The Adair County news., 1921-08-30

USnl Tile leeliuS, UtCduSc IL SOhhCAO"
made the world seem a better place.
Early the following morning Dale
made ready for his journey to Cincin-
natl. Having learned the evening be-
fore that he was going, By Heck had
come t. accompany him to the Half
way switch.
The two set out. They had three
hours in which to cross David More
lands mountain before the arrival Of
DaIe's train, and they walked lei
| surely.
They had not gone a dozen rods
when there came from somewhere
down near the river the sound of
rifle shot. Both stopped and faced
| about quickly.
"TII bs dadgummed eff the Little
fOrriS amt found their weepOnS! ex-
claimed By Heck. They have, igod,
as shore as dangit?'
How do you knOw?" Dale's voice
was troubled.
II shore know" and Heck narrowed
his gaze AT was Ben LittlefOrd's
old A Winch. I'd know that gun ef
/ heered it at the nawth pole. The
bari it's been cut OFF, and it don't
sound like other Winchesters."
"CaIp5 MOreland was down near the
river cleaning out the springhOuse
ditch" Dale muttered, facing his COM
paniOn. Il think we'd better go back"
Together they went back to the
cabin. John Moreland and his wife
4 OF
the wearherbeaten front gate, with
their eyes turned anxiOusly toward the
river. Caleb was coming up through
| the meadow. and he carried his hat in
his hand.
who fired that shOt?" asked Dale.
Ben LittlefOrd," John MOreIand an
| swered readily.
Two minutes later Caleb leaped the
old rail fence on the other side of the
road and approached them hastily. He
was breathing rapidly and his strong
young face was drawn and pale-with
the old hate.
Well" said his iron father, what
is it?"
Caleb held up his broad-rimmed
hot. in the upper part of the crowns
peak.
He didn't miss?' snapped John
| MOreIand.
No" quickly replied Caleb, "he
! didn't miss. He. don't never miss. You
know that. pap, as well as ye know
| God made We. He done it jest to show
ME he meant what he said. He told
| me to go and tell you to gether up
| yOre set o rabbit-hearted heatherns
| and come down to the river TO a lead
and-pOwder picnic, OnleSS ye was a.
| skeered To GOMEZ He said to tell ye
the wimmenfOIks had hid our guns,
and we'd find 'em Onder the house
| floors"
John MOreland took it with utter
| caImnesS, though his face was little
pale behind his thick brown beard.
He turned to his wife, who looked at
him squarely.
"Addie. honey" said he, I'm mighty
sorry"
"Ef-ef you was much sorry. John"
Mrs. MOreland half sObbed, ''ye
| I
"Me cOward?" MoreIand appeared
to grow an inch in stature. Me Vet
LittlefOrd send me news like this here
which Gale brings, and not do nOthin'
at all about it? l thought you knOwed
me bettcr'n that. Addie."
He faced his two stalwart sons. Al
ways he was the general, the leader
of his clan. He sent Caleb in one di-
reCtiOn and Luke in another, to arouse
his kinSnen.
Then he beckOGed to Dale, who had
been trying hard but vainly to think
CT something to do or say that would
be of aid to the cause of the women.
Il don't want you in this here mix
up" he said decisively. You must
stay clean out of it. You amt used
to this way o. tightin'. ASides, you're
our hope MOre'n that, mebbe. you
owe yOre life to Babe LittlefOrd; you
CANT get around that. Bill Dale
| He went on, after a moment "Ef
git my light put out today, | want ye
to do the best ye can with the coal.
But o course We will. | want ye to
do me two favors, Bill Dale, ef | have
my light put out today. Will ye do
'em TO me, my friend?"
Certainly" Dale promised.
Much obliged TO ye, shore. The
fust is this: want ye to take good
pay out . what the coal brings, pay
70 yOre work. The second is this: l
want ye to go to Ben Litrieford after
In dOnp-pervided he is yet alive
and tell him about the end o my bed
time prayer: | want him 10 know |
went him one better, at | was a big
ger GI:.n inside an him. Remember,
Bill you've done promised ME. Now
yOua 20 ahead TO Cincinnaty. and do
jest like ye didn't know the least thing
about this trouble we're a-gOin' to
have. So long 10 ye, an good luck ~
Il don't like the idea"-Dala began.
when. the big hillman interrupted
sharply:
-, on! You csint do no good
he
HEX started. Dale turned and fol-
i IO,ya.i Th.- I1ukV mpODShIDAr. there