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.37-1 if* - MCli * ^^V*^Copyr CHAPTER III Qollath of the Hille. Dale awoke a little after daybreak, rose and dressed himself, and went out by way of the door beside the huge stone-and-clay chimney. The mountain air was bracing. Dale threw out his chest and sturted eugerly for a walk. The road led past the cabin of Orandpap Moreland. When Dale was directly In front of the log house, he saw the aged mountaineer standing on , a rickety sawhorse beside the stone step at the narrow porch; Orandpap Moreland was helping a gray cat down from the roof. "Mornln* I I was Jest a-takln* that thar cussflred old pest down offen the roof. I've took him down every mornln' as reg'lar as I make fires, fo* three year or more. Ef It wasn't bad luck to kill a cat, I' shoot him, mebbe." After breakfasting with John Moreland, BJ11 Dale borrowed fishing-tackle from his host, and set out alone for the little river. There were many shoals and rapids, and he went almost half a mile before he found a place to his liking. It was a beautiful spot. Above, the wpter poured between two great boulders with a gentle roar; below, It shallowed out over round stones. Overhead towered tall white sycamores. Not until he had put a minnow >11 the hook and cast It out did he "see that he was not nlone at the pool. On the other side, less than sixty feet away, Babe Ltttleford sat on u stone the size of a sainII barrel; she held a cane fishing-rod in her hands, and her bare feet ware In the water to her ankles. She was looking squarely toward Dale, and there was something akin to reproachful anger In her long brown eyes. "Good morning!" called Dale, lifting his hat. There wus no reply. There was not even a change of countenance. Again Dale called his friendly greeting, nnd again there was no reply. It nlnued Dale. A few yards down the stream the whits body of a sycamore lay from one hank to the other; It had been blown there by a recent storm. Dale wound his Mnel went down and crossed by means of the prostrate tree. She didn't even look around when he walked up to her and spoke again. It struck him as being decidedly odd. "I say," he told her, "you're as chatty as a set of stencils. Tou mustn't talk so much, y'know." Her eyes smiled at the river, but Dale couldn't see her eyes. "Do you like violets, Miss Littleford?" he asked next. In the hlack, mica-starred soil at his feet grew a carpet of the finest lolets he had ever seen. Babe let the tip of her cane rod fall Into the wnter and looked around. "It sounds funny to hear a man talk o' sech little things as vl'iets," she. declared. "Most o' men don't think o* noliiin' but workin', liuntin', flglitln' ^ and eatln'. Tm a little mnd ut you! 1 went home yeste'day?and I think 1 run might' nigh the whole six mile? and fixed up dinner to' you, 'cauae I onderstood you was a-comln* to our bouse?and you went to them lowdown ilorelands!" "I beg pardon," he aald contritely; didn't know you were especially ex There Was No Rsply. There Was N?1 Even a Change of Countenance. porting me. 1 had business/' he added "with John Morelnnd." There came to his ears from some where down the river the chorus ol a rakish old hill song, and the volet was thut of the lanky moonshiner, Bj ? Heck? "Oh, when 1 die. don't-* bury me deep, Put no tombstone at my head and feet Put a bear's Jawbone In my right hand On my way to the Prom-laed U-a-and Oh I On my ..way to the Promised Land!" A few minutes later there appeared on the More land side of the river th? 77^, 9 ft ^nHS; yexllr fTg? ? -1M ?grr? *W?? llajtfkrj^Liebe b Illttfiraitons by ^ If wit% JPXsrevs ^ by Doubladg/ , Page i Ca "HI. thnr, BMi. old T>oy!" he yelled. I "HI, thur, Babe! Either of ye'uns ketched anything?" | ! Ben IJttleford's daughter held up a fish proudly. Heck