The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1922-02-06
got enough money to take me there

friend there-his name is Harris;
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 Cincinnati-unless l 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 them?"
"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 chance! =.
1t was almost shutdown when Dale
returned from his visit to the coal
vein-Big Pine mountain hid the sun
at little after three in the afternoon.
He borrowed a fishing rod and 4 min
now pail, which made his going to the
river seem proper enough to John
Morelaud. and set out to meet Babe
Littleford. He was glad that nobody
expressed desire to accompany him.
lie found Ben Iittleford's daughter
where he had found her twice before
sitting Oh stone the size of small
barrel. She was fishing with an I'M
baited hook. which was equal to fish
ing not ut all. and she seemed pleased
when she saw him coming. He sat
down on the stone at her side. She
moved over q 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 neees-
sary evils, like chimneys and rain
spoutS =" -
Babe Littleford blushed. He went
on, to hide her confusion, "rell NE
about the rifles"
You must shore keep it secret"
she told him. Ia
Il PROMISE,
Better put yore hook in, SOS eft any,
body comes along"
Dale threw out an empty hook.
II want to tell We some other things
fast. SOS yen understand better when
come to the part about the rifles"
Babe began, looking thoughtfully
across the water, to where kingtsher
sat in watchfull waiting. She contin-
ued slowly, choosing her words care
fully, II was brought up to hate them
Morelands, butt don't think do. 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 everlastin
hghtin'. they're good people. Bill Dale
Zach side, ye see, is brought up to
hute t'other side. I'm ashamed to tell
it, butt understand the fust plain
words my Uncle Saul Littleford's last
baby said was these here: On John
Morelandv II sta-:sd Il long time ago,
and it started over nothin'. Grandpap
Littleford aud John Moreland's pap
got in a dispute over whether Kahn
lucky was in Iirginny or Nawth Ca
liner, and went to nghtin' about 1t.
Purity soon my Uncle Saul and Abner
Moreland happened along. and they
went to tightin', too. Thank goodness,
it was on Sunday, and none OF 'em
didn't have their rifles with 'em. What
ever else we are or amt up here, Bill
Dale, we gen'ally respects the Sabbath
day to keep it holy.
Il see" Dale muttered sympathet-
ically.
1--WE seen my own mother set down
in the floor and take her boys head
in her lap-oh. such Il big, fine boy he
was while the blood run through her
dress from Moreland's bullet. He
died with mothers arms and mine
around him. 1t was all we could do
TO- him, was to love him. I've seen sis
tiers watch their brothers die from
Morcland bullets. and young wilnmen
watch their .sweethearts die, and wives
watch their husbands die. 6.
II tell you, Bill Dale. them More
lands never misses when they have
even half fair shot. You'd be puff
fectly safe in a-lettin' any Of 'em shoot
dimes from atween yore finger and
thumb all day. And it's the same way
with the Littlefords. They're fighters.
too, every one, and they don't give IN
any more than the Morelands does.co :
- "Addie Morelahd knows what it IS
to take her dyin' boys head in erlap.
whilst blood rum through her dress to
her knees. His name was Charley,
and he was bad; he'd drink, and oncet
he shot up Gainesville. But Addie.
she ILLUS loved him better'n Gale or
Luke. Wimmen like her allus loves
the worst boys the best; cause they
need it the most, the worst boys does.
Its the wimnen that pays. Bill
Dale, when the's tghtin'. The VIM
men o. this valley is right now on
needles: they're afeard the men'll find
their rifles. You can guess. whar the
guns went to now. CANT ye? The VIM
men hid EN- last night after the men
had gone to sleep! BY good luck. they
had almost a whole night TO- it. You
must be shore to keep it to Yourself
but ! know yc-wit. Addie Morelana,