The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1922-02-06

she started the idee. She got Granny
MOreIand to spread the word amongst
the wilnmen o my people. When the
fightin' fever sort O. dies down the
gunsll all be brought back and Put
whar they belong"
She arose and stood there smiling
down upon him. He was staring al
the swirling water without seeing II
at all.
Her voice brought him to himself.
"What're you a-think1n' about. Bill
Dale?" >.
Dale went to his feet He saw thai
she was smiling. and he smiled, too.
!, - was thinking" he said. 'off the
difference between you and some other
women I know.""
: Her clear brown eyes widened
sand reckon / seem purity no count
don't II" ...'"N r; +.@ 1lYs-'
:" mo, not at all. 1t 1s-er. quite the
opposite, Babe. You make them ap'
pear unreal, artificial"
Babe Litueford's countenance bright
ened. She did not doubt that he mean,
it. He was not of the sort that flat
tered. She began to like Bill Dale a,
that same moment.
And Bill Dale told himself as he
went homeward that he was beginning
to like Babe Littleford. He did not
fight the feeling, because it somehow
made the world seem a better place
Early the following morning Dale
made ready for his journey to Cincin'
natl. Having learned the-evening be-
fore that he was going, By Heck had
come to accompany him to the Half
way switch.
The two set out. They had three
hours In which to cross David More
lands mountain before the arrival OF
Daie's train, and they walked lei
surely.
They had not gone a dozen rods
when there came from somewhere
down near the river the sound Of a
rifle shot. Both stopped and faced
about quickly.
'Pll be dadgummed eft the Little
fords amt found their weepons!" ex'
claimed BY Heck. "They have, igod
as shore as dangitl"
; "How do you know?" Dale's voice
was troubled.
II shore know" and Heck narrowed
his gaze. "'At was Ben Littleford's
old 10 Winch. I'd know that gun Ell
: heered it at the nawth pole. The
BARI it's been cut off, and it don't
sound like other Winchesters."
i ''Caleb Moreland was down near the
river cleaning out the springhouse
ditch" Dale muttered, facing his COM
panion. Il 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 he carried his hat in
his hand.
"Who fired that shot?" asked Dale.
"Een 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-witll
the old hate.
"Well," said his iron father, what
is IT."
Caleb held up his broad-rimmed
black hat and ran a finger through a
hole in the upper part of the crowns
peak.
HE didn't miss!" snapped John
Moreland.
NO." quickly replied Caleb, ''he
didn't miss. He don't never miss. You
know that, pap, as we'll as We know
God made ye. He done it jest to show
me he meant what he said. He told
ME to so and tell you to gether up
yore set o rabbit-hearted heatherns
and come down to the river TO lead
and-powder picnic, onless ye was e.
skeered to come! He said to tell We
tile wimmenfolks had hid our guns,
and we'd find 'em ondcr the house
tioOrS.'
OolA AAOl SOOA IL Will -uttSA
calmness. though his face was a little
pale behind his thick brown beard.
He turned to his wife, who looked at
him sQuarely.
"Addie, honey" said he, I'm mighty
sorry"
"Ef-ef you was much sorry, Jobn,"
Mrs. Moreland half sobbed, ''ye
wouldn't 90 down thar to the river"
ME a coward?" Moreland appeared
to grow an inch in stature. ME let q
Littleford send me news like this here
which Gale brings, and not do nothin'
at ali about it? 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 aud 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
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