American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1922-01-13
CHAPTER VIII.

Major Bradley and Henderson Goft.
When Bill Dale, the expert mining
man Hayes and the two mountaineers
stepped from a short passenger train
at the Halfway switch, they were ap-
preached by the m~oonshiner, Heck,
and a man whom Dale had never seen
before. He was tall, and his bearing
was erect and soldierlike, though he
was every day of sixty years DID
His eyes were blue and ~twinkling with
everlasting good humor; his gray
mustaches and imperial were exceed
ingly well cared for; his teeth wsro
his own, and as white as a school
girls, n they bore out his general
air of He was, plainly. a
Southerner of the old type.
who's that?" whispered Dale to
John Moreland.
But Moreland didn't hear. He ran
forward with his right hand out
stretched, and so did Ben Littleford.
Men could not have greeted a brother
with more gladness, Dale thought.
Hi, thar. Major Bradley r. the hill
man cried. And how dye come on
today?"
II am very well. gentlemen, thank
you" said the major. smiling.
He shook their hands heartily. THE
trainmen gave us your message yester-
day." he went on, still smiling, land
we were delighted to learn that the
young woman was out of danger. /
trust you are all in good health, gem
tlemen." ,
They assured him that they were
Moreland turned to introduce Bill Dale
and the mining nan From the mo-
ment that Major Bradley gripped
Dale's hand they were friends.
Mighty glad to know you, sir II
exclaimed the old lawyer. I've been
hearing a great deal about you, sir.
over in the valley of the Doe. They
seem to think there's nobody just like
Bill Dale! 1t was Bill Dale this.
and Bill Dale that; 1t was Here's
where Bill Dale whipped Black ADAM
or, Here's where Bill Dale was stand
ing when such-and-such happened or.
Here's where Bill Dale crossed the
fenceP"
"Hah-hah-hah |" ~sluggishly laughed
BY Heck, who stood leaning on the
muzzle of his rifle. Bill Dale is ALI
right, major; we've shore got my word
TO- that"
The others laughed. Then John,
Moreland said they'd better be NOV
ing, or they'd be late for dinner.
When they had put a hundred yards
of David Moreland's mountain behind
them, the Ole Southerner tugged slyly
at Dale's sleeve and whispered:
LET us fall behind a little, If you
please. want to speak with you
privately
They began to lag, and Dol there
was a distance of several rods be-
tween them and the others.
81 heard through Addie Moreland."
began Bradley, his friendly hand on
the younger mans arm, "aboul you
and what you're planning to do for
the Morelands. | tell you, sir. |
thanked heaven for your coming, and
you may Dun on me to help in any
way l can The Morelands are quite
, friendly to me now, though up to the
middle Of last summer they didn't like
me any too well because | made Ben
Littleford's cabin my home when out
: here.
ut was a simple thing that brought
: US together. John Moreland's little
> nephew was lost in the woods and his
mother las frantic. There are pam
theirs, you know, and wildcats, rattlers.
and copperheads. l was fortunate
: enough to find the boy. and carried
hin home. That was all. They're a
! fine people. my boy, and so are the
Littlefords. Good old English blood
: that somehow wandered Off. There's
] no pureE cleaner blood in America.
4 sir.
And now-how are you getting
: along with your plans for the opera
ton of the coal miner"
"Excellently," answered Dale. I'VE
= have the necessary finance; a geared
locomotive and cars and light steel
rails have been ~bargained for"
"Goodt" Bradley gave Dale a hearty
/ slap on the shoulder.
+ There's something else / wanted to
, say, AIR. Dale" he continued, his
r voice grave. You're nearly certain
p to have a barrel of trouble with a
6 shyster coal man named Henderson
Q GOn. He's a villain, sir, If ever there
9 was mel And he's quite the smooth
u est article I've ever seen. He can
I, make you believe black is white. II
only you'll listen to him long enough
q lis he-has he beer here recentlyf'
d Dale wanted to know.