The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1922-07-13
CHAPTER XVII.
Blu Dale Laughs.

Bill Dale sat thinking Of what he
had done there in the Big Pine cOun-
try. From the st0ne-and-clay CHM
neys Of the cabins of the Littlefords on
the other side Of the river the bowling
wind snatched sprays Of blue wood
smoke. The Morelands had gone to
farms lying around Cartersyille in the
lOwland, on each Of which a fair-sized
first payment had been made. the Dor
rowed capital was to remain borrowed
for another year. The Morelands were
already losing their outlandishness
and growing into universal respect
David Moreland'S dream was at last
being realized.
Then Dale frowned heavily. If only
he could do as much for Babes peo-
plel But he couldn't. The menlof the
Littlefords still worked the coal mine.
They received almost twice the custom
airy wages, but even thar wouldn't buy
them farms and educate their children.
Under his eyes lay two unanswered
letters from his parents. He found
little pleasure In answering their let
tiers. for he was still somewhat bitter
toward them-toward his father be-
cause of his fathers Ill treatment of
David Moreland and David M0re,and's
people; toward his mother because she
had let him go hungry for mother-love
as q baby, as child, as boy, and as
man; toward them both because he
had been reared do-nothing.
The door opened suddenly, and By
Heck came stamping In with gust of
cold air at his back. He carried In
one hand the mail satchel; In the other
was his ever-present rifle. After throw
Ing the satchel to the floor at Dale's
feet, he turned to the glowing wood
stove.
I'm dang nigh friz, BILL" he chat
tered. "My gosh. couldn't be no cold
er'n what I EN- eff I'd ha' CHM the
nawth pole neck-ed. Say, Bill, why'n't
ye burn coal Std o. wood? Igod, it's
hotter"
"Coal Is worth money. Wood isn't. |"
Dale ran through the mail hastily.
He threw aside letter from the Alex
ander Crayfield Coal corporation, which
took the entire output of the mine at
an extraordinary figure. and picked up
a letter which bore the postmark Of his
home city.
It was from Babe Littleford. Since
he paid so little attention to the letters
of his parents, they had requested her
to write to him--thev wanted him to
come home for Christmas dinner.
Wouldn't hescome7
He arose and paced the Office floor
for two or three minutes, then he sat
down at his desk and dashed off let
ter that contained only two sentences.
By Heck sat beside the stove and
watched his god with thoughtful eyes.
He understood, he believed. How any
woman on earth could turn down
man like Bill Dale was utterly beyond
him. BY Heck was great deal like
gOod-natured dog. -.
If Bill would only laugh, 1t would be
good for him. 1t had been so long since
he had heard Bill laugh. BY Heck de-
cided that he would make Bill Dale
laugh.
"Old boyi"
"Wen"
"Do ye want me to tell We a funny
taller" drawled Heck. He barely heard
the answer:
II guess don't mind, By"
Heck's sympathy made him gulp.
But he swallowed the lump that came
up in his throat and began bravely:
"One time the was Teller named
Smith. Odd name, Bill, amt it? 'Hoss-
fly Smith, they called him, cause 1t
was said at he could easy shoot a
hossdy often a hoss's ear and never
break hide on the animile. He was a
heIlion, too. One time Hossfiy, he was
a-tryin' to git appointed the chairman
o. some sort o. politics doin's, and on
that same day he was a-drinkin' sort
o. tol'able heavy. They agreed to
make him the Temporary chairman, but
Hossfiy, he didn't want that. So he
hops right up In the middle o. the meet
In, anG he hoilers out and says:
"sFeller citizens he says. I want
TO be the permanent chairman! amt
a-goin' to act In the capacity of O
burned Temporary chairman: abso.
d-n-lutely ANTI
Ellis old inemy. Eb Wright, he yells
back and says smart-like: Set down
thar, Hogsiy,' says Eb-'you're drunk,
and You don't knoW the difference a.