Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1922-03-30

during the night
John Moreland called Dale aside
and said ia him:
You're high on the good side o
them thar triflln' Hecks, and so fer
as they know. you amt interested IN
the feud. w;sht you'd so down thar
and see BY and his mother, and see
eff We can find ont whar our rifles
went"
When Dale had gone Off down the
dusty oxwagon road, Caleb Moreland
climbed a tall ash that grew behind
his fathers cabin and kept a watch
toward the Littleford side of the river.
He saw group Of men standing In
Ben Littleford's cabin yard, and moth
ing else.
A little more than a quarter of an
hour after Dale left John Moreand
he entered by the gateless gateway al
the cabin OF the Hecks. 1t was d.
lapidated place, and 1t stood not far
from the river. BY SET In the front
doorway: he was lazily cutting a new
midday sun mark in the place OF the
worn old one. Behind him sat his
mother, who was busily knitting a
gray yarn stocking
Tho moonshiner looked up and start
cd quickly 10 his feet
I'll, thar, Bill. old boy !" he greeted
cordially. my gosh. but yo've come
at the right time. shore. We're a-goin'
IN bava x,tno cntf,ral. fo' dinner and
a billed hamshank with string beans,
and cawnbread made with the yeller
o. hen aigs. Live whilst ye do live,
says l. Come right In. Bill, old boy
LA, Ia, la" cried Granny Heck,
looking over the brass rims of her
spectacles. How glad | am to see ye,
Mr. Bill! Come right in and tell US
the news"
Bill Dale crossed the threshold and
accepted creaking chair. His eyes
took in at a sweeping glance the home
made dining table with its cover OF red
oilcloth, the broken cast-iron stove, the
strings of dried peppers hanging on
the log walls, the broken stillworm
lying in the corner.
The Littlefords," said Dale, have
declared war"
"Sakes !" laughed the old woman.
I'VE knowed that last night when We
heered them ten shots"
And all the Moreland rifles are
missing Dale watched the effect OF
his words.
WHAT the Hecks cried in one
voice
Their surprise seemed genuine.
Dale pressed the subject further and
learned only that if they knew any
thing concerning the disappearance
Of the rifles they We're not going TO
tell. Then he started homeward by way
of the pool above the downtown syc-
amore.
There was a chance that Ben Little
fords daughter would be there fishing,
Dale told himself, and it was barely
possible that she could throw some
light on the mystery OF the rifles.
He crossed the river by means of
the PROSTATE tree. Babe was there
she sat on the stone on which she had
been sitting the morning before; her
back was TO him, and her bare feet
were in the water TO her ankles. Dale
went up close, stopped and gathered
q handful of violets and dropped them
over her shoulder and into her lap.
Babe looked around and smiled.
what luck. Miss Littleford?"
"Nothin'. i don't much want to
ketch anything" she said slowly,
spirit of sadness In her musical voice.
II jest come off down here to be
whar it's quiet. You ought to hear the
noise at pap and the rest OF 'em Is
a-makin"
Dale narrowed his eyes. Are they
er, making noise? And what about?"
my goodness gracious alive You'd
think so ef we could hear .em Yought
to hear pap cuss John Morelandl"
She shrugged her pretty shoulders,
lifted the small end of her rod to its
proper place, and went on, IL never
did see pap half as mad as he was
when he got home last night from
a-follerin' me-"
hdu Ut youF uShtu bdit.
mo: but he would ha' been. Of he
hadn't ha' had all his madness turned
ag'ln them Morelands. You knowed
about pap's trouble on yam side O. the
river last night?"
ayes, knew about that" Dale an
swered slowly. But John Moreland
thought your father was my antago-
mist of yesteray."
"An--antagonlst? Babe muttered
inouIringly whats that|
81 mean Adam Ball. y'know."
"Oh. That's what | told pap. But
nap he wouldn't believe IT. and he
won't never believe it-'cause he don't
want TO believe II. told him at John
uoreland wasn't a-shootin' 10 hit, and
he wouldn't believe that, neither. Pap's
as hard-headed as brindle COW, when
he gifts a fool notion on him. What
what did them Morelands say about
their guns a-bein' gomez?
Dale Strengthened.
"How did you find that out?"
Don't matter howl" She smiled
almost saucily. Il knowed about It
afore you did, Mr.. Bill Dale. Don't