The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1921-09-15
Llttl.for0s cabin my nome ~nea .~

mother was frantic. There are pan
and copperheads. / was fortonats
enough to find the boy, and carried
him home. That was all. They're Q
fine people, my boy, and so are the
Littlefords. Good old English blood
that somehow wandered Off. There's
sir.
"And now--how ere you getting
along with your plans for the opera
tion of the coal minef"
"Excellently." answered Dale. I'VE
have the necessary finance; a geared
locomotive and cars and light steel
rails have been bargained for"
"Good!" Bradley gave Dale hearty
slap on the shoulder.
There's something else ! wanted to
say, Mr.. Dale" he continued, his
voice grave. You're nearly certain
to have a barrel of trouble with a
shyster coal man named Henderson
Goff. He's 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'lI listen TO 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 devilment fast.
J He was up here last summer, trying
TO buy the MJreland 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 points!" the major went
on. "Goff learned that Adam Balls
father knew about the coal vein long
| before David Moreland discovered IL
| and got lawful possession of the noun
tain. Then Goff made the Balls be-
heve that they were due big share
Of the proceeds OF the Moreand 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 10 fight during the Civil
war"
"Gof's ldea," 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 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, Goff would come out
at the big end"
81 see" said Dale.
IF there's anything that ] 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 accept
And there shall be no charge for any
service that | may render"
They were not long in reaching the
green valley, which lay very benuti-
full ana very peaceful in the warm
light Of the early July sun. The soft
murmuring of the crystal river and
the low, slow tinkllng of the cowbells
made music that was sweet and pleas
ing.
Suddenly John Moreand stopped,
uttered a swearword under his breath
turned and went back 10 Dale.
"The's a man a-waitin' on us ahead
thar, Bill" he drawled, "at ye shore
want to watch like hawk to keep
him from a-stealin' the eyeteeth out
O. yore head. His name is Hender
son Goff, and he wants COAL"
They wen. on. Soon they met q
man who, in clothing and manner
made Dale think of stories he had
heard and read of Mississippi rives
steamboat gamblers of the long ago
His eyes were black, and as keen a
n pair of spear-points; his mustaches
too, were black, and they had sharp
upturned ends like those of a Mephls
to. The major had said that he was
smooth article; he certainly looked
II.
He met John Moreand with an oily
smile and thrust out his hand Blu,
Moreland wouldn't see the hand.
Anything we've got to say about
COAL" he growled, we can say to Bill
Dale thar" pointing with callouset
thumb. "Bill he's the high light o
the whole business and when HI
opens his mouth, ye can cock yort
head to one side and listen TO- gaws
pei"
Con was delighted to meet Mr.. Dale
of whom he had already heard. Dal,
had nothing whatever to say. They
walked on toward the cabin Of tn,
I \