slapped his thigh with his slouch hut. "Good fo' you!" he exclaimed. "But ( they ain't a-bltln' Jest right. The moon's wrong, and the signs is wrong, fo' tlshin'." At that Instant John Morelond up{ eared at Ileck's side. He seemed very serious about something. "Bill Pale," he called, "come over here." Wondering, Dale put down his rod and turned to obey. Two minutes later he stood before John Morelnnd. "I Jest wanted to tell ye," and the mountaineer almost closed one alert grey eye, "'at ye're purty shore to git Into trouble over thnr." "I'm an able-bodied man," Dale returned smilingly. "You shore are," frowned Morelnnd, "but mebbe you ain't used to durncd hard Hghtin'." Not used to hard fighting! Pale's smile broadened. Once he had whipped a heavyweight pugilist; and he had fought as a matter of principle, and not for money or prestige. Morelnnd suddenly Jerked one thumb toward the other side of the stream. Dale looked and saw, standing beside U naoe lattterora, n quite formidable tJ man. He liad the height and breadth, R almost, of a Goliath. He was black' P e.vejl and black-haired, and his thick, k short heard was curled like the hair . v between a hull's horns. In one hand | he carried a repeating rifle as lightly * as though It were a mere strnw. , ci One of his. great arms suddenly e* straightened toward Pale, and a voice d as grufT as the growl of a hear said hotly: h "What was you a-doln' here a-taikin' w to my gyttrl?" a Babe l.lttleford looked angry. Dale rl flushed, then went pale. . t "I Jtave' a habit of talking wjth ' whom I please." he said evenly. b "Spoke like a man," drawled the d lanky Ileck In a very low tone. c Goliath of the hills stared unbellev- o ingl.v. Pale said in an undertone to o John Moreland: "Is It that Hall fel- t< low?" l? "Yes," answered the hillman; "It's Black Adam Ball." c Ball dropped his rifle to the violets, slowly clenched his huge and v hairy hands, and thrust his hea.'ded n Jaw out aggressively. "I dare ye over here, ye pink cow- d lint t" lio - , ..f..... t "If you have any business with me, li come over liere and transact It," Dale a retorted. "I won't run." "That's Moreland terrytory," Rail e objected. "Rut I'll meet ye half way. v and I dare ye to take me up, ye lace- . trimmed pink mollycoddle!" S Half-way would he the middle of the \ river, and no place for a Unlit, surely, n Rut Dale was nettled. His temper, the temper that he had never been t able to keep wholly under control, was r rising fast. He threw off his coat ami ii ! hat and rolled the sleeves of his soft k J shirt to 'tis elbows. Then he waded j | Into the pool. The slowly moving > waier was up to his waist at the ball- r way point, and the bottom was of hard-nrC'.? d sand. The Holiutb stared unbelievingly. ' f He was not accustomed to having his > I ' challenges thus accepted. Fie throw j r off Ids hat and went to meet the lithe j 11 young stranger. N 1 Bill Dale squared himself and put ' up his guard. Adam Rail came on, ^ and he was scowling wickedly. | Rail rushed, the clear water swirling ?' In his wake, and let out with a power- " ful right. It was a blow to crush an > ordinary man's chest In; but, to Rail's 11 surprise. It failed to land. Dale evaded It cleverly, and at the same time sent ' a swift left uppercut to the other's oull-llke Juw. Adam Hall muttered two wicked words and steadied himself; he had caught a tartar. A moment, and he led out again, and he missed again; but he followed it with a blow I that tuade a red mark on Bill Dale's shoulder. ( "How's that, ye pink coward?" he crowed. "All right?how's this?" And Dale sent on a mighty blow that rebounded dully from the giant's chest and elicited only a harsh laugh of contempt. There was little to lie gained by striking a man like Adam Ball on the chest; Dale knew ^iow that he must reach