The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1922-07-20
CHAPTER XVIII.
The Last FIGHT.

It was early in the morning, and
Bill Dale had just sent for Ben Little
ford. The hillman hurried to the Of
fee, for he believed he knew what
was in the air. He had already gone
to work at the mine, and his thick
beard, his face and his hands were
black with the dust Of coal.
"Sit down, Ben" said the general
manager. Were going to hold a
council of war;"
Littleford took a chair and crossed
his legs.
SIS it the Ball outfitT' he drawled.
"Yes," answered the younger man,
and forthwith he told the other of the
news that By Heck had brought him
a few days before; he had not given
the matter really serious considera-
ton until that morning. "Now," he
finished, II want to know whether you
think there's any dangerT
Littleford tugged at his blackened
beard and frowned.
"Bill," he said soberly, "do you
rickollect what John Moreland told
you oncet about them Balls? He told
We at you wasn't safe, and at he
wasn't safe, ontel they was dead and
buried, didn't he? / believe he did,
BY Heck says the's whole big passed.
O. them Nawth Ca'liner Turner's; he's
shore them and the Balls'll outnum-
Der us more'n two to one. Yes, the's
danger, Bill, and specially to you.
They think it was you killed ADAM
and they don't think the law handed
'em a square deal at the trial."
"Then listen to this plan," said
Dale.
'Tll keep By Heck up the river
watching for them. He will have
three sticks of dynamite tied together
and capped and fitted with fuse. If
he sees them coming this way in any
thing like a force, he will fire off the
dynamite as signal to us. Our men
will gather here in the upstairs Of this
building, and bar the doors"
"Oh, Bill" moaned the old fighter,
"you shorely don't think we'd ever let
'em git to the doors r.
ST hope they don't, certainly"
smiled Dale. Where are your rifles,
Bill?"
"At the mine," said Littleford "Ye
see, Bill, we've been a-lookin' TO-
trouble"
Dale went on: AT By Heck's sig
nal, I'll get on my horse and ride to
the lowlands for the Mcrelands. ! can
get them lot quicker than can get
competent help from the law. What
do you think Of it?"
'It's a good plan, l reckon,
gr0wled Ben Littleford, "0nly don't
cotton very easy to the idee O. us
a-runnin' from the mine to this here
buildin'. / never did like to run from
any man wo'th durn, Bill"
"But that wouldn't be cowardly, /"
Dale protested. ut would be purely
a strategic move, and It would save
hives for us. For, when the Balls and
their kinsmen come, you'll have to de-
liver me into their hands or you'll
have to fight like the very devil, that's
| sure; and, according to BY Heck's fig
ures, they outnumber you more than
two to one."
"All right" Littleford replied, with
shrug of his huge shoulders. What
ever you say, that same Wen do"
So BY Heck was sent for, and short
ly afterward he sneaked into the lau-
rels and went Off toward the settle
ment of the Balls. In the crook Of his
arm he carried his rifle, and inside his
shirt he carried three pieces of dyna-
mite all ready for the match-and he
chose every step with great care for
fear of Earring the explosive too much.
He had not been gone an hour when
Bill Dale heard dull, smothered roar
from somewhere to the northward.
Dale sprang up from his desk, ran to