The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1922-02-09

made Dale think OF stories he had
heard and read of Mississippi river
steamboat gamblers Of the long ago.
His eyes were black, and as keen as
pair of spear-points; his mustaches.
too, were black. and they had sharp.
upturned ends like those:of a Mephis-
to. The major had said that he was
a smooth article; he certainly looked
it. ~ 49,. = ,,.~-. -. $. ~
He met John kIoreland with an oily
smile and thrust out his hand But
Moreland wouldn't see the hand. /
Anything we've #got to say, about
coal" he growled, "ye can say to Bill
Dale sthar,."'zzepointing with a :ealloused
thumb. 'Bill he's the Nigh light 20
the whole business; and when he
opens his mouth, ye can. cock .ypre
head to one Side aud listen fo'tgaws-
pel." Is W. ! II Il
ny Cot was delighted .meets AIrI Dae.
Of whom NE Had. already heard!S Dale
had nothing whatever to say. They
walked on toward the cabin OF the
Moreland chief, with Golf keeping UP
! a running fire Of talk concerning the
scenery, the climate-anything but
coal.
At John Moreland's gate, Golf
nudged Dale with an elbow and whis-
pered: ~..
Meet me at one o'clock down there
where the big sycamore lies across
the river: I've got something to tell
you that will interest YOU"
He didn't wait for reply, but
turned away with BY Heck. He went
! to the home of the Hecks Ostensibly
to have his fortune told-really, to
| ret his dinner. The old woman didn't
like him, but her Unborn spirit Of hos
pitality wouldn't permit her to refuse
him a meal. She felt that she was
almost even with him when. after
shutting and reading the cards. she
told him that it would be wise for
him to look out for a big, tall, grey
eyed young man with an oak tree in
one hand and q couple of cliffs in the
other.
Dale told Major Bradley and John
Moreland OF that which Golf had said
to him at the gate. The major sug-
gestcd forthwith that he so to meet
the man; it couldn't possibly do any
harm, and there was a chance that he
would learn something of Colts In
| tentions. ~:
SO Dale went.
Golf was already there, waiting. He
was sitting on stone on the More
land side of the river. whiting idly.
When he saw Dale approaching, he
smiled and nodded, rose and pocketed
his knife.
II want to make, you an offer for
that COAL" he said at once.
"All right" Dale replied. IF your
offer is big enough, it will be consid-
cred. But no shyster price is going
TO get that coal, Goff."
Cot frowned uneasily.
"You don't know coal, Mr.. Dale.
You don't know the business of min
ing-or I've got you sized up wrong.
Thousands Of men have gone busted
trying to do things they weren't used
to doing. There's a big chance, too,
that the coal isn't what it looks to be
on the surface. You'd better take
sure thing, and avoid possibility Of
loss. I'll give you FIVE thousand, spot
cash. for that coal" -.
Dale shook his head. "Y0ull have
to come heavier than that, y'know, If
you get the Moreland COAL"
"And an extra thousand for your
self"
Dale laughed low, queer laugh.
"You amuse me, Goff," said he.
"Seems to me you've missed your call
ing in life. What peach Of king
villain you'd make in melodrama! You
| wouldn't have to act, either; you'i
have to be just your natural self. And
you make me mad, too, Golf. Because
I'm on the square with the More
lands and everybody else-now, get
that!"
The corners Of the shyster coal map's
mouth came down.
"Oh, bosh-don't pass me that vir-
tue stuff. Every man has his price,
high or low. You've got yours. and
I've got mine. I'll give you five thou
sand, spot cash, If you'll persuade
John Moreland to sell to me for five
thousand, and nobody'll ever know
you got a rakedown from me. It's all
the coal is worth, that ten thousand.
We'll. yes?"
Dale was of the type that goes pale
with anger, and he was pale now. He
clcnched his hands.
you can't insult me like that and
get away with it. Gofry' he clipped:
"We'rc going to fight. Colt. and Pm
going to put licking on you that
fifteen horses can't pull off. Get me?"
He threw aside his coat and rolled
his sleeves to his elbows. Henderson
Golf ran his right hand quickly TO
rear trouser pocket and brought back
stub-nosed automatic pistol, which
he turned Overwhelmingly toward Bill
Dale.
"Go easy, friend" Goff, said very
compIacently. '.rhere's no use in
getting sore. want the coal, that's
all. If I can't get it by fair means.