Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1922-05-11

with q good force OF men the last raii
could be put down within two months.
During those two days they had
several times seen Henderson Con III
company. with Black Adam Eali anu
some of his relatives. once they had
come upon Goir talking earnestly win
Saul IittlefOrd, the big, bearded gauhl
brother of the LittlciOrd CHIEF. Hayes
reminded Dale OF this, and SAID TO
him further:
"Gon will have the Littlefords on
his side the first thing you know
Mavbe some of the Littlefords, rs well
as some of the Balls, knew about TINS
coal before David Moreland got his
mountain by states grant at few cents
per acre. If you'll take my advice, Mr.
Dale. youll make friends of these two
sets just as quick as you can
Dale thrust his hand-aX inside his
belt and turned to the mining expert.
"Dyou know, was thinking of that
same thing when you spoke he re-
piled. And / believe can manage II,
now that Miss Littlefords accidental
wounding has given the old feud such
q biz blow. I'm fairly sure | can man
age It so far as Ben Littlcford Is con
cerned; it's John that's going to be
hard To bring TO taw. He should be
home this evening. il he's had goou
luck. and LII tackle him as soon rs he
comes"
Together they started across David
Moreland's mountain, walking rapidly,
with Dale leading.
Darkness came down on them when
they had covered half the distance.
The great hemlOcks and poplars
doomed spectral and gaunt In the early
starlight. The almost impenetrable
thickcts OF laurel and ivy whispered
uncanny things, and their seas OF pink
and snowy bloom looked somehow
shostly. Now and then there was the
pattering of some little animals feet
on the dry, hard leaves of bygone
years. A solitary brown owl poured
out its heart in weird and melancholy
cries to the night it loved. There was
the faint far-or baying Of a hound,
and the soft swish of nighthawk's
wings.
Men from the core OF civilization
must feel these things of the wilder
Suddenly Dale drew back and stood
still. In the trail ahead, standing as
motionloss as the trees about him, was
the tall figure of man. 1t was almost
as though he were there 10 bar the
way.
The two went on slowly. The figure
didn't move. Dale spoke, and the form
came to life. 1t was BY Heck; he was
leaning on the muZzle of his rifle.
ITS you. is it, Bill, old boy?' lie
yawned sluggishly. II was a-waitin
here TO you. l reckon / must ha
went to sleep a-standin' here on my
feet. I've got news, BILL"
"Out with it,"
1--WE been a-trailin' Henderson Gon
all day" Heck said in guarded tones
He's shore got them lowdown Ball.
70 believin' they're already million
hairs"
: 81 knew that" said Dale. "Thati
not news"
, "But that amt ALL" by Heck wen
on. "Gof's got Saul Littleford. too
lock, stock. barl and sights. lie own
Saul Jest the same as / own my ole
snottcd coon dawg Dime. Saul h
gifts him job a-bein' mine boss, ant
! what other Littlefords at will sticl
gifts jobs a-diggln the black dl'mopt a
two dollars day. Asides, all of 'er
il. is to have a big lot O. money whe
the dividln'-dp time comes, says Goif.
Much Obliged to you, BY" Dale az
, knowledged. Lets go; bout face
Byl I'm goin' to tie hard knot i
that vlllainous game OF Henderso
= GofT's."
/, They reached John Moreland's cabi
less than an hour later. Morelan
and his son had just returned froI
Gainesville, and Dale learned throug
, Hayes that the two hillmen had show
good judgment and some bushes
I sense in making their purchases.
1 When the evening meal was ovC
Dale drew John Moreland out to I'll
! cabin yard, where the many old-fasl
lOneu llDNtlS AhN HiShI III SNt'
= with their blended odors. For M
II ment Dale stood looking toward Il
very bright stars and thinking; the
s. he told the big man at his side
/ Gon's plan concerning the Littleford
e and strongly urged the making
friendship between the two clans.
e 1.-THE snake." mumbled John Nor
land.
lie appeared TO be worried about
( He folded his arms, walked TO the ga
= ard back to Dale without uttering a
- Other word. II was hard FOR him
throw down completely the hatred
u years upon years. Had it been nj
u other person than Bill Dale, a fight
\ after his own heart, who had ask
IL. he never would have even consi
. cred It: he would have said qulckl
- "We1l thrash the Balls and the l.
" tlefords, tool
u. The younger man read something
II the others thoughts.
IL "With the help of the law" said J
IA eve might whip them all. But