The Adair County news., 1921-08-30
Copyright, By Doubleday, Page & Co.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ,

pRHgae my people. I'll suffer with you
wIssz gou suffer. and be happy with
yaz when you're happy; and when you
astzt. all fight with you"
gMe Moreland chief arose, and Bill
Is9&a arose. The hillman put out his
ha.aa- and Dale gripped it.
believe in ye, Bill" said John
Msusiand. ''FO' another thing, I've
szEss6 Ye fight You can work the COAL"
lie looked toward the closed inner
c,Ssr and called, "Oh, Addie; you and
tExe 6oyS can come back now"
C5Ef Of the night face appeared at
oz&@ OF the small windows. 1t was
TSzatnine face and handsome rather
ESEE1 pretty. Two slender, sunburned
E.41sds gripped the window-ledge nerv-
8Es$g. The face pressed closer to the
gtsEE, then disappeared. Soon after
ws.cra the outer door Of the guests
rsS9G opened, and Ben Littlefords
daughter entered. Her skirts were
dripping wet.
-NEg. MOreland arose and went to-
ward the young woman. She knew
tt5.at only something of great impOr-
tawrra could bring a Littleford into her
hceass In this fashion.
what's the matter, Babe"
Ba0e -LittlefOrd gave no attention
ts BrS Moreland. She went on to
BJ4Z Dale, walking softly on bare feet
Biaak Adam is a-goin' to kill you
tEszfGhr. Bill Dale"
"~That SOP Dale's smile was rather
grim. How did you find that out,
Mss LittlefOrd?'
Il found it out, all right. AS he
vFeg1t off from the river this mornin,
I wade fun of him; and he patted the
stsIck of his rifle and said he'd git you
fI1ITrigh a window! He was at our
hnss1s this evenin' to help fix pap's
gJIu- and when he left he started this
WHY, a-soin' by the blowed-down syca-
n,zre. / waded the river at Blue Cat
shGxEs to beat him here. l thought you
mIsst want to know about it, SOS ye
coI5S& nebbe save other folks the trou-
bic o maxim a funeral fO' ye."
She backed toward the door, her
eYes never leaving Dale's face. Another
sessEad, snd she was gone.
ENey were all on their feet now.
Joszu Mopeiand gripped Dale's arm.
~s3ver thar aside O. the chimbley,
BiH-7' ne ordered. his native drawl for
Stlfs moment absent. "Out, Addie,
hassey! Luke, bring my rifle and hat
lump keen! Gale, bring water and
draaeR6 this here fire."
ET was done Moreland took his hat
ausa fhe repeater and went alone into
the night.
When some fifteen minutes had
pasSe6, there came to Dales ears the
sosa1d Of shooting. There we're ten
ainB9s IN such rapid succession that they
nrsse almost continuous roar. Then
eanhe echoes and reverberations, and
Or silence. Soon John Moreland let
HS-oSH'f -" die dark room.
4: ~ ice was low and filled
u: i.,' ed, John?"
-: = me through the dark
= land's rifie-butt struck
8 what happened, Addie: AS
: ~; the cawner O. the house, got
fssa-.- II thar old oxwhip to take
a,Esryl went acrost the road and into
t7szz meadow. and thar | seen Adam
GlxH a-comin' hid, ard when Adam
w3=g about to pass me. | jumped up
aN6 jerked his rifle from him and
0aSted 1t ag'in a rock Then lights
liz zn6 thras!eS him with the oXwhiI
oz5el he brole and run. And 'en this
mere happenei, Addie:
II .EaE 7a-watchin' to see eff Adam
Gan reely wC"t of, when seed a man
a~comin' toward me fast. | thought
II CIas Ball. o course. So | up and
gIzz{s aim TO show me how fast he car
r1n and commences a-shootin' over
aTs head to skeer him. But it didn't
happen to be Adam BaIl-it was Ben
I5ftlaford! He was a-follerin' Babe
20 see what she was Up to, O. course >
-'EIow do We know it was Ben, papT
Caleb asked.
How do | know?" growled JOhr
sIorelan6. @When l got through a
saEootin', he h9llers at me and says
Tomorrow, John Moreland,' he says
~sUeW have a little Gettysburg O OuI
sSEl!' And ! might mind We, Gale, a
ne Eeeps his word the same as l do
And LittIeford mea2t "a" begaI
Dale
That the1l he a big fight tomor
row" said MOreland. "Bill Dale, il
z-zna.kin' this land yore land and thes'
peaple gore people, I'm a-feard YER
REoin' to git more'n ye expected, meb
&c Daore'n ye can handle. Do We wan
70 back out Of 1t and LET the coal &c
or sare We one o. these fellers VIII
<tzaws what they bites of eff It's
hsxssfs head"
I'll stick" Dale's voice came firm
~ In the darkness 'Pn stick"