The Mena weekly star., 1922-01-19

end of David Moreland's mountain. Moreland led the way In and pointed to spot under small. paneless win low.
 Thar" said he, Ifs whar we found my brother David"
 The two men turned for the point at which the coal vein ran out to tho light of day.
 Dale picked up a piece of the shin ing black stun. Judging by the little he knew and the great amount of de- scription he had heard. the vein was very large and the coal Itself of the finest grade.
 sIt was a big ind" he told his com panion, "a big find. It was a pity to let 1t lie here untouched for so long {; and yet it's worth more today than 1t was ever worth before"
 His enthusiasm ran warm, and More land caught it quickly. Together they hastily planned out the little railroad that was to wind it's way through the wilds and connect with the big rall- road at the Halfway switch.
 T know I'm a-doin' right about IT, the mountaineer said twice for the benefit of his conscience. T know pore David he would want me to do this eff he could know"
 I'm sure of it." agreed Dale. "T1l start for Cincinnati tomorrow. Two got enough money to take me there and back. have a very wealthy friend there-his name is Harris; 1 think l can borrow enough from him to finance the beginning of this thing And I'll buy a locomotive and cars. and all the other necessary machinery, while I'm in CincinnRti-unless 1 fail to get the money from Harris. When l get back, which should be within eight days, we'll start the work At guess. I'd say we'll need twenty men. Can we get themr
 "Shore," nodded the mountaineer. "And all Morelands at that" They turned homeward. At last Bill Dale was happy. He had some thing to do now-an aim in life. He had difficulties to overcome, obstacles to remove, barriers to surmount-it was his big chancel
 
 It was almost sundown when Dale returned from his visit to the coal vein-Big Pine mountain hid the suh at little after three In the afternoon. He borrowed a fishing rod and q min now pail, which made his going to the river seem proper enough to John Moreland. and set out to meet Babe Littleford. He was glad that nobody expressed desire to accompany him.
 ne found Ben Littleford's daughter where he had found her twice before sitting on a stone the size of a small barrel. She was fishing with an un- baited hook, which was equal to fish ing not at all. and she seemed pleased when she saw him coming. He sat down on the stone at her side. She moved over little shyly, and tried to cover her feet with her calico skirts.
 Needn't bother to hide them," laughed Bill Dale. They're pretty enough. Most feet, y'know. are neces- sary evils, like chimneys and rain spouts"
 Babe Littleford blushed. He went on. to hide her confusion. "Tell me about the rifies."
 You must shore keep 1t secret" she told him.
 "I promise"
 Better put yore hook in, SOS ef any, body comes along"
 Dale threw out an empty hook.
 T want to tell ye some other things fust. so's yeTl understand better when come to the part about the rifes," Babe began. looking thoughtfully across the water to where kingfsher sat in watchful waiting. She contin- ued slowly, choosing her words care fully, q was brought up to hate them Morelands, butt don't think I dc. My people Is jest like the Morelands. The biggest difference ye can find Is that one side mostly has grey eyes like you and t'other side mostly has brown eyes like me. All but their everiastin' nghtin', they're good people, Bill Dale.
 Each side. ye see. is brought up to hate t'other side. I'm ashamed to tell 1t, butt understand the fust plain, words my Uncle Saul Littleford's last baby said was these here: D-n John MorelandP It started a long time ago, and it started over nothin'. Grandpap Lttleford and John Moreland's pap got in dispute over whether Kain- lucky was in virginny or Nswth Cs'- liner. and went to fghtin' about 1t. Purty soon my Uncle Saul and Abner Moreland happened along, and they went to fightin', too. Thank goodness, it was on Sunday, and none of 'em didn't have their rifles with lem. What ever else we are or ain't up here, Bill Dale, we gen'ally respects the Sabbath day to keep it holy. ."
 "I see." Dale muttered sympathet- ically
 five seen my own mother set down in the floor and take her boys head fin her lap-oh, such a big, fine boy he was l--while the blood run through her dress from a Moreland's bullet. He died with mothers arms and mtne around him. It was all we could do fo' him, was to love him. I've seen sis ters watch their brothers die from Moreland bullets. and young wimmen watch their sweethearts die, and wives watch their husbands die. :.
 "l tell you. Bin Dale, them More lands never misses when they have even half fair shot, You'd be puff