Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1921-09-15

beSzE B7zdIzE 1is 1FIsajsS rEI 81
the younger mans arm. snhork goa
and what you're plznninr - ID cor
The Morelan6a ten you. slr. I
thanked heaven f0r your eominr. and
you may count On ne 60 help m any
way ] can. The Moreikn6x are cutie
friendly % me- now. though &c 70 the
middle Of last summer thar didn't Ike
me any too well because l made Ben
Litfleford's cabin my home when out
here.
1T was n simple thing thar brought
rs together. John Aoreland's little
nephew was lost In the woods and his
mother was frantic. There are PAN
TIERS. you know. and wildcats. ratflers.
and copperheads. was fortunate
enough to find the boy. and carried
him home. That was eli. They're Q
nne people. my boy, and % are the
Littiefords. Good old English blood
that somehow wandered ofk. There's
no purer. cleaner blood II America.
slE.
And now-how ara ycu getting
along with your plans for the opera
ton Of the coal miner
"Excellentiy," answered Dale. 1--WE
have the necessary finance; a geared
locomotive and cars and light steel
rails have been bargained for"
"GoOdl" Bradley gave Dale a 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 a
shyster coal man named Henderson
Gon. Hes villain. sir. II ever there
was onel And he's quite the smooth
est article I've ever seen. He can
make you believe black Ii white, IL
only you'll listen to him long enough"
els he-has he been here recentlyT'
Dale wanted to know.
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 n song;
he knows all the people. you see. As
ent trip, he found out about your In
tenti0ns. Then. at night, he freed
Adam Ball from his tobacco barn pris-
on. and went home with him.
swell, BY Heck followed them and
did some eavesdropping-poor By has
his strong pointsi" the major went
on. "Goff learned that Adam Balls
father knew about the coal vein long
before David Moreland discovered it
and got lawful possession Of the noun
tain. Then Con 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;"
"Goffs idea." muttered Dale, els TO
get the Balls to scare me into selling
instead Of developing. ehT"
Exactly" nodded old Bradley.
Then he would settle with the Balls
ny giving tuCtu u uohaE w tNO u udy
for digging coal; perhaps he would
put them of until the mine was
worked out for half Of that. and then
skip. Anyway. Coz would come out
at the big end"
81 see," said Dale.
Elf there's anything that can do.
at any time. you won't hesitate TO let
me known" said the major.
"YOu may consider yourself attorney
and legal adviser for the Moreland
Coal company. OF which have the
honor to be general manager" smiled
Dale, III you WILL"
Major Bradlsy's voice came happily,
MY dear boy. am glad to accept I
And there shall be no charge for any
service that may render"
They vera not long In reaehfss the
green valley. which lay very beauti-
full and very peaceful In the warm
light Of the early July sun. The soft
murmuring Of the crystal river and
the low. slow tinkling Of the cowbells
made music that was sweet and pleas
ing.
Suddenly John Moreland stopped.
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