Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1922-08-03


take hold of him that he wished, even
then, for the repeater that awaited
him at his office back in the heart of
the mountains. Once his conscience
asked him a Quesxion-and he an
swered 1t with another question. Was
he doing that which, was right? Might
not the Littlefords all be killed by
those drunken cutthroats while he
was waiting for the arrival OF q COM
pany of militia from a city miles dis
tant?
Anyway. the militia would fight. His
clan would do no more than that. He
satisfied his conscience quickly.
When they had reached the lower
end of the cleared valley. there came
TO them the sounds of slow firing, the
firing of snfpers. Each man kicked
his horses tanks and rode faster.
When they came in sight of the be-
sieged building, they saw puffs OF pow
der-smoke rising lazily from the upper
windows and from the mountain side
above and to the right Again they
kicked the TANKS OF their horses and
rode faster.
At John MoreIands old cabin they
dismounted hastily and turned their
horses into the drab meadow. With
Dale still leading, they hurried on foot
TO the rivers nearest bank and went
rapidly, under cover of the thickly-
standing sycamores, to a point within
rhe nf nd
plies building. Then they made a dash
across the open space. and Ben Lit
tleford, with one arm bound up in
red-stained blue bandana, opened the
door for them.
"Who else is hurt7" painted Dale.
Little Tom," answered Littleford,
"and Saul. Little Tom, he got q bull
let onder the shoulder. Saul, he got
one in might nigh the same place.
They've riddled the whole t'other
side o. the house to'splinters. They're
a-callin' TO you"
They'll get all they want OF me-"
Dale growled.
He turned and ran up the rough
stairway, and Ben Littleford and the
followed close upon his
heels. At the front and side windows.
behind anything they had been able
to find that would stop a bullet, knelt
with rifles In their hands,
patiently watching for human target
TO appear on the mount1nside above.
Saul and Little Tom lay in a corner,
where they were fairly safe from
their wounds as well as he could with
the material at hand. They were
both white and helpless and suffering,
but still full of the old Littleford
fighting spirit.
Dale seized his Winchester and
belt OF cartridges from the hands of
the man who had brought them TO
him. and turned to the others. A bull
let crashed through the wall and
struck the floor at his foot; he paid
no attention to 1t.
Listen to me. boys" Dale was
buckling his cartridge-belt with rapid.
steady fingers. From where they are
hiding, the Balls and Turner'S can
hardly see the lower story Of this
building. Well go downstairs. open
the front door, and run to the edge
of the laurels at the foot of the noun
tain. Then we'll turn to the right,
make wide detour, and get above
the Ball outfit; We'll be fighting down
hill instead Of uphill. Get me? Are
you all ready"
TO a man, they were ready.
They reached the thick under
growth without being seen by the en-
envy. While the Balls and Turner's
fired more or less aimlessly at the
building, drank white whisky and
called drunkenly for the surrender to
them of Bill Dale, Bill Dale and his
men were making their way steadily
In a wide half-circle up the side of
David Moreland's mountain.
Half an hour after they had left the
office building, Dale had stationed his
men, deployed as line Of skirmishers,
behind shelterlng trees some two hun
dred feet above the Balls and their
kinsmen.
John Moreland, Ben Littleford and
BIZ Dale were not far apart. ITS
shame to do It." said Dale. II swear
we can't shoot men In the back like
this !"
John Moreland, twisted his mouth
into q queer smile Of contempt, and
so did Ben Littleford. They knew,
far better than their leader, the ways
of that people without principle. The
Balls and Turner'S wouldn't hesitate
TO shoot them In the back
"well," John Moreland replied, and
IL was almost a sneer, "ye might 60
down thar and give 'em some candy,
and kiss 'em, and ak 'em won't they
please surrender"
Dale leaned around his tree, a great
gnarled chestnut, and called boldly:
you've got a chance to surrender
now-and you'd certainly better take
1t quick 7"
One of those below yelled surprised
Iy: "who're your Then they all
whipped TO the other side of their
sheltering timber.
The answer came at once: I'm Bill