Cheyenne Wells record., 1921-10-27

the Littlefords all lost their guns Just
as the Atorelands did,"
1.-THE devili"
The mountaineers began to crowd
about Dale.
"And who." asked their leader. do
ye think done it7"
Bill Dale shook his head slowly and
threw out his hands.
"How should know7" He went
on: Babe told me about the Llttleford
guns disappearing. saw her down
at the river; she was fishing"
"Did she soy anything" pursued
John MOreland. "'at sounded like she
knowed whar them guns went tot"
"She told me-" said Dale. "she would
give her life to stop the fighting. She
seemed rather badly worked up over
it."
From the cabins front doorway came
a woman's sorrowful voice:
"And me. too: I'd give my life to
stop this here fightin'. had boy,
a big. strappln' boy"
John Moreland frOwned toward his
wife and interrupted, "Now, Addie.
honey. don't do that"
1t ended the talk.
Mrs. Moreiand dried her eyes on a
corner Of her freshly ironed gingham
apron, and announced the MONDAY
meal. The mountaineers dispersed.
Grandpap Moreland went away claw.
ing at his long white beard and grum-
bling over the loss Of his beloved old
Lancaster.
An hour later Dale cornered the
Mo-eland leader on the vine-hung
front porch and suggested that they
look over the coal property that after
noon. He was eager to go to work.
eager to be doing something worth
while. he told MOreland. The hillman
stood very still for what seemed to
the other a very long time, and had
no word to say. Evidently the feud
had all his mind now.
When he did speak. he said simply:
"All right. BILL"
After half an hour of fighting their
way through thickets of blooming lau-
rel and ivy. they drew up before an
old and mildewed cabin ut the north
end of David Moreland's mountain.
Moreland led the way In and pointed
to a spot under small, paneless win
dow.
THAR" said he, "is whar we found
my brother David"
The two men turned for the point
at which the coal vein run out to Tie
light OF day.
Dale picked up piece Of the shin
Ing black stun. Judging by the little
he knew and the great amount of de-
scription Re had heard. the vein was
very large and the coal itself of the
finest grade.
ut was big tind," he told his COM
panion, "a big find. 1t was pity to
let 1t lie here untouched for so long
and yet It's worth more today than it
was ever worth before"
His enthusiasm ran warm. and More
land caught 1t quickly. Together they
hastily planned out the little railroad
that was to wind Its way through the
wIlds and connect with the big rail-
road at the Halfway switch.
II know I'm a-doin' right about It,"
the mountaineer said twice for the
benefit of his conscience. II know
pore David he would want me to do
this eff he could know"
I'm sure Of It," agreed Dale. "lll
start for Cincinnati tomorrow. I've
got enough money to take me there
and back. l have a very wealthy
friend there-his name is Harris;
think can borrow enough from him
to finance the beginning Of this thing.
And Ill buy n locomotive and cars,
and all the other necessary machinery.
while I'm In Clncinnati-unless l fail |
to get the money from Harris. When
get back, which should be within
eight days. we1l start the work. At |
a guess, Id say We'll need twenty |
men. Can we get them?"
"Shore." nodded the mountaineer.
And all Morelands ut that"
They turned homeward. At last
Bill Dale was happy. He had some
hing to do nOw-an aim in life. He |
mad difficulties to overcome, obstacles |
10 remove. barriers to surmount-it |
was his big chance!
returned from his visit to the coal |
Pine mountain hid the sun
1t little after three in the afternoon.
He borrowed fishing rod and a min
low pail, which made his going to the |
liver seem proper enough to John |
Moreland, and set out to meet Babe
.ittleford. He was glad that nobody
expressed a desire to accompany him.
lle found Ben Littleford's daughter
where he had found her twice before
sitting on stone the size Of small
,arrel. She was fishing with an un-
,aited hook. which was equal to fish
ng not at all, and she seemed pleased
when she saw him coming. He sat
iown on the stone at her side. She
moved over little shyly, and tried to
sover her feet With ner calico skirts.
Needn't bother to hide them"