The Ordway new era., 1921-11-04

"Where did you get thisT Dale re-
peated.
do We think" drawled the other
"'at I'm plumb fool enough to give
my find away fo' nothin'? / been pore
all O. my life, mister!"
"How am l to know" frowned Dale,
that you've really got find?'
"Ye'd believe yore own rSo eyes,
wouldn't ye?"
Yes" Dale agreed, I'D bedeve my
own two eyes. of course. What's your
name, and where are you from?'
what do 1 git outen it? l don't
own the mountain it's in. but it shore
can be bought fo' fifteen cents a acre.
And nobody knows about II but jest
me. 1t lays closer to the railroad AN
this here Moreland vein, too. What
do | git outen 1t, mister?'
The mountaineer seemed more hon
est than ever. but Dale was still on
his guard. He asked again:
whats your name, and where are
you from?'
This time the answer came readily:
MY name it's Walt Turner, and I'm
from Turner's Laurel, Madison county,
state O. Nawth Ca'lIner. But my find
1t amt nowhars clost to home. 'Tain't
no more'n about two hours o walkin
from right here, mister. Eff you'd jest
up and go along wi me. I'd show 1t to
ye."
Dale considered. There might be
considerable vein of this new coal.
Even If he was sent to the state peni-
tentiary for a term of years. Hayes
was entirely capable of carrying on the
mining operations.
I'D like to take my mining man,
Hayes"
mol" quickly objected Walt Tur-
ner. II don't want nobody else to
know whar it's at but Jest you and
me. That away. ye see, eff I'm treated
crooked I'll know edzactly who done it
and I'll shore git you! But / heerd
tell at you was pow'ful square, mis-
ter"
Gould get back here before night
fan?"
Turner's eyes lighted. "Shore"
Then lead the way" ordered Dale
Walt Turner from Turner's Laurel,
Madison county, state of North Caro-
lima, crossed the little creek on stones
and went straight to the northeast.
missing the Ball settlement by good
mile, and hard on his heels followed
the Moreland Coal company's stalwart
general manager.
The way was exceedingly rough.
The two men climbed rugged cliffs,
threaded dense thickets of great laurel
mountain laurel, sheep laurel, and
huckleberry bushes. They were one
hour in a stretch of woods where the
hemlocks, poplars and hickories stood
so thickly that the interlacing branches
overhead shut out completely the light
of the sun and half the light of day.
Fearing panther, or Il wildcat, Dale
kept his revolver lOosened and ready in
its holster. Walt Turner armed HIM
self with long staff-for snakes, he
said; and then he proved it by killing
rattler that had eight rattles TO its
tail.
But they Travelled rapidly, notwith-
standing the fact that the going was
difficult; and two hours after the be-
ginning of the little journey Dale saw
before him small and almost circular,
level-bottomed basin walled In by low
cliffs. A small creek ran through this
basin and made two easy ways of en-
trance. In the hollow they saw clumps
of laurel and huckleberry bushes. and
Wild grasses knee-high; toward the
center stood a solitary big and gnarled
black walnut tree.
Thn,- Of l.n ;,I,
the creek ran in, and went to the wal
nut tree. There Turner halted and
faced Bill Dale with peculiar CLINT
in his eyes. Dale was looking at the
rugged walls of stone, and at the
thick green forest that rose above
them; he was marveling, as only
true lover Of beauty can marvel, at
the wonderful grandeur of it ALL
Walt Turner, of Turner's Laurel,
Here's the kirty!'
Dale was brought out of his en-
joyment most rudely. From behind
clumps OF laurel and huckleberry
bushes, from the tall grasses, from
everywhere-it seemed from nowhere
there sprang dozens of Balls and
Torreys with rifles in their hands
Bill Dale had walked, as gently as a
kitten, straight into u trap.
His right hand moved toward the
butt of his revolver, then dropped
at his side. II was foolish, worse
than useless, to show fight; dozens
of rifles were staring at him with their
frowning, murderous eyes, and their
bullets would riddle him If he showed
fight. He glanced toward Walt Tur-
ner, kinsman of the Balls.
Turner was laughing openly. Pore
little kitty"
IF ever l have the chance NUT
tered Bill Dale, "I'll thrash you for
~. - I'LL -