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

.Tll be dadgummed eff the Little
fords amt found their weeponsP ex-
claimed BY Heck. '"They heve, igod,
as shore. as dangitT
"How do you know?" Dale's voice
was troubled.
81 shore know" and Heck narrowed
his gaze. "'At was Ben Littlefords
old AS Winch. I'd know that gun ct
| l heered 1t at the nawth pole. The
barI it's been cut off, and 1t don't
sound like other Winchesters."
"Caleb Moreland was down near the
| river cleaning out the springhouse
| ditch" Dale muttered, facing his COM
panion. II think we'd better go back"
Together they went back to the
cabin. John Moreland and his wife
and their son Luke were standing at
the weatherbeaten front gate, with
their eyes turned anxiously toward the
river. Caleb was coming up through
the meadow, and be carried his hat in
his hand.
"Who fired that shot7" asked Dale.
"Ben Littleford," John Moreland an
swered readily.
| Two minutes later Caleb leaped the
old rail fence on the other side of the
road and approached them hastily. He
was breathing rapidly and his strong
young face was drawn and pale--with
the old hate.
"Well," said his iron father. what
is lit"
Caleb held up his broad-rimmed
black hat and ran finger through a
hole In the upper part Of the crowns
peak.
HE didn't missl" snapped John
| MOreland.
"No," quickly replied Caleb, she
| didn't miss. He don't never miss. You
know that, pap, as well as We know
God made We. He done 1t jest to show
me he meant what he said. He told
me to go and tell you to gether up
yore set O. rabbit-hearted heatherns
and come down to the river TO lead
and-powder picnic, onless We was a.
skeered to comet He said to tell We
the wimmenfolks had hid our guns,
and we'd find 'em onder the house
foors."
John Moreland took It with utter
calmness, though his face was a little
pale behind His thick brown beard.
He turned to his wife, who looked at
him squarely.
saddle, honey" said he. "Im mighty
sorry"
"Ef-ef you was much sorry, John"
Mrs. Moreland half sobbed, we
wouldn't go down thar to the river"
"Me q cowardr Moreland appeared
to grow an inch In stature. "Me let a
Littleford send me news like this here
| which Gale brings, and not do nothin'
at all about it? l thought you knowed
me better'n that, Addie."
He faced his two stalwart sons. Al
ways he was the general, the leader
OF his clan. He sent Caleb In one d.
rection and Luke In another, to arouse
his kinSmen.
Then he beckoned to Dale, who had
been trying hard but vainly to think
of something to do or say that would
be Of aid to the cause Of the women.
II don't want you in this here mix
up" he said decisively. you must
stay clean out Of 1t. You amt used
to this way o. fightin'. Asides, you're
our hope. More'n that, mebbe, you
owe yore life to Babe Littleford; you
CANT get around that, Bill Dale"
He went on, after a moment, EFF l
git my light put out today, want ye
to do the best ye can with the coal.
But o. course We will. l want We to
do me two favors, Bill Dale, eff have
my light put out today. win We do
'em TO- me, my friend"
Certainly" Dale promised.
"Much obliged to We, shore. The
fust Is this: l want We to take good
pay out O. what the coal brings, pay
TO- yore work. The second Is this:
want We to go to Ben LittlefOrd after
I'm done-pervided he is yet alive
time prayer; l want him to know
went him one better, at / was big
ger man inside AN him. Remember,
Bill, you've done promised me. Now
you 60 ahead to Cincinnaty, and do
Jest like We didn't know the least thing
about this trouble we're a-goin' to
have. So long to We, an good luck r.
II don't like the idea"-Dale began.
when the big hillman interrupted
sharply:
"Go on! You CANT do no good
here"
Heck started. Dale turned and fol-
lowed the lanky mOOnshiner; there
seemed to be nothing else to do.
When they had reached a point a
little way above the foot Of David
Moreland's mountain, the pair halted
and looked back. They saw the Little
fords and the Morelands. every one Of
them armed going toward the river.
1t had strange and subtle fascina-
ton for Bill Dale, a fascination that
he did not then try to understand.
AS the fighters reached dangerous
ground they dropped to their hands
and knees and began to crawl through
fhQ foil Oroccoc fho fr0ntuood ond tho