American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1921-12-30
CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK
UTTUroTo~

CHAPTER L-Young Carlyle wilburton
Dale. or "Bm Dale" as he elects to be
known, son Of a wealthy. coal operator.
Switch, in eastern Tennessee, abandon
ing q life of idle ease-and incidentally a
pride, Patricia Clavering. at the altar
determined to make his own way In life,
He meets Babe" Littleford, typical
mountaineer girl. by" Heck, a charac-
ter Of the hills, takes him to John More
lands home. Moreland is chief OF his
"olan," which has an old feud with the
Littlefords. He tells Dale OF the killing
OF his brother. David Moreland, years
man named Carlyle, Moreland's descrip-
ton of Carlyle causes Dale TO believe
the man was his father.
CHAPTER IL.-Dale arrange TO make
his home with the Moreland family. for
whom he entertains a deep respect.
CHAPTER In.-Talking with Babe
Lttleford next day, Dale is ordered by
Blac Adam" Ball. bully Of the district,
spiritedly, and they fight. Dale whips
the bully, though badly used up. He ar
ranges with John Moreland to develop
David's coal deposits. Ben Lttleford
sends a challenge to John Moreland TO
meet him with his followers next day, In
battle. Moreland agrees.
A little more than a quarter of an
hour after Dale left John Moreland
he entered by the gateless gateway at
the cabin of the Hecks. 1t was a d.
l~apidated place, and 1t stood not far
from the river. BY sat In the front
doorway; he was lazily cutting a new
midday sun mark In the place of the
worn old one. Behind him sat his
mother, who was busily knitting a
gray yarn stocking.
The moonshiner looked up and start
cd quickly to his feet.
ali, thar, BIZ, old boy" he greeted
cordially. my gosh, but we've come
at the right time, shore. We're a-goin'
TO have young squirrels TO dinner, and
Il billed hamshank with string beans,
and cawnbread made with the yeller
o. hen aigs. Live whilst We do live,
says l. Come right in, Bill, old boy
LA, la, lar cried Granny Heck.
looking over the brass rims of her
s~pectacles. How glad l am to see We,
Mr.. Bill Come right In and tell us
the news"
Bill Dale crossed the threshold and
accepted a creaking chair. His eyes
lOOh III at a 5nSCPlhB 6AuhNS ~ AS
made dining table with it's V Of red
oilcloth, the broken cast-iron stove, the
strings of dried peppers hanging on
the log walls, the broken stillworm
lying in the corner.
1.-The ~Littlefords," said Dale, have
declared war"
"SakesW' laughed the old woman.
1--WE knowed that last night when we
heered them ten shots"
"And all the Moreland rifles are
missing" Dale watched the effect OF
his words.
what !" the Hecks cried in one
voice.
Their surprise seemed genuine.
Dale pressed the subject further and
learned only that If they knew any
thing concerning the disappearance
Of the rifles they were not going tC
tell. Then he started homeward by way
of the pool above the blown-down syc
amore.
There was a chance that Ben Little
ford's daughter would be there fishing
Dale told himself, and it was barely
possible that she could throw som'
light On the mystery of the rifles.
He crossed the river by means o
the PROSTATE tree. Babe was there
she sat ON the stone on which she ha'
been sitting the morning before; he
back was to him, and her bare fee
were in the water to her ankles. Dal
went up close, stopped and gathere'
a handful of violets and dropped then
over her shoulder and into her lap.
Babe looked around and smiled.
what luck, Miss Littleford?'
"Nothin'. l don't much want I
ketch anything" she said slowly,
spirit Of sadness In her musical voice
II Jest come off down here to b
whar it's quiet. You ought to hear tn
noise at pap and the rest OF 'em /
a-makin !"
Dale narrowed his eyes. Are they
er, making a noise7 And what aboutf
my goodness gracious alive! You
think so eff We could hear EN-! Y'ough
to hear pap cuss John Moreland
She shrugged her pretty shoulders
lifted the small end of her rod to II
proper place, and went on, Il v
did see pap half as mad as he wa
when ne got home last night fror
a-follerin' me-"
Mad at your asked Dale.
"No; but he would Ia been ef
hadn't ha' had all his madness turne
ag'in them Morelands. You knowt
about pap's trouble on yam side o Il
river last night7"
ayes. / knew about that" Dale a
syered slowly. But John Morelar
thought your father was my antag
mist OF yesteray."
"An-antagonistT' Babe mutter'
dnouiringiy. whats thatT'
IL mean Adam Ball, y'know.
.Oh. That's what l told pap. b
a he wouldn't believe H. and