The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1922-02-27
CONTINUED from last issue)

ClOO0te COfuldlltS. ~ lVdAHiS uAS "uo
soon going in the best room, and old
Dale was given the cosiest Of the
sheepskin-lined rockers. Ben Little
ford, washed scrupulOusly clean OF
coal smut, sat near the guest of honor.
John Morelnnd, who was so thought
full that he seemed to hear and see
nothing, sat close to Ben Littleford.
Suddenly Dale looked toward his
host and asked: "Where is my son?'
At that moment Dale the younger,
in boots and c0rduroys, appeared in
the outer doorway and answered for
himself:
"Here he is, father. Are you wel?'
Dale the elder arose, and their
hands clasped warmly. Young Dale
then shook hands with Elizabeth, who
blusEed in spite OF herself as she
faced him.
TO hide her confusion, Elizabeth
turned to the tall and lanky BY Heck.
who had come in behind Bill Dale.
"How are you, By?' she greeted
him.
''Hongry," grinned BY Heck, taking
her hand awkwardly. II never ct
nothin' but a couple O baked 'possums
and a peck or two O sweet 'taters TO-
dinner, and I've been as busy cs the
dev-as thunder a'doin' nothin' ever
sence. DOM nothing shore does make
me hongry, M-M-M-Miss Babe"
Supper was announced, and they
went into 4 long, log-walled room that
served as both Kitchen and dining
room.
Bill Dale sat beside his father and
talked of nothing but coal veins-big
and little coal veins, long and short,
broad and narrow. deep and shallow,
blue and black coal veins. Babe Lit
tleford, who wouldn't marry him, who
had come back to the hills to torture
him with a beauty that he had never
believed possible in any woman,
shouldn't know that lie was even
thinking Of her!
He talked coal with his father until
bedtime, and he was wiser in the ways
Of the black diamond when nine
o'clock came. After Ben Littleford
had haltingly conducted family pray
ers-and in this he mentioned even
the Balls, Turner's and Torreys-Bil
Dale babe them all good night and
started for his Office to sleep, rolled in
n blanket on the floor. There was u
lack Of beds at Ben Littleford's that
night.
A little later, John Moreland drew
old Ben out to the cabin yard. The
skies were clear, and the moon was
shining brightly; everywhere there
was beauty and peacefulness.
Ben" softly, "Tve got to bother We
a minute, as late as it is. wanted ye
to find me hammer and chisel and
Il lantern"
1--WE got 'em all three right thar
in the house," replied Littleford. "But
what'n the name O. Torment and
thunderation do We want with a ham
mer and chisel and lantern, John
old friend?"
The answer came straightforwardly
1t was the Moreland way.
"rm a-goin' up thar to whar pore
David he's buried at, and cut Off some
them letters often the stone, Ben.
CANT sleep ontel it's done. You car
guess what part I'm a-goin' to cut of
CANT ye?'
"Yes," said Ltttleford. "Babe tolt
ME about what happened up thai
afore dark. And I'm pow'ful gla
we're a.goin' to do 1t, John, oil
friend"
He went with Moreland to the it'll
enclosure on the highest point Q
David Moreland's mountain. He bel
the lighted lantern while Morelan
worked. They were there for hours
When the work was finished Davi
Moreland's brother arose from hi
knees in the snow, put the hamme
and the chisel into his pocket, an
spread open his cold, cramped finger:
"Ef David could know" he sal
YEARLY, Il believe he'd be glad "a
done 1t. Anyway, it makes me fec
better"
Ben Littleford put big hand o
John Moreland's shoulder.
EYES," he agreed. "ef David coul
know about it, he'd be glad at ye don
It, John. The hain't no doubt o tina
And who can say he don't know abou
| it,"
Elizabeth learned Of it early on tn
! following morning. When breakfas
was over, she whispered to John +
Dale that there was something sh
had to show him. She wouldn't te
him anything in advance. SO he wen
with her to see for himself.
When at last they stood inside III
| weatherbeaten palinss, Elilabet
| pointed and said:
Look there, and thank God"
Dale looked ar,. saw. The color LEI
his face, thcn came back. He shut hi
eyes. swayed a little on his feet, OK
| cned his eyes, looked and saw agail