Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1922-04-13


natl. Having learned the evening be-
fore that he was going, by Heck had
come to accompany him to the Half
way switch.
The two set out They had three
hours I'm which to cross David More
lands mountain before the arrival of
Dale's train, and they walked lei
surely.
They had not gone a dozen rods
when there came from somewhere
down near the river the sound OF a
rifle shot. Both stopped and faced
about quickly.
.Ill be dadgumned eff the Little
fords amt found their weepons!' ex-
claimed by Heck "They have, igOd,
as shore as dangit!"
"How do you know?" Dale's voice
was troubled.
81 shore know" and Heck narrowed
his gaze. "'At was Ben LittlefOrds
old As Winch I'd know that gun EFF
j heered it at the nawth pole. The
bari it's been cut off, and it don't
sound like other Winchesters."
Caleb Moreland was down near the
river cleaning out the springhouse
ditch" Dale muttered, facing his com
panion II think we'd better go back"
Together they went back to the
cabin. John Moreland and his wife
and their son Luke were standing at
the weatherbeaten front gate, with
their eyes turned anyiously toward the
river. Caleb was coming up through
the meadow, and he carried his hat in
his hand.
''Who fired that shot?" asked Dale.
"Ben Littleford," John Moreland an
swered readily.
Two minutes later Caleb leaped the
old rail fence on the other side OF the
road and approached them hastily. He
was breathing rapidly and his strong
young face was drawn and pale-with
the old hate.
"Well," said his iron father, what
is it,"
Caleb held UP his broad-rimmed
black hat and ran a finger through
hole In the upper part of the crowns
peak.
HE didn't miss" snapped John
Moreland.
NO" quickly replied Caleb, "he
didn't miss. He don'tneyer miss. You
know that, pap, as well as ye know
God made we. lie done it jest To show
me he meant what he said. lie told
me TO go and tell you TO gether up
yore set o. rabbit-hearted heatherns
and come down to the river 70 lead
and-powder picnic, Onless ye was a.
skeered to come He said to tell We
the wimmenfolks had hid our guns
and we'd find 'em onder the house
floors"
John Moreland took Ii with utter
calmness, though his face was little
pale behind his thick brown beard
He turned to his wife, who looked at
him squarely.
"Addie, honey" said he, I'm mighty
sorry"
"Ef--ef you was much sorry. John"
Mrs. Moreland half sobbed, "ye
wouldn't go down thar to the river"
ME coward?' Moreland appeared
to grow an inch in stature. "Me let a
Littleford send me news like this here
which Gale brings, and not do nothin'
at all about it? i thought you knowed
me better'n that, Addie."
He faced his two stalwart sons. AL
ways he was the general, the leader
of his clan. He sent Caleb'in one di-
rection and Luke in another, to arouse
his kinsmen.
Then he beckoned to Dale, who had
been trying hard but vainly to think
of something TO do or say that would
be Of aid to the cause of the women.
II don't want you I'm this here mix
up," he said decisively. You must
stay clean out of it. You amt used
to this way o. fightin'. Asides, you're
our hope. More'n that, mebbe, you
owe yore life to Babe Littleford; you
CANT get around that, Bill Dale"
He went on, after moment, "Ef 1
git my light put out today, / want we
to do the best ye can with the coal.
But o. course ye will. 1 want We TO
do me two favors, BIll Dale, eff have
my light put, out today. VIII ye do
'em TO me, my friend?"