The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1922-05-04

| MSK' @ msfrsg%'
They Dropped to Their Hands and
Knees and Began to Crawl Through
the Tall Grasses, the lronweed and
the Meadow Clover.
the risin' and settin' o. the SUM-" he
| grinned.
They went back to John Moreland's
| cabin.
|
1t was altogether by accident that
| the Littleford chief found his weapons.
He had dropped a small coin through
crack In the floor. Babe was quick
! to say that she would crawl under the
house and look for the coin, although
she had just put on freshly laun-
dered blue-and-white calico dress. Her
anxiety showed plainly In her face.
Her father questioned her sharply, and
she stammered in spite OF herself. Ben
| LittlefOrd'S suspicious were aroused.
| So he came out from under the cabin
floor with his hands full Of the steel
Of rifle barrels, and with the money
| forgotten. He placed the rifles care
fully on the floor OF the porch, turned
and caught his daughter by the arm.
"Who hid emp he demanded gruffiy.
II hid EN-" was the ready answer,
defiant and bitter-"I, mel What're
you a-goin' to do about it?''
Littleford flung his daughters arm
from him. He was king, even as John
Morsland was king. His keen eyes
stared at the young woman's face as
though they would wither 1t.
"What made you hide 'em" he
| growled. Say, what made We do itT
"Fo try and save human lives, ats
whyw Babe answered. THAT man
from the city-whatll he think O. us
a-doin' this-away. a-fghtin' like crazy
wildcatsT
"Ef he don't like the way we do
here, he can go back home," retorted
the angry mountaineer. HE amt tied,
is her?
Babe smiled a smile that was some
how pitiful, and turned off.
1.-The amt no use In a-argyin' with
you, pap" she said hOpelessly. Il
might nigh wisht l was dead"
At that instant the gate creaked
open. Babe glanced toward 1t and saw
coming that black beast Of a man,
Adam Ball the Goliath, and he was
armed heavily; In one hand he carried
new high-power repeating rifle, and
around his great waist there was u
new belt Oristling 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
to go down thar To the river and see
eff the's anything We can do to stop
1t afore it begins. You jest walk out
bold in 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' ye'll strike
that one chanst."
| Dale knew that he could do nothing
toward bringing peace, and he knew
that John MoreIand 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
| rifle shot.
Dale halted for moment. Between
two sycamores on the nearer side OF
the river he saw a puff Of smoke ris-
ing lazily from behind 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 puff 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
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 MS
knees behind the big white sycamore
that sheltered John Moreland.
"Back, are YEP frowned the noun
taineer. And with the grimmest hui
NOR. II reckon We had a fine. large
time In Cincinnaty. Yore friend Har-
ris was well, hope. Git that money
from him."
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 green furrow In
the side Of the tree.