Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1921-08-16
Page Six

the man; it couldn't possibly do any
harm, and there was chance that he
would learn something Of Goff>s In
tentions. #
So Dale went. y. "a
Goff was already there, waiting. He
was sitting on a tone on the More
land side OF the river, whiting idly.
When he saw Dale approaching, he
smiled and nodded, rose and pocketed
his knife.
81 want to make you an offer for
that COAL" he said at once.
"All right" Dale replied. "lf your
offer is big enough, it will be conSid-
cred. But no shyster price Is going
TO get that coal, Goff."
Golf frowned uneasily.
"You don't know coal, Mr.. Dale.
You don't know the business of min
ing-or I've got you sized up wrong
Thousands Of men have gone busted
trying to do things they weren't used
to doing. There's big chance, too,
that the coal isn't what it looks to be
on the surface. You'd better take
sure thing, and avoid possibility of
loss. I'll give you five thousand, spot
cash, for that COAL"
Dale shook his head. you'll have
20 come heavier than that, y'know, II
you get the Moreland coal"
"And an extra thousand for your
selfW
Dale laughed a low, queer laugh.
"You amuse me, Goff," said he
"Seems to me you've missed your call
ing in life. what peach of a king
villain you'd make in melodrama You
wouldn't have 10 act, either; YOU'D
have to be just your natural self. And
you make me mad too, Golf. Because
I'm on the square with the More
lands and everybody else-now, get
that!"
The corners of the shyster coal mans
mouth came down.
"Oh, bosh-don't pass me that vir-
tue stuff. Every man has his price,
high or low. You've got yours, and
I've got mine. I'll give you five thou
sand, spot cash, If you'll persuade
John Moreland to sell to me for five
thousand and nobodyll ever know
you got rakedown from me. It's all
the coal Is worth, that ten thousand.
Well, yes?"
Dale was of the type-that goes pale
with anger, and he was pale now. He
clenched his hands.
"YOu can't insult me like that and
get away with 1t, Goff," he clipped.
"We're going to fight, Goff, and I'm
going TO put licking on you that
fifteen horses can't pull off. Get me"
He threw aside his coat and rolled
his sleeves to his elbows. Henderson
Golf ran his right hand quickly to
rear trouser pocket and brought back
a stub-nosed automatic pistol, which
he turned threateningly toward Bill
Dale.
"Go easy, friend" Golf said very
complacently. There's no use In
getting sore. want the coal, that's
all. II can't get it by fair means.
I'll yet It In another way. Oh, don't
mind telling you; one mans oath Is as
good in court as another mans. II
you don't take me I'D at ten thousand.
I'll give you so much trouble that
you'll be glad to sell it to me later,
for half that amount. The Balls think
they own a big interest in that coal!
There's lot OF them, too, and they
can keep you from working the mine.
Well, can't waste time in dickerng
with you. What do you say?'
81 say" and Dale smiled an odd lit
tie smile, that your plan appears to
be perfect, except that you've over
looked one or two important details.
For instance, there's the law, y'know."
THE law-nOw don't so and fool
yourselfw exclaimed Goff. "The state
couldn't afford to keep a hundred men
here, month in and month out, just to
protect your little mine. My patience
is about gone, Dale-for the last time,
what do you say?"
81 say that III beat you at any
game you put up against me" very
quietly. Furthermore, say that you
are coward and sCoumdrel, and
that you haven't got the inSideS in you
TO fight me fair mans fight. If you'll
only pocket that thing you've got in
your hand, I'll NOV down half an acre
of meadow bush with your body"
The other turned red, then white,
then red again. Bill DaleS words had
dashed him kecnly. His eyes became
like hard block beads, and he began
to raise the wickcd-lOoking pistol as
though he meant to fire.
Then there was the sound of a
breaking twig behind him, and voice
drawled out:
"Drap it, Mister-drap the funny
little gun, or the middle o Tarment
is yOre potion right now"
1t was the moonshiner, BY Heck,
and his rifle was leVcled. G0ff dropped
the pistol. Heck srinned, advanced
slowly, took up the weapon that the
hillfOlk call q towards gun" and
tossed it into the river.
"NOw rit-cut the muStarQ-light