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

When Bill Dale, the expert mimi;
man Hayes and the two mountaineer
stepped from a short passenger trail
at the Halfway switch, they were ap
preached by the moonshiner, Heck
and a man whom Dale had never seer
before. He was tall, and his bearing
was erect and soldierlike, though he
was every day of sixty years old
His eyes were blue and twinkling with
everlasting good humor; his gray
mustaches and imperial were exceed
ingly we'll cared for; his teeth were
his own, and as white as a school
girls, and they bore out his general
air of neatness. He was, plainly, a
Southerner of the old type.
who's thatY" whispered Dale to
John Moreland.
But Moreland didn't hear. He ran
forward with his right hand out
stretched, and so did Ben Littleford.
Men could not have greeted brother
with more gladness, Dale thought.
Hi, thar, Major Bradley!" the hill
man cried. "And how dye come on
today?"
II am very well, gentlemen, thank
you," said the major, smiling.
He shook their hands heartily. "The
trainmen gave US your message yester-
day." he went on, still smiling, land
we were delighted to learn that the
young woman was out of danger.
trust you are all in good health, gen.
tlemen."
They assured him that they were.
Moreland turned to introduce Bill Dale
and the mining man. From the mo-
ment that Major Bradley gripped
Dale's hand they were friends.
mighty glad to know you, sir!
exclaimed the old lawyer. I've been
hearing a great deal about you, sir,
over in the valley of the Doe. They
seem to think there's nobody just like
Bill Dale! 1t was Bill Dale this,
and Bill Dale that; it was Here's
where Bill Dale whipped Black ADAM
or, Here's where Bill Dale was stand
ing when such-and-such happened, or,
Here's where Bill Dale crossed the
fencep"
"Hah-hah-hah" sluggishly laughed
BY Heck, who stood leaning on the
muzzle of his rifle. "Bill Dale is all
right, major; we've shore got my word
fo' that"
The others laughed. Then John
Moreland said they'd better be NOV
ing, or they'd be late for dinner.
When they had put hundred yards
of David Moreland's mountain behind
them, the old Southerner tugged slyly
at Dale's sleeve and whispered:
Let us fal: behind little, If you
please. l want to speak with you
privately"
They began to lag, and soon there
was a distance of several rods be-
tween them and the others.
az heard through Addie Moreland,"
began Bradley, his friendly hand on
the younger mans arm, "about you
and what you're planning to do for
the Morelands. / tell you, sir, | /
thanked heaven for your coming, and
YOU may count on me to help In any
way l can. The Morelands are quite
friendly to me now, though up to the
middle Of last summer they didn't like
me any too well because / made Ben |
Littleford's cabin my home when out
here.
ut was simple thing that brought
us together. John Morelands little
nephew was lost In the woods and his
mother was frantic. There are pan
theirs, you know, and wildcats, rattlers.
and copperheads. Il was fortunate
enough to find the boy, and carried
him home. That was all. They're a
fine people, my boy, and so are the
Good old English blood
that somehow wandered off. There's
no purer, cleaner blood In America,
sir.
"And now-how are you getting
along with your plans for the opera
ton of the coal miner"
"Bxcellently," answer Dale. 1--WE
have the necessary finance; a geared
locomotive and cars and light steel
rails have been bargained for"
"Goodl" Bradley gave Dale hearty
slap on the shoulder.
There's something else wanted to
say, MIR. Dale" he continued, his
voice grave. you're nearly certain
70 have q barrel Of trouble with q