Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1922-04-13

a-doin' thls-away, a-fghtin' like crazy
wildcats?"
''Ef he don't like the way we do
here. he can go back home." retorted
the angry mountaineer. HE amt tied.
is he?"
Babe smiled smile that was some
how pitiful. and turned of.
The amt no use I'm a-argyin' with
you, pap" she said hopelessly. 81
might nigh wisht l was dead"
AT that instant the gate creaked
open. Babe glanced toward 1t and saw
coming that black beast of man.
Adam Ball the Goliath, and he was
armed heavily; III one hand he carried
new hgh-power repeating rifle, ana
around his great waist there was n
new belt bristling with long. bright
smokeless cartridges fitted with steel
jacketed bullets.
When Dale and his companion
reached the cabin, Addie Moreland met
them. Anxiety was breaking her
heart.
MIR. Dale" she pleaded. II want you
10 go down thar 10 the river and see
/ Of the's anything We can do to stop
IT afore ii begins. You jest walk out
bold I'm the open and We won't be shot
at. and I'll be obleeged to We. oh.
know the amt but one chanst in ten
thousand. but I'm a-prayin' veil 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 moment. Between
two sycamores on the nearer side OF
the river he saw puff OF smoke ris-
ing lazily from behind n 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 a puff of white smoke
and report from one of the More
and the battle was on. Dale heard
the nasty whine of a bullet in full
hight he heard the coarse 'ZZZ' OF
half-spcnt ricochet. He knew that he
was i'm 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 Moreand.
Back; are ye?" frowned the noun
taineer And with the grimmest hui
NOR, II reckon we had Il fine, large
time in eincinnaty. Yore friend Har-
ris was well, hope. Git that money
from himi"
Cut that out" said Bill Dale. 1T
doesn't get us anywhere"
A bullet threw particles Of sycamore
bark TO his face, interrupting. John
Moreland pointed to a green furrow in
the side of the tree.
Ben Littleford hiSself," said More
land. Hes ahnd o. that water oak
acrost thar. Don't stick yore head
out !"
The mountaneer turned his gaze
over Dale's shoulder, and his counte-
nance seemed 10 freeze. Dale looked
around quickly and saw Babe Little
ford, less than ten feet behind him
She had crept up through the tall
grasses and weeds. In one hand she
carried white flag made of a man :
handkerchief and a willow switch. She
halted and sat up.
"Babew Dale cried out. what are
You doing here?'
Babe gave him pale smile. "Ei
oap'd shoot me- a-thinkin' / was "a
Moreland, mebbe it'd stop the ever
lastin' tghtin'," she said.
John Moreland stared, and Bill Dale
stared. They were in a Presence, and
they knew it. Babe went on:
I've come TO save all O yore lives
but eff l do it, yen hat to make yore
men quit a-hghtin' right now-jest or
der 'em TO stop a-shootin'. and hold
up this here-and l promise We on a
Littleford's word at pap'll call We
better man an him cause ye done
it"
She tossed the white flag to him.
The amt no time 10 lose, John More
land; hold up the fiagl Ef We don't,
ven every one be killed, cause ye're
every one in a trap"
II don't believe ye Babel" snapped
the Moreland chief "Yore people can
hold up a white rag jest as well as
we can!"
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 next.
I'm agoin' to tell we o. this dan
ger" she said. land trust to you a-bein'
man enough TO do what / axed we to.
Black Adam Ball, he's got q new-fash-
toned rifle 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 10 set and pick off you More
lands one by one-and you and BIZ
Dale fust, count o. the beatin's you
two put on him. But pap had nothn'
10 do with IT, and rickOllect that Now