Polk County news. [volume] (Benton, Tenn.) 191?-1983, 1921-08-04

rife shot. Both stopped and faced
about quickly.
.Tu be dadgummed eff the Little
fords amt found their weepOnsl" ex-
claimed By Heck. They have, igod,
as shore as dangitl"
How do you know?" Dale's voice
was troubled.
II shore know" and Heck narrowed
his gaze. lat was Ben Littleford's
old AS Winch. I'd know that gun ef
1 heered it at the nawth pole. The
bar'l it's been cut on. and ii don't
sound like other Winchesters."
"Caleb MOreland was down near the
river cleaning out the springnouse
ditch" Dale muttered, facing his COM
panion. Il think we'd better so back"
Together they went back to the
cabin. John MOreland and his wife
and their son Luke were standing at
the weatherbeaten front gate, with
their eyes turned anxiously toward the
river. Caleb was coming up through
the meadow, and he carried his hat in
mis- hand.
who fired that shOtT" asked Dale.
"Ben Littleford," John Moreland 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
black hat and ran finger through a
hole in the upper part of the crowns
peak. -..-
HE didn't miss!" snapped John
Moreland.
"No," quickly replied Caleb. "he
didn't miss. He don't never miss. You
know that pap, as we'll 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
wore set O. rabbit-hearted heatherns
and come down to the river TO- lead
snd-powder picnic, onless We was a.
skeered to come! He said to tell We
the wimmenfolks had hid our guns,
and we'd find 'em onder the house
floors"
John Moreland took 1t with utter
calmness, though his face was little
male behind his thick brown beard.
He turned to his wife, who looked at
him squarely.
"Addie, honey" said he, Pm mighty
sorry"
"Ef-ef you was much sorry, John"
Mrs, Moreland half sobbed. we
wouldn't go down thar to the river"
ME a coward?" Moreland appeared
to grow an inch in stature. ME let
Littleford send me news like this here
which Gale brings, and not do nothin
at all about it? | thought you knowed
me better'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 dl-
rection and Luke in another, to arouse
his kinsmen.
Then he beckoned to Dale, who had
been trying hard but vainly to THINK
of something to do or say that would
be of aid to the cause of the women.
II 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 l
git my light put out today, want We
to do the best We can with the COAL
Hut O" course We will. l want We to
do me two favors Bill Dale, eft have
my light put out today. VIII We 90
'em TO me, my friendT"
Certainly" Dale promised.
"Much obliged to We, shore. The
fust is this: | want ye to take good
nav out O. what the coal brings, pay
fo' wore work. The second is this:
want We to go to Ben Littleford after
Pm done-pervided he Is yet alive
and tell him about the end O. my bed
time prayer; want him to know
went him one better, at | was big
ger man inside AN him. Remember,
Bill, you've done promised me. Now
YOU 90 ahead to Cincinnaty, and do
lest like We didn't know the least thing
about this trouble we're a-goin' to
have. So long to We, an good luck I"
II don't like the idea"-Dale began.
when the big hillman interrupted
sharply:
go on! You CANT do no good
here!"
Heck started. Dale turned and fol-
lowed the ianky moonshiner; there
seemed to be nothing else to do.