The Mena weekly star., 1922-02-02

ef thes anything ye can do to stop 1t afore # begins. You jest walk out bold in the open and ye won't be shot at, and I'll be obleeged to ye. Oh. I know the ain't but one chanst fin fen thousand. but I'm a-prayin' yen strike that one chanst" Dale knew that he could do nothing toward bringing peace. and he knew that John Moreland would be angry at his interfering. But he nodded and went toward the river. He didn't have the heart in him to refuse. Theu there came the keen thunder of a rifle shot.
 Dale halted for a moment. Between two sycamores on the nearer side of the river he saw pun of smoke ris- ing lazily from behind a water oak on the farther side; Littleford had fired first Dale went on, moving rapidly and trying to keep himself always in plain view.
 Then came pun of white smoke and a report from one of the More land rifles, then shots from both sides and the battle was on. Dale heard the nasty whine of bullet in full flight; he heard the coarse "zzz" of a half-spent ricochet. He knew that he was In some danger now, and he was surprised to find that he was not frightened.
 When he halted again it was on his knees behind the big white sycamore that sheltered John Moreland.
 Back. are yer" frowned the noun taineer. And with the grimmest hu- nor. Il reckon ye had a fne, large time in Cincjnnaty, Tore friend Har- ris was well. hope. Git that mcrsy from himf"
 Gut that out" said Bill Dale. 'lt doesn't get us anywhere"
 A bullet threw particles of sycamore bark to his face, interrupting. John Moreland pointed to green furrow In the side of the tree.
 Ben Httleford hisseif." said More land. He's ahind Q that water oak acrost thar. Don't stick yore head out I'
 The mountaineer. turned his gaze over Dale's shoulder, and his counte- nance seemed to freeze. Dale looked around quickly and saw Babe Little ford. less than ten feet behind him 1 She had crept up through the tall grasses and weeds. In one hand she carried white flag made of a mans handkerchief and willow switch. She halted and sat up.
 Babel" Dale cried out. What are you doing hereT
 pap'd shoot me, a-thinkin' l was . Moreland, mebbe It'd stop the ever lastin' fightin'," she said.
 John Moreland stared. and Bill Dale stared. They were in q Presence. and rney knew it. Babe went on:
 i've come to save all O yore lives; but eff l do 1t, ye'll haf to make yore men quit a-fightin' right now--Jest or der 'em to stop a-shootin', and hold up this here-and l promise ye on . Littleford's word at papll call ye better man an him cause ye done it-v
 She tossed the white flag to him. "The' ain't no time to lose, John More land; hold up the flag Ef ye don't. ye'n every one be killed, cause ye're every one in trapi"
 ''I don't believe ye, BabeIn snapped the Moreland chief. "Yore people can hold up white rag jest as well as we canl"
 Babe went paler. There was sud den burst of firing from the Moreland rifles. and she crept little nearer to John Moreland in order that he might hear plainly that which she had to tell him-nert
 "Pm s-goin' to tell ye O this dan ger" she said, ''and trust to you a-bein' man enough to do what axed ye to. Black Adam Ball, he's got e new-fash- toned rife and smokeless cartridges and steel bullets; and in few min utes he'll be hid In clum O sassafras back thar in yore meadow, whar he means to set and pick of you More lands one by one-and you and Bill Dale fust, count Q the beatin's you two put on him But pap had nothin' to do with 1t, and rickoilect thatl Now I've saved all O yore lives. cause ye couldn't ha' heerd the sound Q his rife in all O this noise: and ye couldn't ha' seed the smoke O his gun, cause 1t don't make no smoke. Hold up the white flag, John Moreland-hurryw