The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1922-02-09

we Tere delighted to learn That the
young woman was out Of danger.
trust you are all in good health, gen.
tIemen." ...a -5 -.
They assured him that they were.
Moreland turned to introduce Bill Dale
and the mining man. From the mo-
ment that Major Bradley gripped
Dale's hand they were friends.
mighty glad to know you. sir!"
exclaimed the old lawyer. 1--WE been
hearing a. great deal about you. sir.
over in the valley Of. the Doe. They
seem to think there ssnobOdy just like
,Rills Dale! It was Bill Dale this,
and Bill Dale that cit was Here's
where Bill Dale whipped Black ADAM
or, Here's where Bill Dale was stand
ing when such-and-such happened os,
Here's where Bill Dale crossed the
fenceY' IL II.
::Hah-hahhah.l" slusgishly laughed
by Heck who stood leaning on the
nluzzle Of his rifle. Bill Dale is all
right, major; yesfe shore got my word
TO- that" T Z ~
The others laughed. Then John
Moreland said they'd better be NOV
ing, or they'd be late for dinner.
When they had put hundred yards
of David Morelanus mountain behind
them, the old Southerner tugged slyly
at Dale's sleeve and whispered:
'Lct US fall behind little, if you
please. l want to speak with you
privately"
They began to lag, and soon there
| was distance of several rods be-
tween them and the others. =
II heard through Addie Moreland,"
began Bradley, his friendly hand on
the younger mans arm, 'about you
and what you're planning to do for
tile Morelands. Il tell you, sir.
thanked heaven for your coming, and
you may count on me to help in any
way l can. The MoreIands are quite
friendly to ME now, though up to the
middle Of last summer they didn't like
Inc any too we'll because l made Ben
Littleford's cabin my home when out
here.
1T WIS simple thing that brought
Us together. John Moreland's little
nephew was lost in the woods and his
mother was frantic. There are pam
| theirs, you know, and wildcats, rattlers,
| and copperheads. 1 was fortunate
enough to find the boy, and carried
him home. That was all. They're
| fine people, my boy, and so are the
Littlefortls. Good old English blood
that somehow wandered off. There's
no purcr, cleaner blood in America,
sir.
"And noY-how are you getting
along with your plans for the opera
| ton Of the coal miner"
"Excellently,"" answered Dale. 1--WE
have the necessary finance; geared
locomotive and cars and light steel
rails have been bargained for"
"Good!' Bradley gave Dale hearty
slap on the shoulder.
'"rhere's something else l wanted to
say, Mr.. Dale,' he continued. his
| voice grave. you're nearly certain
! to have a barrel Of trouble. with Il,
| shystcr coal man named Henderson
Golf. He's villain. sir, if ever there
was one! And he's quite the smooth
est article I've ever seen. He can
| make you believe black is white, If.
only you'll listen to him long enough"
us he-has he been here recently?"
Dale wanted to know.
Hes here now" answered the ma
jor. Hes been here for three days,
and he's been working devilment fast.
He was up here last summer, trying
to buy the Moreland coal for song;
he knows all the people, you see. As
soon as he landed here on this pres
ent trip, he found out about your in
tentions. Then, at night, he freed
Adam Ball from his tobacco barn pris-
On, and went home with him.
"Well, BY Heck followed them and
did some eavesdropping-poor BY has
his strong points," the major went
on. F"Goff learned that Adam Balls
father knew about the coal vein long
before David Moreianl discovered it
and got lawful possession of the noun
tain. Then Golf made the Balls be-
lieve that they were due a big share
Of the proceeds Of the Moreland coal!
It wasn't very hard to do, guess. The
Balls, this set, at least, were originally
lowlanders they took to the noun
tains, l understand, to keep from be-
ing forced to fight during the Civil
! war;"
"Goff's idea," muttered Dale. "is to
get the Balls to scare me into selling
instead of developing, eh?"
Exactly" nodded old Bradley.
| '"rhen he would settle with the Balls
by giving them dollar or two day
for digging coal; perhaps he would
put them off until the mine was
worked out for half of that, and then
skip. Anyway, Golf would come out
at the big end"
IL see," said Dale.
IF there's anything that can do,
at any time, you won't hesitate to let
me tknow?" said the major.
"You may consider yourself attorney
and legal adviser for the Moreland
Coal company. Of which have the