a more vulnerable 11 spot. i Then he feinted with his left and drove his right to Ball's mouth; bring- * lug blood. Ball roared In his blind r rage and dashed toward his antagonist, * resolved to get a clinch. But Dal# eluded the terrible arms, although in so doing he received a blow on the 1 temple that made him dizzy for a fevseconds. > While Ball was again engaged In frying to gain the advantage of i clinch. Granny I leek made her appear> ance on the Mnreland bank. She promptly launched her sympathies in ' a manner that pleased both her gaping f son and the watchful and silent John ! Morcland. ' "Hit him in the stummlck, Mr. Hill!" she cried over ami over. '^Ilt him uhar he lives at!" The combat grew hotter and hotter. Both landed frequently now. The faces j of both were bleeding, and each spat red now and then. Their clothing had I -been torn away to the belt, ahd their t magnificent wet bodies glowed in the 3 morning sunlight. Dale had seriously ... . t v. . t ' -* ' ? teel. But still he fought on doggedly, etermlnedly, desperately, minute aftr minute. Those on the two banks watched it II with suppressed excitement. Babe .Ittleford stood In the* edge of the ater. with her hands 'clasped below icr throat, her face was pale. John lore land,* who had witnessed many titer great tights, himself a fighting inn, hud never before beheld such a on test of strength and endurance as his; Bill Dale had won .John Moretnd's heart for all time to come. Rut the blows of the fighters were rowing weaker now. The sound of heir labored breathing rose distinctly ver the gentle roar of the sparkling waters above. ^ Then the watchers saw Adam Ball unge at his man, saw Dale stumble tit of sheer weukness, saw Ball's ilglity hlood-streaked arms close bout the beautiful white body and tig It close to his great and hairy best. A moment, and Ball was bendtig Dale slowly backward and downward more by reason of weight than f strength; another moment, and Ball was about to sink the brown head unler the surface! Babe Dlttleford gave a smothered ry. John Morelnnd stepped toward lie water and shouted-hoarsely: "Don't ye drowned him Adam! Kf e do. ye'll answer to me!" Dale had gathered himself for a last ove. lie slipped downward suddenly, uiiersing himself completely, and i.ot one arm uround Ball's thigh; ..en. by a great effort, he rose with !:e giant and overthrew him, and tnjgerod free! Ball's hairy face came to the surface "St. Dale fought hack the pain of " e water In his lungs, and the pain 1of sharp and Jugged silvers of steel \ his hands, and struck madly, half tally, at the Hateful face. He kept ! down, hut It wouldn't go under the ater completely. . . . \dain Hall began to drift as though i t.'dutis Cjwu the strenm. Rill Dale I ollowed, still tlghting weakly, choking is he breathed. Hut soon he ceased ? strike. He snw, instead of the beast-, "..e face, (lashes as of distant summer uhtning, and red blotches against a ick blackness. The Notches faded, ud all hecume dafk to him; he itched forward, gasping, and began > drift down the stream with the anqulshed BuLL, Babe Littleford was standing in the uter to her knees. When Dale sucumbed to utter exhaustion, she startd toward him, to save him from rowning. She felt strangely drawn >wurd the big, white, clean man who ad whipped the Goliath she had alays dreaded. But she had gone only few yards toward the center of the iver when John Moreland and Sam leek reached the unconscious figures. Heck drugged Ball to the Littleford nnk and left him lying there, face own ward, on the sand. Moreland half arried, half dragged Bill Dale to the thcr bank. Babe Littleford waded ut. She paid absolutely no attention o the worsted bully. She stood lnentiy watching the iiuip fortn'of Dale. "Is he dead, John Moreland?" she ailed tremulously. "No, Babe," Moreland