you"