Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1922-03-09
O., "a, read good. Babe can.

Ter. MtJOT i<bNsNis A'"b'
she has done read everything In the
whole DANCED country. The's sev'ral
Bibles, and book about n Pilgrims
Progress, and a Bakers Iioss and
Cattle Almaneck. and dic-dictionary.
"But we'd better light out TO the
settlement, Mr.. Bill, or Wen miss din
ner, mebbe. I'm a plumb DANCED fool
about eatin'. l ct twenty-five biscuits
o. fiour-bread this mornin' TO break
fus'. asides n whole billed hamshank.
and other things accordin'. It's the
dyin' truth Come on, Mr.. Bill"
They went down TO the creek.
crossed It on stones. and began to
climb the low cliff.
After an hours travelling Heck
stopped in the trail and put the butt
Of his rife 20 the ground.
From right here. Bill" he said, I'VE
Can see every house In the whole
DANCED settlement"
They were standing on the crest OF
David Moreland's mountain. Below
dhem lay a broad valley checkered
with small farms and each farm had
It's log cabin, its log barn and It's apple
orchard. Beyond it all rose the great
and majestic Big Pine. which was
higher and more rugged with cliffs
than David Moreland's mountain.
"The Morelands lives on this side o.
the river, and the Littlefords lives on
van side" drawled Heck. "They don't
never have nothing 10 do with each
other, but they don't hardly ever fight;
they're all strappin' big men, and they
fights so DANCED hard 1t don't pay. My
gosh, Bill every man of 'em can shoot
Il gnats eyeash Off at four hundred
yards--I wisht | may drap dead ef
they CAN'T DO We see that big cabin
right plumb in the middle o the nigh
half o. the settlement, Bill? Well, the
boss o. the Morelands he lives thar
John Moreland. That's whar you want
10 90, Bill, sence we've got n Oncyor-
able case o. the disease knOwed as
coal-on-the-brain. But l can tell ye
aforehand, you amt got enough money
to buy that coal, don't matter how
much money we've got"
Dale was not looking toward John
Moreland's home now. His gaze had
wandered 10 the other side OF the
river. By Heck waited a full minute
for reply TO his speech, then he
spoke again:
''The Gyurl, or the Goals that
what's a-botherin' ye. Bill?'
Dale's eyes twinkled. Must l choose
batvaan than ba lonQhp1
"Shorew BY Heck wasn't even smil-
ing. "Shorei The Morelands and
Littlefords hates each other wuss nor
a bue-tailed hawk hates crow. The
gyurl, or the coal, Bill?"
Wen go down to John Moreland's,"
announced Dale.
The mountaineer took up his rife.
Let me ri We word or two o warn
in" he continued seriously. Don't
you offer TO pay John Moreland TO
eatn' his grub, nor TO sleepln' in his
bed, nor TO chawln' his tobacker. Ii
We do, yore goose will shore be cooked
with John Moreland. But ef ye was
to brag on the vittles little, Johns
wife a-bein' pow'ful handy in the
kitchen, it wouldn't do DANCED bill
O. harm. Do ye understand it all now
Bil?
Dale nodded. and they began the de-
scent.
John Moreland's house was built OF
whole oak logs, which were chinked
with oak splits and daubed in between
with clay; the roof was of handmade
boards, and a chimney of stones and
clay rose at either end.
John Moreland himself sat on the
front porch, and beside him lay re
! peating rifle, two young squirrels that
| had been very neatly shot through tn.
head, and weary black-and-tar
hound. He was an uncommonly biz
man, and about forty-seven; his eyes
were gray and keen; his thick hail
and full beard were a rich brown, with
only few threads of white. There
was q certain English tineness about
the man. One felt that he could trus
! John Moreland.
AS the moonshiner and his compan
ion reached the gate Moreland rose
anu DusitN nat Dd(h yin illS lure
head.
"Hl, john" grinned Heck. "Thi.
here Teller wants 10 stay with We
few days, John. Seems to be al
right"
Come right In" invited the chic
OF the Morelands. He indicated tn,
homemade chair he had just vacated
"Set down thar and rest, stranger. II
be back In minute or So"
lie hastened into the cabin, carryin,
the squirrels with him.
He's went TO tell his wife to hatcl
up a extry good dinner. Bill" whls
pered Heck. "Pepper-cyored ham
young chicken, hot biscuits, fresh but
ter, wild honey, huckleberry pie ant
| peach pie and strawberry preserves
Bill, CANT hardly stand 1t. Blast n.y.
picture ef / couldn't eat two Who'll,
raw dawgs right now, I'm that ding
busted hongry. Well, ! got to ramblt
on home. live down the river half
mile, we and my nav. Come to Sc,
me. Bill, and We'll so a-fishin'. S,
long, Bill old boyl"