answered, his olee not unkind; "he ain't anyways igh dead." He and Sam Heck took up Dale's ripping figure and bore it away. Babe uiit-iuru ran to ntgner ground, hid erself behind a clump of sassafras ml watched them. Granny Heck followed with Dale's oat and hat. She chattered all the ray across Hie meadow? "Now what did I tell ye, John and lain? What did I tell ye? ha, la! Vnsn't It a master tight, like I said? iow wasn't it?" "Sometimes ye make nie a little ired, granny-woman," Moreland renonstrated gently. "The' ain't nothin* 11 forcliune-tellln'. You've Jest been lere fo* so long 'at you know how to edge the future by-the past. And ou're a tol'able good guesser, too, I eckofl." Granny Heck tlared tip 'quickly: Ain't nothin* in forchune-tellin'! iow don't go and fool ycself, John loreland. You listen to me about a inlf minute, John. I seed more in the up 'an I told Mr. Bill. I seed blood nd death. I seed a big fight atwlxt he Morelands and the Llttlefords!" "That's easy to guess at," John loreland replied. "You know, o' ourse, 'at Black Adam will do all he an to bring trouble to us on account i* Bill Dnle a-slayln' with us. Ami mi know It ain't never onpossihle to intch up war atween us an<l the Idtlefords. .Jyst run on ahead, Granny leek, and tell my wife to hunt up ome kind o' good liniment fo* Bftl's iruises. Tell her she needn't to waste line a-lookin' up any bandages. This nan here is like me: he wouldn't A'ear mndages, 'cause they look had." When Dale came hack to a state of onsclousness, he was lying under overs In the carved black walnut bed. teside hlin stood John Moreland, who ield in one hand a bowl containing a lot herb brew that his wife had pretared. Granny lleck, her son By, and Jrs. Moreland stood not far away. "This here'll be good fo' ye, I think," iald Moreland, nodding toward the .owl io his hand. He went over and ?nt an arm around Dale's shoulders iml helped him to sit up. Dnle drnnk the stuff with difficulty. "Much obliged," he muttered thickly. '!?let's see, did I whip?how did it >nd? He didn't lick me, did he?that ellow Ball?" I "He shore didn't," smiled Moreland. 'Not by a big sight. He fell out fust. Us own pap won't hardly- know him, -till I" News travels rapidly In the big hills. The Morelands begnn to gather at the ionic of their chief to see the man *ho had whipped Black Adain Ball; very Moreland able to walk came to iee BUI Dale. For three hours he was Ionized, but he didn't enjoy It; the vater had left many pains In his best, and his head ached dully, and \ls hands still felt as though the hones vere shattered In them. Came a thunderahower that after10011, and the mountain evening fell vlth a chill. A fire was made In the vide atone fireplace In the guest's 00m, and when supper was over the 'ainllj gathered there with Dale, who efused to be kept In bed. iHn p.9 i Iv : . ' Do you know why it's toasted? To seal in | the delicious Burley flavor. It's toasted. /TluckyN iistrikej V?IGARETTE^ (iii the log walls, I)ule said to John Moreland : "If your brother David could know, don't you think he'd want you to get the value out of the coal.?" John Moreland bent forward to rest his cliln In his hands. His sober grey eyes stared thoughtfully toward the fire. "1 ain't never looked at it tliataway," he said. "That's the right way to look at It," I llo/'l? l**wl Hnlft ? ?! * ? ? -- * * .. Dill ,11111 SIUIIIKIM I pell the property as It Is." The mountaineer turned an inquiring face toward his guest. "How In thunder could I handle It ef I didn't?" "Why not let me develop it for you?" Dnle said earnestly, eagerly. "I won't charge you anything above expenses, and I won't he extravagant." "It'd take consld'able money lo start things a-movin'. Have you got It?" asked Moreland. "No, hut I can get It. Almost anybody would be willing