The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1922-02-01
way, BY Heck. Who's the young wom-
IN was talking with when you came

| ~ WHO? Her? That's old Ben Little
/ fOrds gynrl. Her names Babe. That's
-, what they cnll her. She's got another
name; but it amt been used TO- SO
long it's been fo'got, reckon. She's
the youngest one o. old Ben's children.
She hain't like none o. the rest O. the
Littlefords. BY gosh, she's awful high
! headed. She can read good, Babe can.
Old Major Bradley, from down at Car
tersville In the lowland, he spends his
summers up here 10 his health, and lie
teached Babe how to read. Fine EEL
Ter. Major Bradley. Lawyer. Babe
she has done read everything in the
whole DANCED country. The's sev'ral
Bibles, and a book about a Pilgrims
Progress, and O. Bakers Hoss anu
Cattle Almaneck, and q dic-dictionary.
O'Buti we'd better light out 70. the
settlement, Mr., Bill, or Wen miss din
ner, mebbe. I'm q plumb DANCED fool
about eatin'. ct twenty-five biscuits
O. tlour-bread this mornin'I TO- break
fus'. asides whole billed hamshank,
and other things accordin'. It's the
dyin' truth! Come on, Mr.. Bill"
They went down to the creek.
crossed it on stones, and began to
climb the low cliff.
After an hours travelling Heck
stopped in the trail and put the butt
Of his rifle to the ground.
"From right here, Bill" he said. I'VE
can see every house in the whole
DANCED settlement,
They were standing on the crest of
David Moreland's mountain. Below
them lay broad valley checkered
with small farms; and each farm had
its log cabin, its log barn and it's apple
orchard. Beyond 1t all rose the great
and majestic Big Pine. which was
higher and more rugged with cliffs
than David Moreland's mountain.
1.-THE Morelands lives on this side O.
the river, and the Littlefords lives on
yam side" drawled Heck. "They don't
never have nothing to do with, each
other, but they don't hardly ever fight;
they're all strappin' big men, and they
tights so DANCED hard it don't pay. My
gosh, Bill, every man of 'em can shoot
a gnat's eyelash. OF at four hundred
yards-I wisht l may drap dead ef
they CANT! Do ye see that big cabin
right plumb in the middle O. the nigh
half O. the settlement, Bill? Well. the
boss O. the Morelands he lives thar
John Moreland. That's wbar you want
to 60. Bill, sence we've got oncyor-
able case O. the disease knowed rs
coal-on-the-brain. But I can *en ye
af0rehand, you amt got enough money
to buy, that coal, don't matter how
much money we've got"
Dale was not looking toward John
Moreland's home now. His gaze had
wandered to the other side Of the
river. By Heck waited a full minute
for a reply to his speech, then he
spoke again: It
''The gyurl, or the coal-is that
what's. a-botherin' We, Bnl?" 80,
Dale's eyes twinkled. Must choose
between them?" he laughed. 81
"Shore!" BY Heck wasn't even s,nil-
ipg. "Shorel The Morelands and
Littlefords hates each other wuss nor
a blue-tailed hawk hates a crow. The
gyurI, or the coal, Bill?" -, -,
"We'll go down to John Moreland's,"
announced Dale. .-s.
The mountaineer took up his ride.
Let me gi' ye a, word or two O warn
In" he continued seriously. Don't
you offer to pay John Moreland TO-
eatin' his grub, nor To- sleepin' in his
bed, nor fo' chawin' his tobacker. Ell
ye do, yore goose will shore be cooked
with John Moreland. But eff ye was
to brag on the vittles q little, Johns
wife a-bein' pow'ful handy in the
kitchen, it wouldn't do a DANCED bit
O. harm. DO We understand it all now,
Bill?" i
Dale nodded, and they began the de-
scent. f..
John Moreland's house was built OF
whole oak logs. which were chinked
with oak splits and ,daubed in between
with clay; the roof was Of handmade
boards, and a chimney of stones and
clay rose at either end.
John Moreland himself sat on the
front porch. and beside him lay re-
peating rifle, two young squirrels that
had been very neatly shot through the
head, and weary black-and-tan
hound. He was an uncommonly big
man, and about forty-sevsn; his eyes
were gray and keen; his thick hair
and full beard were a rich brown, with
only few threads Of white. There
was certain English fineness about
the man. One felt that he could trust
John MOreland. 3
AS the moonshiner and his conlpan.
ion reached the gate Moreland rose
and pushed his hat back from his fore
head. 49, .1.... ...
Hi, john" grinned Heck. "ThIs
here Teller wants, to stay with ye a
few days, John. Seems to be all
right" ,p.s. ..-.-.- go,
Come right in," invited the chief
OF the Morelands. He indicated the
homemade chair he had just vacated.
set down thar and rest, stranger. Ill
he back in minute or So"
He fastened into the cabin, carrying
fha Sni1frro1s with him