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

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
Moreland 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
the other 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 anu mildewed cabin at the north
end of David Morelands mountain.
Moreland led the way in and pointed
to a spot under a 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 ran out to tie
light of day.
Dale picked up a piece of the shin
ing black stuff. Judging by the little
he knew and the great amount of de-
scription he had heard, the vein was
very large and the coal itself of the
finest grade.
1T was big tind," he told his COM
panion, "a big find. 1t was a pity to
let it 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 it quickly. Together they
hastily planned out the little railroad
that was to wind it's way through the
wilds and connect with the big rail-
road at the Halfway switch.
Il know I'm a-doin' right about it, 3"
the mountaineer said twice for the
| benefit of his conscience. 81 know
pore David he would want me to do
this eff he could know"
I'm sure of it." agreed Dale. "Ill
start for Cincinnati tomorrow. I've
| got enough money to take me there
and back. | have a very wealthy
| friend there-his name is Harris;
think l can borrow enough from him
to finance the beginning of this thing.
And I'll buy locomotive and cars,
and all the other necessary machinery,
while I'm in Cincinnati-unless | fail
to get the money from Harris. When
| get back, which should be within
eight days, We'll start the work. AT
guess, I'd say We'll need twenty
men. Can we get them?"
shore" nodded the mountaineer
"And all Morelands at that"
They turned homeward. At last
Bill Dale was happy. He had some
thing to do now-an' aim in life. He
had difficulties to overcome, obstacles
to remove. barriers to surmount-it
was his big chance!
1t was almost sundown when Dale
returned from his visit to the coa
vein-Big Pine mountain hid, the sur
at a little after three in the afternoon
He borrowed a fishing rod and a min
now pail, which made his going to the
river seem proper enough to Johr
Moreland, and set out to meet Babe
Littleford. He was glad that nobody
expressed a desire to accompany him
ne found Ben Littleford's daughter
where he had found her twice before
sitting OF a stone the size of a small
barrel. She was fishing with an un
baited hook, which was equal to fish
ing not at all, and she seemed pleased
when she saw him coming He sar
down on the stone at her side. She
moved over . little ,shyly, and tried tt
cover her feet with her calico skirts
Needn't bother to hide them,
laughed Bill Dale. They're pretty
enough. Most feet, y'know, are neces
sary evils, like chimneys and rain
spouts !"
Babe Littleford blushed. He wen
on, to hide her confusion. Tell mt
about the rifles"
"You must shore keep it a secret
she told him.
~ promise"
Better put yore hook in. SOS eff any
body comes along"
Dale threw out an empty hook.
81 want to tell We some other thing.
fust, SOS yell understand better wher
| come to the part about the rifles,
Babe began. looking thoughtfuIly
across the water to where a kingtishe
sat in watchfuI waiting. She contin
ued slowly. choosing her words care
fully, II was brought up to hate then
Morelands, butt don't think do. M,
people is jest like the MoreIands. Tht
biggest difference ye can find is tha
one side mostly has grey eyes likt
you and t'Other side mostly has brown
eyes like me. All but their everlastin
tightin', they're good people, Bill Dale
Each side. We see, is brought up t
nate t'Otker side. I'm ashamed to tel
it, but understand the fust plaiI
words my Uncle Saul Littleford'S las
baby said was these here: D-n JOhI
Moreland 1t started a long time ago
and it started over nothin'. Grandpal
got in dispute over whether Kain
tucky was in Virginny or Nawth Ca
liner, and went to hghtln' about it
Purity soon my Uncle Saul and Abne
MOreland happened along. and the.
went to tightin, too. Thank goodness
it was on Sunday, and none of zen
didn't have their rifles with 'em. What
ever else we are or amt up here, Bill
Dale, we gen'ally respects the Sabbath
day TO keep it holy. :"
y see" Dale muttered sympathet
i,;.ry
i've seen my own mother set dowI
in he floor and take her boys heaC
,H her lap--oh. such big, fine boy n,
as while the blood run through he
dress from Il Moreland's bullet. III
died with mothers arms and mine
around him. 1t was all we could dc
TO him, was to love him. I've seen sis
ters watch their brothers die from
Moreland bullets. and young WINNER
i M.lTpD fhAir ~