Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1922-08-03
CHAPTER XVIII.
The Last Fight.

1t was early In the morning, and
BIZ Dale had just sent for Ben Little
ford. The hillman hurried to the of
hce. for he believed he knew what
was In the air. He had already gone
TO work at the mine, and his thick
beard, his face and his hands were
black with the dust OF coal.
"Sit down. Ben." said the general
manager. "We're going to hold a
council OF war;"
Littleford took a chair and crossed
his legs.
! "Is 1t the Ball outhtT he drawled.
Yes" answered the younger man.
and forthwith he told the other of the
news that BY Heck had brought Rim
few days before; he had not given
the matter really serious considera-
ton until that morning. SNOW" he
finished, II want to know whether you
think there's any danger?"
Littleford tugged at his blackened
beard and frowned.
"Bill." he said soberly, do you
rickollect what John Moreland told
you oncet about them Balls? He told
wasn't safe. ontel they was dead and
buried, didn't he? l believe he did,
BY Heck says the's n whole big passed.
o. them Nawth Caliner Turner's; he's
shore them and the Balls'll outnum-
Der us more'n two TO one. Yes, thes
danger. Bpi, and specially to you.
They think 1t was you killed Adam,
and they don't think the law handed
'em square deal at the trial."
Then listen to this plan." said
Dale.
"Pll keep By Heck up the river
watching for them. he will have
three sticks of dynamite tied together
and capped and fitted with fuse. IL
he sees them coming this way In any
thing like force. he viii fire Off the
dynamite as q signal TO US. Our men
will gather here in the upstairs of this
building, and bar the DOORS"
"Oh, Bill" moaned the old fighter,
you shorely don't think we'd ever let
'em git to the doors!"
II hope they don't, certainly"
smiled Dale. "Where are your rifles,
.Bln?"
AT the NINE" said Littleford. "Ye
see, BIZ, we've been a-lookin' To-
trouble"
Dale went on: AT BY Heck's sig
nal, I'll get on my horse and ride to
the lowlands for the Morelands. | can
get them lot quicker than / can get
competent help from the law. What
do you think of it?'
Its good plan, reckon"
growled Ben Littleford, "only don't
cotton very easy to the idee o US
a-runnin' from the mine to this here
buildln'. i never did like to run from
any man wo'th a durn, BILL"
but that wouldn't be cowardly,"
Dale protested. ut would be purely
strategic move, and 1t would save
lives for US. For, when the Balls and
their kinsmen come, you'll have to de-
liver me into their hands or you'll
have to fight like the very devil. that's
sure; and, according to BY Heck's fg-
ures, they outnumber you more than
two to one"
AL right" Littleford replied. with
shrug of his huge shoulders. What
ever you say, that same we'll do"
So BY Heck was sent for. and short
~ afterward he sneaked into the lau-
rels and went off toward the settle
ment of the Balls. In the crook of bis
arm ne carried his r.ac,'and inside his
&shirt he carried three pieces OF dyna-
mite all ready for the match-and he
chose every step with great care for
fear Of Earring the explosive too much.
He had not been gone an hour when
BIZ Dale heard dull, smothered roar
from somewhere to the northward.
Dale sprang> up from his desk. ran to
his ready and waiting horse, mounted
and rode like streak toward the
lowland.
Dale arrived at John Moreland's big
white farmhouse little before the
middle of the day, and halloed Justify
1t the gate. John Moreland and his
TWO sons hurried out In response 10
ne Gull. Ddle WdNtu uSiuS ~'
ngs and inquiries after his health
md told. that which he had come 10
ell. The elder Moreland turned QUICK
y to his two stalwart sons
"Guns and bosses, boys! It'll De
ur last fight. and les be at 1t ana
make II good fight"
Less than five minutes later tne
hree erstwhlle mountaineers rode out
the barnyard gate with full belts Oh
artridges around their waists ana
18th repeating rifles across the POM
iels Of their saddles, and joined
ale The four FASTENED TO the homes
{ the other Morelands and not long
fterward the old clan, In fuli
lrength, rode toward the big, dim
lue hills with Bill Dale acting Is Its
ader. Ii was to be the clan's~last
ght, and q fight for good cause
I'D every man Of 1t was eager for
Bill Dale bore himself proudly, and
} rode like a man born to the sad
e. He found a queer toy-a JOY
at frightened his steel-grey eyes
I'd flushed his sunburned cheeks, a