The Belding banner-news., 1921-08-24

hate t'other side. I'm ashamed to tell
it, butt understand the fust plain
words my Uncle Saul Litteford's last
baby said was these here: 'D-n John
Moreland Ii started long time ago.
and Ii started over nothin'. Grandpap
Littleford and John Moreand's pap
got in dispute over whether Kahn
tucky was In virginny or Nawth Ca
liner. and went to fghtin' about Ii.
Purity soon my Uncle Saul and Abner
Moreland happened along. and they
went to fightin', too. Thank goodness,
II was on Sunday, and none OF 'em
didn't have their rifles with EN- What
ever else we are or amt up here. Bill
Dale. we gen'ally respects the Sabbath
day to keep IL holy. :"
Il see" Dale muttered sympathet-
ically.
I've seen my own mother set do"n
i'm the floor and take her boys head
in her lap-oh. such big, fine boy he
was while the blood run through her
dress from Moreiands bullet lie
died with mothers arms and mine
around him. Ii was all we could do
70 him. was To love him. I've seen sis
ters watch their brothers die from
MoreIand bullets. and young wimmen
watch their sweethearts die, and wives
watch their husbands die. -. =.
II tell you. Bill Dale. them More
lands never misses when they have
even half Al fair shot You'd be- puff
fectly safe in a-Iettin' any Of 'em shoot
dimes from atween yore finger and
rhumh al day. And its the same way
with The Lirtlerords. They're fighters.
too. every one. and they don't give in
any more than the Morelands does.
"Adhie MoreIand knows what il is
tn take her dyin' boy's head in her lap.
whilst blood run through her dress 10
her knees. Ills name was Charley.
and he WAS had he'd drink. and oncet
he shot mp Cartersvile. But Addie.
she aluS loved him better'n Gale or
Luke. Wimmen like her allus loves
the worst boys the best: cause they
need n the most. the worst boys does.
ITS The wimmen that pays. Bill
Dale, when the's tightn. The VIM
men q this valley is right now on
needles; they're afeard the men'll find
their rifles. You can guess whar the
guns went 10 now, cain't ye? The vim
men hid EN- last night after the men
had gone to sleep! BY good luck, they
had almost whole night TO IL. You
must he shore to keep II TO yourself
hut know We will. Addie Moreland.
she started the idee. She got Granny
Moreand TO spread the word amongst
the wimmen o. my people. When the
fightia' fever sort o. dies down the
guns'll all be brought back and put
whar they belong"
She arose and stood there smiling
down upon him. He was staring at
me swiring water without seeing il
at all.
Her voice brought him to himself.
'What're you a-thinkin' about, Bill
Dale?"
Dale went to his feet. He saw that
she was smiling. and he smiled, too.
81 was thinking" he said, "of the
difference between you and some other
women 1 know"
Her clear brown eyes widened.
"And | reckon | seem purity NO count.
don't IL"
NO. not at all. IL is-er. quite the
opposite. Babe. You make them APP
pear unreal artificial"
Babe Littleford'S countenance bright
=. ~. l,.. at
1t. He was not of the sort that Hat
tered. She began To like Bill Dale at
that same moment.
And Bill Dale told himself as he
went homeward that he was beginning
to like Babe Littleford. He did not
fight the feeling, because it somehow
made the world seem better place.
Early the following morning Dale
made ready for his journey to Cincin-
natl. Having learned the evening be-
fore that he was going. BY Heck had
come to accompany him to the Half
way switch.
The two set out. They had three
hours In which TO cross David More
lands mountain before the arrival OF
Dale's train. and they walked lei
surely.
They had not gone a dozen rods
when there came from somewhere
down near the river the sound Of a
rifle shot. Both stopped and faced
about quickly.
'Ill be dadgummed ef the Little
fords amt found their weapons y ex-
claimed BY Heck. They have, igod.
as shore as dangit!' N
'How do you known" Dales voice
was troubled
Il shore know" and Heck narrowed
his gaze. AT was Ben Littleford's
old 40 Winch. Id know that gun ef
beered 1t at the nawth pole. The
bar1 fits been cut of, and II don't
sound like other winchesters."
"Caleb Moreland was down near the
river cleaning out the springhouse
ditch" Dale muttered. facing his. com
psnion. II think we'd better 20 back"
Together they went back to the
cabin. John Moreland and his wife