Licking Valley courier., 1921-11-10

binding smoke he was Behind ahother
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 ain at long
angle toward the side of boulder.
Then LIttleford fired, and puff Of
stone dust showed that his bullet had
gone true to its mark.
"what's that forf"' demanded Dale.
"We haven't any ammunition to throw
awayi" =" "
"Why, BILL" replied LIttleford.
"didn't ye never bounce a bullet often
rock and make 1t 60 toward a man
ahind Of a tree?" M
It lasted hotly for two hours, but
the casualties were comparatively.
few, because there was so much. .coyeg
available. From the beginning the
Balls and the Turner's had the worst
Of 1t, which was due to uphill shoot
ing, white WHISKY, aaiRd lack of the
iron that makes. real fighting men.
The cdrtrIdgese'of those below were
giving but; they had fred too many
shots needlessly.
ITS about time to rush them" Dale
said to John Moreland, who had crept
up beside him.
"Jest give tn" word," M6feland
nodded. 80. .. .f..'s s'r-
A few miItteSss 'ratef, Bill.-Dale' sent
the wings OF his Tine downStheS heS\noun
tainslde, forming a half-eltels Of 'fiis
force once more; then the Whole line
rushed, surrounded the enemy and
called for surrender. =. g..
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 thelI
rifles and fought. 1t was mot true
courage that prompted them to Offer
resistance thus: 1t was utter despera'
tion; they had never been giyers Of
mercy, therefore they 'did' not EXPECT
mercy. Dale's' men torebore to fire
upon them, which was at Dsle,s com
mand, and met them. with clubbet
rihes. The woodland rang with the
sound OF wood and steel crashiat
against wood and steel. EYerywher'
there were groans and threats ant
curses from the losing side, victorious
cries and further demands for q sur
render from the winners. '''''
| Bill Dale, ever lover Of fair com
bat, threw down his repeater to crap
! pie with big North Carollnlan who's,
dubbed weapon had been. knocked
from his hands. The two fell ant
rolled down the mountalnside, locket
in each others arms.
And then one of the Balls strucl
Bill Dale across the head with the but
Of his empty gun, and BIZ Dale slack
ened his arms and lay as. one. dead.
80
- He was lying under cover In hand
carved black walnut fourposter, ant
1t was night, when he opened his eye
again. Above him he say the bearded
faces Of Ben Littleford and JohI
Moreland, and they looked haggarl
and anxious In the oil lamps yellow
light. Suddenly Moreland. spoke:@
"Dead-nothin' jubllantly. "ToUi,
Ben; he's done come rt0l rPe seuufah'
put him In cannon and sh6ot HIN
aglnst a cliff and kill him, sBenl-
hope we're a-feelIn' all right Bill
shore." =" ,e,,.a. ,
Dale realized everything quite. clear
1 ~. He put hand to, his head I; xher,
Twas wet cloth lying over the swollel
place. '' p ". -. =
"Hes shore give ye buster Of
lick" drawled voice that Dale in
stantly recognized as that OF his wor
shipper, BY Heck. "Danged .ef Cal
Moreland didn't might nigh 1t bea
him to death, Bill FE .,,
Many men crowded to the beasld
and smiled at him, and he smiled bac
at them. Soon he asked: ~ ...,,
"Did you capture the outfitT -
Every burned one Of EN-" dRswere
John Moreland. They're all shet u
tight In the downstairs O. the .ofiic
buildln'. onder gyard. The amt 'bu
one Of 'em plumb .teet0tally dead, Il
q wonder; but tbe's q whole passel Q