Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1921-07-07
CHAPTER lll-contlnued.


consciousness, he was lying under
covers In the carved black walnut bed.
Beside him stood John MoreIand, who
held in one hand bowl containing
hot herb. brew that his wife had pre-
pared. Granny Heck, her son BY, and
Mrs. MOreland stood not far away.
"This here'll be good To- We, think"
said Moreland. noddlng toward the
bowl in his hand. He went over and
put an arm around Dale's shoulders
and helped him to sit up.
Dale drank the stuff with difficulty.
"Much obliged" he muttered thickly.
>I--let's see, did whip-how did 1t
endf He didn't lick me, did he-that
fellow Ball?"
HE shore didn't" smiled MoreIand.
-'NOt by big sight He fell out fust.
His own pap won't hardly know him.
BILL"
- - -. =
News travels rapidly in the big hills.
The MOrelands began to gather at the
home Of their chief to see the man
who had whipped Black Adam Ball;
every Moreland able to walk came to
see Bill Dale. For three hours he was
1iOnized, but he didn't enjoy It; the
water had left many pains in his
chest, and his head ached duly, and
his hands still felt as though the bones
were shattered in them.
Came a thundershower that after
moon, and the mountain evening fell
with chill. A fire was made in the
wide stone fireplace in the guests
room, and when supper was over the
family gathered there with Dale, who
refused to be kept In bed.
After a few minutes Of silently
watching grotesque shadows fit across
the log walls, Dale said to John More
land:
III your brother David could know,
don't you think he'd want you to get
the value out Of the coal7"
John Moreland bent forward to rest
his chin In his hands His sober grey
eyes stared thOughtfully toward the
Are.
Il amt never looked at It that
away" he said.
''That's the right way to look at It,"
declared Dale. "But you shouldn't
sell the property as 1t is"
The mountalneer turned an inQulr-
ing face toward his guest.
How In thunder could I handle It
sef didn'tf
"Why not let me develop Il for
yOH7" Dale said earnestly. eagerly. Il
won't charge you anything above ex-
penses, and won't be extraVagant."
''It'd take considerable money to start
things a-mOvin'. Have you got itF'
asked Moreland.
Y mo, but can get II Almost any
body would be willing to lend money
on 50 good d thing as this. y'know."
Il For little while Moreland sat there
and looked sQuareIy at Dale, who re-
turned his gaze without sign Of
nfnching. The hllman was trying to
Gnd motive.
..How comes It at you, who amt
knowed us but two days." he de-
manded. ''can be 50 much interested
IN us1"
The question demanded Z straight
forward answer. Dale realized that
there was but one way In which be
could give a satisfactory explanation,
ana that that was BY telling thetruth-
but not the whole truth. az he
aurmised 1t, for then his efforts would
SO for naught
Moreland was speaking again, and
his eyes were brighter now.
X agree at David would want us
to develop the coal, ef he could know:
It's like light a-breakin' to me. But
that coal IS sacred to us. Bill Dale,
and afore We 60 any further III hat
to Ak ye to tell me all about yeself.
A city man up here IN the Wilderness
It don't look s'picIous, BIZ, mebbe,
but well. hopes W can pafion me
10 akin It. / shore got to be keer-
fuI about Brother Dayids coal. Addie
and the boys'Il 90 out and leave Jest
Is two ID here and when ye're a-talks
hi to me It's the same Is talkln' to q
tombstone " far a. telIln' Is con-