American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1922-03-10
CHAPTER XVIII.
The Last FIoht.

nee, for he believed he knew what
was In the air. He had already gone
to work at the mine, and his thick
beard. his face and his hands were
black with the dust of coal.
"Sit down, Ben" said the genera
manager. "We're going to hold a
council Of war;"
Littleford took a chair and crossed
his legs.
lis 1t the Bali outft2' he drawled.
YES" answered the younger man,
and forthwith he told the other of tbe
news that By Heck had brought MIN
a few days before; he had not given
the matter really serious considera.
ton until that morning. 'Now," he
finished, II want to know whether you
think there's any danger?"
Littleford tugged at his b~lackened
beard and frowned.
"Bin," he said soberly, do You
rickollect what John Moreland told
you oncet about them Balls? he told
We at you wasn't safe, and at he
wasn't safe, Ontel they was dead and
buried, didn't hef | believe he did.
By Heck says the's a whole big passed.
O. them Nawth Ca1iner Turner'S; he's
shore them and the BallsTl outnum-
Der us more'n two to one. Yes, the's
danger, Bill, and specially to you.
They think 1t was you killed Adam.
and they don't think the law handed
en- a square deal at the trial."
'Then listen to this plan," said
Dale.
'Pl keep BY Heck up the river
watching for them. He will have
three sticks of dynamite tied together
and capped and fitted with a fuse. II
he sees them coming this way in my
thing like a force, he will fire Off the
dynamite as a signal to us. Our men
win gather here in the upstairs of this
building. and bar the doors"
"Oh, BILL" moaned the old fighter.
you shorely don't think we'd ever let
'em git to the doors I"
Il hope they don't, certainly"
smiled Dale. "Where are your rifles,
Bm"
Eat the mine" said Littleford. "Ye
see, Bill. we've been a-lookin' TO-
trouble"
Dale went on: ext BY Heck's sig
nal, I'll get on my horse and ride to
the lowlands for the Morelands. | can
get them a lot quicker than I can get
competent help from the law. What
do you think Of it9'
"It's a good plan, / reckon"
growled Ben Littleford, ''only / don't
cotton very easy to the idee o. US
a-runnin' from the mine to this here
buildin'. l never did like to run from
any man wo'th a durn, BILL"
"But that wouldn't be cOwardly,"
Dale protested. ut would be purely
O strategic move. and It would save
lives for as. For. when the Balls and
their kinsmen come, you'll have to de-
liver me into their hands or you'll
have to fight like the very devil, that's
sure; and. according to BY Heck's fig
ures. they Outnumber you more than
two TO one"
"An right" Lttleford replied, with
a shrug Of his huge shoulders. "What-
eve you say. that same Wen do"
SO BY Heck was sent for, and short
~ afterward he sneaked into the lau-
rels and went OF toward the settle
e Of the Balls. In the crook of his
arm he carried his rife, and inside bis
shirt he carried three pieces of dyna-
mite all ready for the match--and he
chose every step with great care for
fear of jarring the explosive too much.
He had not been gone an hour when
Bill Dale heard a dull, smothered roar
from somewhere to the northward.
Dale sprang up from his desk, ran to
his ready and waiting horse, mounted
and rode like a streak toward the
lowland.
Dale arrived at John Moreland's big
white farmhouse a little before the
middle of the day, and halIoed Justify
at the gate. John Moreland and his
two sons hurried out in response to
the call. Dale waved aside all greet
ings and inquiries after his health,
and told that which he had come TO
tell. The elder Moreland turned quick
ly to his two stalwart sons
"Guns and bosses, boysl TIN be
q last hght. and les be at 1t and
make It a good fight"
Less than ave minutes later the
three erstwhile mountaineers rode out
at the barnyard gate with full belts OF
cartridges around their waists and
with repeating rifles across the pom
mels of their saddles, and Joined
Dale. The four FASTENED to the homes
Of the other Morelands; and not long
afterward the old clan, In full
strength, rode toward the big, dim
blue hills with BIZ Dale acting as its
leader. Il was to be the clans last
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