Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1921-07-28

to take her dyin' boys head in her lap.
whilst blood run through her dress to
her knees. His name was Charley,
and he was bad; he'd drink. and oncet
he shot up Gainesville. But Addie,
she allus loved him better'n Gale or
Luke. Wimmen like her allus loves
the worst boys the best; cause they
need it the most. the worst boys does.
It's the wimmen that pays, Bill
Dale, when the's tightin'. The VIM
men O. this valley is right now on
needles; they're afeard the men'll md
their rifles. You can guess whar the
guns went to now, CANT ye? The VIM
men hid 'em last night after the men
had gone to sleep! By good luck. they
had almost whole night fo it. You
must be shore to keep it to yourself
but | know We viii. Adde Moreland,
she started the idee. She got Granny
Moreland to spread the word amongst
the wimmen O. my people. When the
tightin' fever sort O. dies down the
gunsll all be brought back and put
whar they belong"
h1AAS StA OSV anu SlOOd ltLClC
down upon him. He was staring at
the swirling water without seeing it
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.
al nj ho tgnf the
difference between you and some other
women | know"
Her clear brown eyes widened.
And 1 reckon l seem purity no count.
don't IT.
No, not at all. 1t is-er. quite the
opposite, Babe. You make them ap-
pear unreal, artificial"
| Babe Littleford's countenance bright
ened. She did not doubt that he meant
it. He was not of the sort that fiat
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 a 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 g
rifle shot. Both stopped and faced
about quickly.
"Ill be dadgummed eff the Little
fords amt found their weepOns!' ex
claimed By Heck. 'They have, igod
as shore as dangit !"
"How do you known" Dale's voice
was troubled.
~ shore know" and Heck narrowed
his gaze. "'At was Ben Littleford':
old AS Winch. I'd know that gun et
l heered it at the nawth pole. The
bar'l it's been cut off, and it dom
sound like other Winchesters."
"Caleb Moreland was down near the
river cleaning out the springnoust
ditch" Dale muttered, facing his com
panion Il think we'd better go back.
Together they vent back to tht
cabin. John Moreland and his wifi,
and their son Luke were standing a
the weatherbeaten front gate, witt
river. Caleb was coming up through
the meadow, and he carried his hat il
his hand.
who fired that shot?" asked Dale
ben Littleford," John Moreland an
swered readily.
Two minutes later Caleb leaped tn,
old rail fence on the other side of tn,
road and approached them hastily. Ii,
was breathing rapidly and his stron.
young face was drawn and pale-witl
the old hate.
We'll" said his iron father, "whn
is it?''
Caleb held up his broad-rimmeC
black hat and ran a finger through /;
hole in the upper part of the crown
peak.
He didn't miss !" snapped JONI
Moreland.
NO" quickly replied Caleb, "h
didn't miss. He don't never miss. Yol
know that, pap. as well as ye know
God made We. He done it jest to shov
| no r1nont vrhot bo +oI
!, me to go and tell you to gether Vi
yore set O. rabbit-hearted heathern
and come down To the river fo' lead
and-powder picnic. onless We was a
skeered to come! He said to tell v
the wimmenfOlkS had hid our guns
and we'd find EN- onder the hous
floors"
John Moreland took it with ute
calmness. though his face was a littl
pale behind his thick brown bearC
He turned to his wife, who looked a
him squarely.
"Addie, honey" said he, I'm might
sorry"
"Ef-ef you WAS much sorry, John,
Mrs. Moreland half sobbed. ~
wouldn't go down thar to the river"
ME a coward: MoreIand appears
to grow an inch III stature. ME let
. Littleford send ME news like this her
which Gale brings. and not do nothiI
at all about it? / thought you knowe
me better'n that, Addie"
He faced his two staIwart sons. A
, ways he was the general, the leade
of his clan. He sent Caleb in one di
rectfon and Luke in another, to arous
/ his kinSmen.
> Then he beckonpd to Dale, who ha
been trying hard hut vainly to thin
, OF something to do or say that wOul
be of aid to the cause of the womer
Il don't want you in this here miS
up" he said decisively. You mus
stay clean out of 1t. You amt use
) to this way o. tighrln'. Asides, your
our hope. More'n that, mebbe, yo
owe yOre life to Babe Littleford; yO
: cain't get around that, Bill Dale"
He went on, after moment, "Ef