Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1921-09-01
CHAPTER v.
AZ the River Aoain.


John Moreland met dale at the gate.
what did We lind outy"
Il learned" was the answer, that
the LittlefOrds all lost their guns Just
rs the Morelands did"
1.-The devIlI"
The mountRineers began 10 crowd
bout Dale.
And who" aslred their leader, do
ye think done itT'
Bill Dale shook his head slowly and
threw out his hands.
How should I known He went
on: Babe told me about the LittIeford
guns disappearing. I saw her down
at the river; she was fishing"
did she say anything" pursued
John MOreland. lat sounded like she
knOwed whar them guns went TOT"
"She told me-" said Dale, ''she would
give her life to stop the fighting. She
seemed rather badly worked up over
IT,"
From the cabins front doorway came
woman's sorrowful voice:
"And me. too: I'd give my life to
a big, strappin' boy"
John MoreIand frowned toward his
wife and interrupted. Now. Addie.
honey. don't do that"
10 ended the talk.
Mrs. MOreiand dried her eyes on a
corner Of her freshly ir0ned gingham
apron. and announced the MONDAY
meal. The mountaIneers dispersed.
Grandpap Moreland went away claw
ing at his long white beard and grum-
bling over the loss OF his beloved old
lancaster.
An hour later Dale cornered the
Moreiand leader on the vine-hung
front porch and suggested that they
look over the coal property that after
noon. He was eager to go to work,
eager TO be doing something worth
while. he told Moreiand. The hillman
stood very still for what seemed to
the other a very long time, and had
no word TO say. Evidently the feud
had all bis mind now.
when he did speak. he said simply:
"All right, BILL"
After half an hour Of fighting their
way through thickets OF blooming lau-
rel and Ivy. they drew up before an
Old and widowed cabin ut the north
end Of David Morelands mountain.
MOreiand led the way In and pointed
TO spot under q small, >paneless win
dow.
THAR" said he. ''is whar we found
my brother David"
The two men turned for the point
at which the coal vein ran out to tie
light OF day.
Dale picked up piece OF the shin
ing black stun. Judging by the little
ne knew and the great amount of de-
scription he had heard. the vein was
very large and the coal itself Of the
finest grade.
lit was a big lind" he told his COM
panion, "a big find. IL was a pity 20
let it lie here untouched for so long:
aad yet It's worth more today than it
was ever worth before"
Ills enthusiasm ran warm, and More
land caught II quickly. Together they
HdSuty ptauucu OUT the utue railroad
that was TO wind Its way through the
wilds and connect with the big rail-
rOad AT the Halfway switch.
know I'm a-doin' right about Il"
the mountaineer said twice for the
benefit Of his conscience. Il know
pore David he would want me TO do
this ef he could knOw."f
I'm sure of IT," agreed Dale. I'r'u
start for Cincinnati tomorrow. I've
got enough money to take me there
ana back l have a very wealthy
friend there-hls name Is Harris; /
think i can borrow enough from him
10 finance the beginning OF this thing.
And Ill buy a locomotive and cars:
and all the other necessary machinery.
while I'm In Cincinnati-unIess 1 fail
to get the money from Harris. When
get back, which should be within
eight days. well start the work. At
guess. I'D say Wen need twenty
men. Can we get themT"
SHORE" nodded the mountaIneer.
And all Morelands at that"
They turned homeward. At last
Bill Dale was haDDy. He had splne-