The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1921-11-04
FSNV INVS OHVTO MOHEcGK0
the BEST MAN GOD
EVvEN MAID
KILLED
~ JOHN X cAnktLR
NAY GOD
DAM HE
SOLE

II was q living curse. 4 brea thins
curse-a terrible anathema. II dead
David MOreland himself had arisen
from the tomb and uttered 1t, 1t would
not have struck John K. Dale with
greater force. He grew weak. ~
though with a fatal sickness. He sank
to his knees in the snow, and his iron
gray head fell forward to his breast.
Elizabeth Littleford kneIt In the snow
beside him. She tried to find comfort
ing words, for she loved him and was
sorry for him, but no words would
ONE
There was q slight sound. The muf.
He'd breaking Of q dry twig in the
snow just beyond the palings 10 front
0f them. Elizabeth Littleford looked
up 10 see the giant figure of John
M0reIand, whose face was white and
whose eyes were diled with the fire o:
hate aud anger. who held a rifle in his
cold. bare hands. The rifles hammer
came back, and he fine trigger caugh,
II with a faint click.
M0reiand took another step forward
and Ieveled tie weapon across tie
paijngs.
IF II was any use 70 ye TO pray,
Carlyle" he said. and his voice was
shaking and hoarse and choked. I'D
give ye time. But ii amt no use al all.
Look up. Face il. Try to be q man TO-
one second in yOre iow-down life"
Old Dale raised his head, saw David
MoreiaDd's brother. and realized all
there was to realize. His eyes wideneJ
a little; then q look Of RELIEF fitted
across his heavy countenRnce.
Shoot and even up the score" he
said bravely, and his head was high. ,
According to your code, 1t Is just. And 4,
III be able TO forget at last, at last. So !
shoot and settle the account"
Moreland WINGED ~perceptibly. The
dig, crooked finger came way from the
hair-6ne trigger. He had never expect
ed to hear h e man whom he knew as
John K. Carlyle say hat which he had
just said. 1t had never entered his
mind that John X. Carlyle could be
sorry. -a
Then the great and bitter desire for
revenge rushed into his brain again.
and his head e down. and his keen
right eye looked along the sights and
to the kneeling mans breast. His trig.
ger finger began slowly to crook
Until this instant Elizabeth Little
fOrd had been as one frozen, had been
as q figure carved In stone. Now she
sprang to her feet and went between
Moreland and his ancient enemy.
Put at gun ~down-wait ontel | tell
ye, John Moreland, what I've got to tell
yer she cried tensely, lapsing into the
old dialect In her excitement. While
MOreland stared, she went on:
1T wasn't Newton Wheatley at put
up the money to start yOre coal mine
a-gOin 1t was this man here And the
Crayfeld Coal cOrp'ration-
which has been a-payin' you two prices
10, yOre cOal-that was this man herel
Mr.. Hayes was his-his ally through II
all. And he's sorry, John Moreland,
this man $50 sorry that he wants to
die; and CANT We see it, John More
She caught her breath again and
continued tearfully: "Oh, he don't
to be killed, and eff he did
you're too good a man to kill him.
les done paid-yOu don't know, like
do. how he's paid. You mustn't
'o'get that. And you mustn't fo'get
Bill Dale, his son.. Put down that gun, I
ohm MorelandI Yore people is saved,
3 David wanted EN- saved. Now
go and s-s-spoil It all, TO- b
iod's sake!" I
The big mountalneer's eyes were h
tide with amazement, for Elizabeth b
.ittleford's every word had borne the b
ing of truth. He "a too dazed to s
nderstand her allusion to Bill Dale Il
. his old enemy's son. The rifle came
ack from across the palings, and Its b
leel-shod butt found q place In the O
beside John Moreland's foot. o
Slowly John X. Dale arose and h
rev close to him, and then from e)
ohm K. Dale's soul came pouring the II
ent-up anguish Of remorse that had o
1t through the years. The tor ST
mt Of words flowed on, while the a
stood rigidly regarding Ia
m with a strange light In his pierc- nj
& eyes.
II can't ask you to forgive me. oil
ale finished brokenly. II don't ex. 81
ct forgiveness; my crime was too sh
eat. But can't you, for the sake of W.
e boy let me keep on trying to