to lend money on so good a thing as this, y'know." For a little while Moreland sat there and looked squarely at Dale, who returned his gaze without a sign of flinching. The hillman was trying to And a motive. "How conies It 'at you, who ain't Wnowed u? hut two duya," he detnander can be so much int'rested in us?" The question deuiande?i : mightforward answer. Dale realized thai there was but one way In which he could give a satisfactory explanation, and that that was by telling the truth? but not the whole truth, as he surmised It, for then his efforts would go for naught. Moreluiul was speaking again, and his eyes were brighter now. "1 agree 'at David would want ua to ueveiop liie coal, ef he v.ouiu know. It's like a light a-breakin' to me. But that coal Is sacred to us, Bill Dale, and afore ye go any fu'ther I'll haf to ax ye to tell me all about yeself. A city man up here In the wilderness? It don't look s'plcious, Bill, mebbe, but?well, 1 hopes ye can pardon me fo' axln' It I shore got to be keerful about Brother David's coal. Addie and the boys'U go out and leave jest us two In here; and when ye're a-talkln' to me It's the same as tarkln' to a tombstone so fer as tellln' Is eonsarned. Addie, honey; Luke, you and Cale?" Mrs. .Moreland and her sons arose and left the room, closing the door behind llietn. Kill Pale paced the floor, arms folded, brows drawn. Finally he halted before the Moreland chief. "There's nothing I'm ashamed of, 1 guess." he said. "I don't like to tell It simply because I don't like to tell It. But?I'll do it." lie sat down In his sheet-skln-llned rocker, lay back and closed his eyes as though to visualize the story, to live it over. "Maybe It's not very much In oiy R. L. McMANUS Dentist Choraw, S. Beginning June 1st, 11)21, I wii! practice at Chestcrlieh! Mondays and on Wednesday evenings; at 1'ageland Tuesday, at Mt. Croghan, Wednesday morning of each week. At Cheraw '1 hursd.iy, Friday and Saturday SOUR STOMACH INDIGESTION Thedford's Black-Draught Highly Recommended by a Tennessee Grocer lor Troubles Resulting from Torpid Liver. East Nashville, Tenn.? The efflo lency of Thedford's Black-Draught, the genuine, herb, liver medicine. Is vouched for by Mr. W. N. Parsons, a grocer of this city. "It Is without douht the best liver medicine, and 1 don't believe I could get along without It I take It for sour stomach, head-' ache, bad liver, Indigestion, and all other troubles that are the result ol a torpid liver. "I have known and used It for years, and can and do highly recommend It to every one. I won't go to bed without It In the house. It will do all It claims to do. I can't say enough for It" Many other men and women throughout the country have found BlackDraught just as Mr Parsons > describes ^-valuable in regulating the liver to lta normal functions, and in cloanaing the bowels of Impurities. Thedford's Black-Draught liver medlI cine is the original and only genuine. Accept no imitations or substitutes. 'r ' ' " Km 30x3^a-inch 32x4 " 34x4^3 " LUCA favor, John M<<relatid," lie began, never could get along with my parent* or with the set I was born into. Some how, I was different. Father am mother wanted me to be a dandy; the even wanted me to let a servant dres inie. The climax came when they trie to marry tne to a young woman wit didn't want mo any more than 1 wanl ed her." He opened his eyes, looked stralgh at Moreland, and wont on: "You see, they wanted to marry u In order to unite old Flavoring's fot tune and my dad's; Patricia, like me was an only child. It had been all cu and dried for us, for years. They put il up to me like this: they said 1 owed it ti them, that It was my duty; that I line always been a severe trial to tliem that my savagery had put gray int< my mother's hair, and a lot of thing: of that kind. I fell for it nt Inst; f was sort of a matter of self-defense With Fatricia, it was a case of?well 0 case of simple obedience. Pat is i good girl. . . A minute of silence; then: "I'll hurry along with It, John More land. I had one fine friend hack there It was Robert McLaurin, a rejrortei on the city's leading newspaper. M> parents didn't take to hint because In was a worker, and not a fop. Mothei wunted Pat's cousin, 'poor dear liar ry' Clnvering, for my best man. 