The Snyder signal. (Snyder, Tex.) 1887-????, 1921-07-15

was while the blood run through her
dress from a Morelands bullet. lie
died with mothers arms and mine
around him. II was all we could do
70 him. was 10 love him. I've seen sis
ters watch their brothers die from
Moreland bullets, and young wimmen
watch their sweethearts die, and wives
watch their husbands die.
81 tell you. Bill Dale, them More
lands never misses when they have
even half fair shot. You'd be puff
fectly safe In a-lettin' any of 'em shoot
dimes from atgeen yore finger ana
thumb all day. And It's the same way
with the Lttlefords. They're lighters,
too, every one, and they don't give In
any more than the Morelands does.
"Addie Moreland knows what II Is
10 take her dyin' boys head In her lap,
whilst blood run through her dress to
her knees. His name was Charley,
and he was bad he'd drink. and oncet
he shot up Gainesville. but Addle,
she allus loved him better'n Gale or
Luke. Wimmen like her allus loves
the worst boys the best: cause they
need II the most, the worst boys does,
Its the wlmmen that pays. BIZ
Dale, when the's hghtln'. The WIN
men o. this valley is right now on
needles they're afeard the menll hnd
their rifles. You can guess whnr tue
guns went TO now, can't We? The vim
ia laI MI rh nj rho
had gone to sleep By good luck, they
had almost n whole night 70 II. You
must be shore TO keep IL TO YOURSELF
but ! know We will. Addle Moreland
she started the idee. She got Granny
Moreland 10 spread the word amongst
the wlmmen a my people. When the
tightin fever sort % dies down III.
guns'l all he brought back and put
whar they belong"
She arose and stood there smiling
down upon him lie was staring NJ
the swiring WAGER without seeing IL
NJ ALL
Her voice brought him to himself.
"what're you a-thinkin' about, Bil'
DALEY"
Dale went To his feet. lie saw thai
she was smiling. and he smiled too.
81 was thinking" he said, "of the
difference between you and some other
women | know"
Her clear brown eyes wldened.
"And reckon | seem purity no count
don't ~
mo. not az all. II is-er. quite the
opposite, Babe. You make them APP
pear unreal artificial"
Babe Liitleford's countenance bright
ened. She did not doubt that he meant
II. lie was not of the sort that nat
tered. she began 10 like BIZ Dale al
that same moment.
And Bill Dale told himself as he
went homeward that he was beginning
TO like Babe Littleford. lie did not
tight the feeling, because II somehow
made the world seem better place.
Early the following morning Dale
made ready for his journey to Cincih'
mali. Having learned the evening be
fore that he WAS going, BY Heck had
come 10 accompany him TO the Half
way switch.
The Two set out. They had three
hours In which 10 cross David More
lands mountain before the arrival OF
Dale's train, aud they walked lei
surely.
They had not gone dozen rods
when there came from somewhere
down near The river the sound or
rifle shot Both stopped and faced
about quickly.
I'm he dadgummed ef the Little
fords amt found their weapons y ex'
claimed BY Heck. They have, igod.
RS shore as dangitw
How do you know Dale's voice
was troubled.
II shore Know" and Heck narrowed
his gaze. AT was Ben Littlefords
Old 40 Winch. I'd know that gun ei
heered il at the nawth pole. The
BARI It's been cut Off, and It don't
sound Ike other Winchesters."
caleb Moreland was down near the
river cleaning out the springhoust
hlltNs lslN tllHAA'lNbf AhNAiAH hfR NN'-f
panion. II think we'd better go back
Together they went back to the
cabin. John Moreland and his wife
and their son Luke were standing at
the weutherbeaten front gate, with
their ewes turned anNiously toward the
river. CALEB was coming up through
the meadow, and he carried his hat 10
his hand.
who hrod that shotY' asked Dale.
ben l.,Iriefurd," John Morelund an
swcrod readily.
Two miuu;es later Caleb leaped the
Old rail fence on The Other Side ~ The
road ,nd approached them hastily. lie
was brcgibiug rup'dly snd his strong
young fure was dTTwn ana prie--with
the Ole hate.
We'll" said MS iron father. What
10 it1''
Caleh n,..i ~ ne broad trimmed
black ha, aES -en y Ergrr 'hrpngh u
81. nrNta