Licking Valley courier., 1921-11-10

:
was waiting for the arrrvar or a COM
pany Of, militia from a city miles dis
tantf
Anyway, the militia would Gghk his
clan would do no more than mat. He
satisfied his conscience quickly.
When they had reached the lower
end Of the cleared valley, there came
to them the sounds Of slow firing, the
firing Of snipers. Each man Kicked
his horses fianks and rode faster.
When they came in sight of the be,
sleged building, they saw puffs of pow.
der.sm0ke rising lazily from the upper
windows and from the mountain side
above and, to the right. Again they
kicked the fianks Of their horses and
rode faster. .,.
At John Moreland's old cabin they
dismounted hastily and turned their
horses into the drab meadow. With
Dale still leading, they hurried on foot
to the rivers nearest bank and went
rapidly, under cover Of the thickly-
standing sycamores. to point within
seventy yards Of the Office and sup.
plies building. Then they made q dash
across the open space, and Ben Lit
tleford, with one arm bound up In q
red-stained blue bandana, opened the
door for them.
"Who else Is hurtr painted Dale.
"Little Tom," answered Llttleford,
"and Saul. Little Tom, he got bul.
let onder the shoulder. Saul, he got
one In might nigh the same place.
They've nddled the whole t'other
side o. the house to splinters. They're
a-callin' TO- you"
They'll get all they want Of me-"
Dale, Rfowled. -
p He turned and ran up the rsugh
stairway, ana Ben Littleford and the
MOrelands followed close upon his
heels. At the front and side windows,
behind anything they had been able
to- find that would stop a bullet. knelt
lAttlefords with rifles In their hands,
patiently watching for q human target
to appear on the mountainslde above.
Saul and Little Tom lay In q corner,
where they were fairly safe from
chance bullets. Hayes had bound up
their wounds as we'll as no could with
the material at hand. They were
both white and helpless and suffering,
but still full; Of the old Littleford
fighting spirit.
Dale seized bis Winchester and
belt Of cartridges from the hands Of
the man who had brought them to
him, and turned to the others. A bull
let crashed through the wall and
struck the floor at his foot; he paid
no attention to It. -
Listen to me, boys" Dale was
buckllng his cartridge-belt with rapid,
steady fingers. "From where they are
hiding, the Balls and Turner'S can
hardly sec the lower story Of this
building. Well 90 downstairs. open
the front door, and run to the edge
Of the laurels at the foot Of the noun
tain. Then we'll turn to the right,
make q wide detour, and get above
the Ball outfit; well be fighting down.
hill instead of uphill. Get me? Are
you all ready"
To O man, they were ready.
They reached the thick under
growth without being seen by the en-
emy. While the Balls and Turner's
fred more or less aimlessly at the
building, drank white whisky and
called drunksnly for the surrender to
them Of Bill Dale, Bill Dale and his
men were making their way steadily
In 4 wide half-circle up the side Of
David Moreland's mountain.
Half an hour after they had left the
Office building, Dale had-s stationed his
men, deployed as O line Of skirmisbers
behind sheltering trees some two hun.
dred feet above the Balls and theii
kinsmen.
John Mcssisld, Zen Lttleford and
Bill Dale were not far. apart. "it's-s
shame to do IT," said Dale. II swear
W. can't shoot men In the back like
this H. .t. .. pc.
John Moreland, twisted his mouth
into q queer smile Of. contempt and
so did Ben Littleford. They knew
Gar better than their leader. the wayi
Of that people without q principle. The
Balls and Turner'S wouldn't hesitat.
to shoot them In the backl
"Well," John Moreland replied, ant
II was almost q sneer, ''ye might g
down thar and give EN- some candy
and kiss 'em, and AZ 'em won't the!
please surrender!"
Dale leaned around his tree, q grea
gnarled chestnut, and. called boldly:
you've got q chance to surrendet
now-and you'd certainly better taxi
II quick" ...
One Of those below yelled surprised
ly: "Who're your" Then they al
whipped to the other side Of thei
sheltering timber.
The answer came at once: "Tm Bill
Dale, and I'm peevedl You're at tn,
mercy Of the finest hill clan that eve
looked along rife barrels; will 20,
surrender, or fight It outf"
"You said it-we'll Hght II out I
cried burly cousin Of Black Adam
Ball. deceased.
"You're onl" growled Bill Dale
slipping his rife out beside the tret
"GiyeIlem HI, boysp "a
He was unused to this sort Of thlnl
and be was lncautlous. He showed
littleateo much Of himself-there wa
q sudden keen report from below, an
q bullet hole appeared In the rim q
~ NJ A. ~