The Glenwood post., 1921-08-13
and yet Its worth mSFs today than Il
was ever worth before"

His enthusiasm ran warm, and More
land caught It quickly. Together they
hastily planned out the little railroad
that was to wind it, way through the
wilds and connect With the big rail-
road at the Hallway switch.
II know I'm a-doln' right about It,"
the mOuntaineer said twice for the
benefit of his conscience. II know
pore David he would want me to do
this eff he could know"
I'm sure OF It," agreed Dale. "Hll
start for Cincinnati tomorrow. I've
got enough money to take me there
and back. have very wealthy
friend there-his name Is Harris; I
think l can borrow enough from him
to finance the beginning Of this thing.
And Ill buy a locomotive and cars,
and all the other necessary machinery,
while I'm in Cincinnati-unless l fail
to get the money from Harris When
l get back. which should be within
eight days, We'll start the work. At
a guess, I'd say wen need twenty
men. Can we get them?"
Shore" nodded the mountaineer.
"And all Morelands at that"
They turned homeward At last
Bill Dale was happy. He had some
thing to do now-an aim in life. He
had difficulties to overcome, obstacles
to remove, barriers to surmount-it
was his big chancel .......
1t was almost shutdown when Dale
returned from his visit to the coal
vein-Big Pine mountain hid the sun
at a little after three in the afternoon.
He borrowed fishing rod and min
now pail, which made his going to the
river seem proper enough to John
MOreland, and set out to meet Babe
Littleford. He was glad that nobody
expressed a desire to accompany him.
lie found Ben Littleford's daughter
where he had found her twice before
sitting on stone the size of a small
barrel. She was fishing with an I'M
baited hook. which was equal to fish
ing not at all, and she seemed pleased
when she saw him coming. He sat
down on the stone at her side. She
moved over little shyly. and tried to
cover her feet with her calico skirts.
Needn't bother to hide them"
iaughed Bill Dale. They're pretty
enough. Most feet, y'know, are neces-
sary evils. like chimneys and rain
spouts |"
Babe Littleford blushed. He went
on, to hide her confusion, Tell me
about the rifles"
you must shore keep 1t a secret"
sne told him.
~ promise"
Better put yore hook in, SOS ef any
body comes along"
Dale threw out an empty hook.
81 want to tell We some other things
fust, SOS yell understand better when
come to the part about the rifles"
Babe began, looking thoughtfuIly
across the water to where n kingtisher
sat in watchful waiting. She contin-
ued slowly, choosing her words care
fully, 81 was brought up to hate them
MOrelandS, butt don't think do. My
people is jest like the Morelands. The
biggest difference we can find is that
one side mostly has grey eyes like
you and t'other side mostly has brown
eyes like me. All but their everlastin'
ughtin', they're good people, Bill Dale.
Each side, we see. is brought up to
Aate t'other side. I'm ashamed to tell
1t, butt understand the fust plain
words my Uncle Saul Littleford's last
baby said was these here: On John
Norelandv 1t started long time ago.
and it started over nothin'. Grandpap
Littleford and John Moreland's pap
got In a dispute over whether Kahn
lucky was in Virginny or Nawth Ca
liner, and went to nghtin' about 1t.
Purity soon my Uncle Saul and Abner
AOreland happened along, and they
went to fightin', too. Thank goodness,
didn't have their rifles with 'em. What
ever else we are or amt up here, Bill
Dale, we gen'ally respects the Sabbath
day to keep 1t holy. :"
Il see." Dale muttered sympathet-
really.
i've seen my own mother set down
In the floor and take her boys head
IN her lap-oh, such a big, fine boy he
was while the blood run through her
dress from a Moreland's bullet. He
died with mothers arms and mine
around him. 1t was all we could do
To- him. was to love him. I've seen SIS
GERS watch their brothers die from
Moreland bullets. and young wimmen
Satch their sweethearts die, and wives
watch their husbands die. i
IL tell you. Bill Dale, them More
vands never misses when they have
even half fair shot. You'd be puff
tectly safe in a-lettin' any OF 'em shoot
dimes from atween yore finger and
thumb all day. And It's the same way
with the Littlefords. They're fighters.
600. every one, and they don't give In
any more than the Morelands does.
"Addie MOreland knows what it is
60 take her dyin' boys head In her lap.
whilst blood run through her dress to