'Pooi dear Harry' and I had a fight, onc< upon a time, and I?I had whippet him; and 1 didn't like him. I chost Bobby McLaurin for my best man, ant 1 wouldn't give him up. (Continued on Last Pago) 666 cures a cold quickly. 4( E, and the couple stood for the lony before a beautiful impro^altar of vines and flowers, seeding the marriage, there was : >rt musical program, Miss Louise : n, of Jesup, giving a piano selec "Souvenir," and Miss Ethel l ce, "Oh, Perfect Love." | 'o the strains of the wedding : h from Lohengrin, the bride, : sded by her maid of honor, Miss : ie Bottoms, descended the Btair: and was met by the bridegroom. ; ceremony was performed in the : ing room by the Rev. E. M. : by officiating in a most impres: manner, the pretty ring ceremo: sing used. ; e bride was lovely in her going gown of midnight blue, with hat \ atch and carried a bouquet of : AmJWVSraluilarvT<Srms 2*700 Pages. 6000 lilustniti:>nv t.ol tc?J Plates. ' ; 30,000 tJeogranhi al Sahjccis. 12.000 ; lllograpliicul l iitiu i. r Regular =r.d lr.tlia-Pat.e> rlditioni. * 4^^,: J^MERglAM : J. ARTHUR KNIGHT Attorney-at-Law Office in Courthouse Chesterfield, S. C. Dental Surgeons TROTTi & PARK, Chesterfield, S. ('. Office on second floor in Ros Building. 666 cures Biliousness. 40 iamm Money hack without question if hunt's ouaitanruro SKIN DISBASi: kKMEDlKH (Hunt's 3?lvr ?n<' Soap),tail in f Jj, rf'l ths treatment oflteh, i'.esem -.^fpTf i I Rinaworm.Tetteroi iXhri it n- ( /1 Itig skin diseases. Tty thlc 4 *' * ' trss'.msnt at our usk. i*W . I J At : ? . K f v-f bandar d Noi pacity of 16,000 tires and 20,000 tu duction on a quantity basis. All materials used are the best obt; It is the best fabric tire ever offered Firestone ( Tire repair men, who judge values 1 sturdiest carcass made. Forty-sevei th#a?m AQ clnnrl or/4 ? 1 tic/ Cord - - Nc\ ft _ a ft _ ? S AUTO COMPANY, Chcsicrfield, 1 \\ t. have a hijrh power, fast cutting >- plant in itself for sawing loivs lo a ly s Lever control starts and stops saw. t r OOOO DOOODOGODOOOOOOOOOCO i | FORM ; ? And Save on y ; ? Shipments ef 5 i o [I | Write for prices, s 8 wanted, shipments o departure train, re ? little meltage. 8^ Tins ice is made from pure we ^ cd by tlie State Board of Hen r> teeJ to l>e free from an'n>oni ^ We can ;?ive >00 prompt ship' 3 dcr, 1-^ o rr *r% J % n cigcmiiu j )OCO OOOOODCO C3OCO0OCOCXX tmble Hill National ! pthori::od to take and tile 1 I tank of Columbia, of interest (> per cent. 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OOCO*OOC OOOCOOQOOOOOODOOOO A CLUB ) our Ice Account ? 00 Iks or more | , i 8 itatin^ what size lots g . loaded just before X aeh vou with verv o 8 C) il waa:, which has been anal:/.- X III; and pronounced pure, gt-aran- ^ ia nn.J to 'ast as lonij as any ice. 6 n cnl, 'piiono or :nr.il us your or- q fee Ccmpay | DODO' OCK.COOCCODOCOOOCOOOOO larm Loan Association applications with Ihe Federal ; made on improve d farm lands, it) ">o per vent, on land and 20 L iltS. imble Hill National Farm Loan n to secure a loan through the s as fast as it can stdl bonds to Dels of the farmer, and an early t your loan quicker. til Association is entitled to do id it charges 1 per cent lor its se all is refunded except actual speetion when making applicas, Sec. I reas. f. a. t Chesterfield Building ware, iture, ^ T" 1 LJ J.UUIS : Reduced Prices rV^r^Compan^^^