The Glenwood post., 1921-09-03

LAAoAA1Gu hC2NCu LUZ JOuI COLQluk, Huu
, you may count on me to help in any
way can. The Morelands are quite
friendly to me now, though up to the
middle of last summer they didn't like
me any too we'll because l made Ben
LittlefOrd's cabin my home when out
here.
ut was simple thing that brought
us together. John Moreland's little
nephew was lost in the woods and his
mother was frantic. There are pam
theirs, you know, and wildcats, rattlers,
and copperheads. was fortunate
enough to find the boy. and carried
him home. That was all. They're q
fine people, my boy, and so are the
Littlefords. Good old English blood
that somehow wandered of. There's
no purer, cleaner blood In America,
sir.
"And now-how are you getting
along with your plans for the opera
ton Of the coal miner"
"Excellently," answered Dale. I'VE
have the necessary finance; geared
locomotive and cars and light steel
rails have been bargained for"
"Good!" Bradley gave Dale hearty
slap on the shoulder.
There's something else wanted to
say. Mr.. Dale" he continued, his
voice grave. You're nearly certain
to have q barrel Of trouble with n
shyster coal man named Henderson
GOT. He's q villain. sir, If ever there
was onsl And he's quite the smooth
est article I've ever seen. He can
make you believe black is white, If
only you'll listen to him long enough"
els he-has he been here recently?'
Dale wanted to knew.
Hes here now" answered the ma.
jor. Hes been here for three days,
and he's been working devilment fast.
He was up here last summer, trying
to buy the Moreland coal for song;
he knows all the people, you see. AS
soon as he landed here on this pres
ent trip, he found out about your in
tentions. Then. at night, he freed
Adam Ball from his tobacco barn pris-
on, and went home with him.
"Wel, By Heck followed them and
did some savesdropping-poor By has
his strong points!" the major went
on. "Goff learned that Adam Balls
father knew about the coal vein long
before David Moreland discovered 1t
and got lawful possession Of the noun
tain, Then Goff made the Balls be-
lieve that they were due a big share
Of the proceeds Of the Moreland coal
It wasn't very hard to do. guess. The
Balls, this set, at least, were originally
lowlanders; they took to the noun
tains, I understand, to keep from be-
ing forced to fight during the Civil
war"
"Gofrs idea," muttered Dale. sis to
get the Balls to scare me into selling
instead of developing, chr"
Exactly" nodded old Bradley.
"Then he would settle with the Balls
BY giving them q dollar or two day
for digging coal; perhaps he would
put them of until the mine was
worked cut for half Of that, and then
skip. Anyway, Gof would come cut
at the big end"
IL see," said Dale.
IF there's anything that can DO.
1t any time, you won't hesitate to let
me known said the major.
"Ysu may consider yourself attorney
and legal adviser for the Moreiand
Coal company. Of which l have tho
honor to be general manager" smiled
Dale. If you will"
Major Bradley's voice came happily
My dear boy, am glad to accept !
And there shah be no charge fer any
service that may render"
green valley, which lay very beaud-
full and very peaceful In the warm
light Of the early July sun. The soft
murmuriDg Of the crystal river and
the low. slow tinkling of the cOwbells
made music that WAS sweet and pleas
ing.
Suddenly John Moreland stopped,
uttered swearword under his breath,
turned and went back to Dale.
"The's q man a-waitin' on US ahead
thar, BILL" he drawled. Eat ye shore
want to watch like a hawk to keep
him from a-stealin' the eyeteeth out
O. yore head. His name Is Hender-
son Con-, and he wants coal"
They went on. Soon they met q
man who. In clothing and manner.
made Dale think of stories he had
heard and read Of Mississippi river
steamboat gamblers Of the long ago.
His eyes were black, and as keen as
pair Of spear-points; his mustaches.
too. were black, and they had sharp.
upturned ends like those Of Mephis-
to. The major had said that he was
a smooth article: he certainly looked
It
BE met John Moreland with an oily
smile and thrust out his hand But
MOreland wouldn't see the hand.
Anything we've got to say about
coal" he growied, we cnn say to BIZ
Holo thar" pntpfIOO With a CaiiOu nod