The Mena weekly star., 1922-03-09

shufslng and reading the cards. she teze him that 1t wsuia ke vsss nsz him ts look ost for . big. tnii, wsy- eyed youag man with an osk tres in one hand and couple ef eiiffs A tss ether.
 
 Dale told Major Bradley and John kOreland of that which Con had said to him at the gate. The major sag gssted forthwith that he go to nset the man; 1t couldn't possibly de any harm, and there wss . chance that he would lesra something sf Gofrs in- tsntions
 Sc Dale went.
 GeH was already there, waiting. He was sitting ea a stone on she Mere land side of the river, whiting idly. When he saw Dale approaching. he smiled and nodded, rose and pocketed his knife.
 T want to make you an offer fc- that coal" he said at once.
 "All tight" Dale replied. 'Tf your sffer Is bis enough, it will be consid- cred. But no shyster price is going to get that coal, Gof."
 Golf frowned uneasily.
 "You don't know coal, Mir. 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 big chance, too. that the coal isn't what it looks to be on the surface. You'd better take a sure thing, and avoid possibility of loss. I'll give you five thousand, spot cash, for that coal"
 Dale shook his head. You'll have to come heavier than that, y'know, if you get the koreland coal"
 "And an extra thousand for your selfi"
 Dale laughed a low. queer laugh. "Yeu amuse me, Con-" said he. Seems to me you've missed your call ing in life. What q peach of king villain you'd make in melodrsma You wouldn't have to act, either; you'd have to be just your natural self. And you make me mad, too, Con. Because I'm on the square with the More lands and everybody else-ncw, gel thatl"
 The corners of the shyster coal mans mouth came down.
 "Oh, bosh-don't pass me that vir tue stun. Every man has his price high or low. You've got yours, ana I've got mine. I'll give you five thou sand, spot cash, if you'll persuade John Moreland to sell to me for fiv' thousand. and nobody'll ever know you got a rakedown from me. It's al the coal is worth, that ten thousand Well, yes7"
 Dale was of the type that goes pale with anger, and he was pale now. H' clenched his hands.
 "You can't insult me like that ant get away with 1t. Golf" he clipped "We're going to fight. Golf. and Tn going to put licking on you tha 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 bacl a stub-nosed automatic pistol, whicl he turned threateningly toward Bil Dale
 "Go easy. friend" Golf said yer. complacently. There's no use fl getting sore. l want the coal, that all If can't get 1t by fair means I'll get it in another way. Oh, don mind telling you; one mans oath is a' good in court as another mans. i you don't take me up at ten thousand I'll give you so much trouble thai you'll be glad to sell 1t to me latei for half that amount. The Balls thinl they own a big interest in that coal There's lot of them, too. and they can keep you from working the mine We'll, l can't waste time in dickerinl with you. What do you say?"
 T say" and Dale smiled an odd lit tie smile, that your plan appears tt be perfect, except that you've over looked one or two important details For instance. there's the law, yknow.
 ''The law--now don't go and foo yourselfl" exclaimed Con. "The stat, couldn't afford to keep a hundred mer here, month in and month out, just tt protect your little mine. My patienc' Is about gone, Dale--for the last time what do you sayf"
 II say that I'll beat you at any game you put up against me-" verJ quietly. Furthermore, l say that you are coward and a scoundrel, anc that you haven't got the insides in you to fight me fair mans fight. If you'll only pocket that thing you've got 1T your hand, I'll now down half an acre of meadow bush with your body"
 The other turned red, then white then red again. Bill Dale's words had lashed him keenly. His eyes became like hard block beads, and he began to raise the wicked-looklng pistol as though he meant to fire.
 Then there was the sound of a breaking twig behind him, and voice drawled out:
 'Drap 1t, Mister-drap the funny little gun, or the middle O Tarment Is yore potion right nowi"
 It was the moonshlner, By Heck, and his rife was leveled. Golf dropped the pistol. Heck grinned. advanced slowly. took up the weapon that the hillfoIk call a towards gun" and tossed 1t into the river.