Mrs. Grundy. (Tracy City, Tenn.) 1903-1930, 1921-08-04

shyster coal man named Henderson,
Goff. He's villain, sir, IL ever there
was one! And he's quite the smooth
est article I've ever seen. He car
make you believe black is white, II
only you'll listen to him long enough
us he-has he been here recentIyT
Dale wanted to know.
Hes here now," answered the ma,
jor. He's been here for three days,
and hes been working devilment fast
He was up here last summer, trying
to buy the Moreland coal for 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 pointsl'' the major went
on. "Goff learned that Adam Balls
father knew about the coal vein long
before David Moreland discovered 1t
and got lawful possession of the noun
tain. Then Goff made the Balls be-
lieve that they were due big share
Of the proceeds of the Moreland coalf
1t wasn't very hard to do, guess. The
Balls, this set, at least, were originally
lowlanders; they took to the noun.
tains, I understand, to keep from be-
Ing forced to fight during the Civil
war;"
"Goff's idea," muttered Dale, sis to-
get the Balls to scare me into, selling
instead Of developing, eh7"
Exactly" nodded old Bradley.
"Then he would settle with the Balls
by giving them a 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"
Il see." said Dale.
IF there's anything that can do,
at any time, you won't hesitate to let
me know?" 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 acceptf
And there shall be no charge for any
service that I may render"
Thpu uyoro not Iox>, a..
green valley, which lay very beauti.
ful and very peaceful in the warm
light Of the early July sun. The soft
murmuring Of the crystal river and
the low, slow tinkling of the cowbelIs
made music that was sweet and pleas
ing.
suddenly John Moreland stopped.
uttered swearword under his breath.
turned and went back to Dale.
The's man a-waitin' on us ahead
thar, BILL" he drawled, cat We shore
want to watch like s. hawk to keen.
him from a-stealin' the eyeteeth out
O yore head. His name is Hender-
son Goff, and he wants coal"
They went on. Soon they met
man who. in clothing and manner,
made Dale think of stories he had
heard and read of Mississippi river
steamboat gamblers of the long ago.
His eyes were black, and as keen as,
pair Of spear-points; his mustaches.
TOO, were black, and they had sharp.
upturned ends like those Of a Mephis-
to. The major had said that he was
smooth article; he certainly looked
1t.
He met John Moreland with an oilv
smile and thrust out his hand But
Moreland wouldn't see the hand.
Anything we've got to say about
COAL" he growled, I'VE can say to Bill
Dale thar" pointing with a calloused
thumb. "Bill he's the high light o.
the whole business; and when he
opens his mouth, We can cock wore
head to one side and listen To- gaws-
pei"
Golf was delighted to meet Mr.. Dale.
OF whom he had already heard. Dale
had nothing whatever to say. They
walked on toward the cabin of the
Moreland chief. with Cor keeping up
a running fire of talk concerning the
scenery, the climate-anything but
coal.
At John Morelands gate, Cor
nudged Dale with an elbow and whis-
pered:
Meet me at one o'clock down there
where the big sycamore lies across
the river. I've got something to tell
you that will interest you"
II 81 want you Littlefords TO b.