The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1921-12-22
CHAPTER xix-continued.


big. crooked finger came wny from the
hair.fine trigger. lie had never expect
eel TO hear the man whom he knew as
John X. Carlyle say that which he had
Just snid. II had never entered his
mind that John X. Carlyle could be
sSrry.
Then the great and bitter desire for
revenge rushed into his brain ngaln.
and bis head went down. and his keen
right eye looked nlong the sights and
to the kneeling mans breast. His trig-
ger finger began slowly TO crook
Until this instant Elizabeth Little.
ford had been az one frozen. had been
as figure carved In stone Now she
sprnng to her feet and went between
Moreland and his ancient enemy.
-Put at gun down-walt ontel I tell
ye John Moreland. what rye got to tell
YET" sile cried tensely. lapslng into the
old dialect In her excitement. While
Moreland stared. she went on:
at wasn't Newton Wheutley at put
up the money to start yore coal mine
a-goln'; II was this man here And the
Alexander Crayiield Coal corp'ration--
oich las been a-payin' you two prices
yore coal-that was this man here
MIR. Hayes was his-his ally through II
all. And he's sorry. John Noreland.
this man ls-so sorry that he wants to
die: and caln't yc see 1t. John More
land7"
She caught her breath again and
continued tenrfuly: "Oh, he don't
desarve to he killed. and ef he did
you're too good mnn 10 XIII him.
He's done paid-you don't know. like
do, how he's paid You mustn't
fo'gri that. And you mustn't fn'cei
Blll Date. his son. Put down that gun.
John Murelund YOre people is saved.
as David wanted en- saved Now
d-d.dnn'i "a and s-s-spoi II all. To-
Gmls snkei"
The big mountnineers eyes were
wide with nnmz,Inent. for Elizabeth
L!rrlrfnrd's every word had horne the
ring Of truth lie was too daZed To
understand her nlluson TO Bill Dale
ms his old enrny's son. The rifle came
back frnn across the pnlings, and It's
sirel -sl"i hut, found n place In the
SNOW beside John Morrland's foot.
Slowly John X. Dale arose and
drew close to him, and then from
John X. Dnle's soul came pouring the
prni-lp anguish Of remorse thai had
srnred II through the years The Tor.
rem NJ words flowed on. while the
nnuninineer stood rigIdly regarding
HIN with u strnnge light In his pIerc.
lng eyes
~ can't ask you 10 forgive me-"
Dale finished hrokenly. 81 don't ex.
pr,1 forgiveness; my crime wns too
great. Rut can't you. for the snke OF
the hoy lei me keep on trying to
atone for my SIM"
John Mnrelnnd looked long and
Eenrciingly intu the free Of the plead
Ing man before him. The hitter
struggle that was going on within him
was mirlorrd on his rugged coun.
tennnce. Rui gradually the bitterness
fnded; his huge frame tremhled: he
put II hand slowly down on tile others
shoulder.
The hoy" he mutrerr,l-"Bill Dale (:
Is he yure bOy3 lore name was Car
lyle then"
My hoy. yes--my hoy. Rill Dale.
Carlyle is an old family name. My
father was at the head Of big cnnl
concern: he sent me down here In.
cognito 10 get line on the Morelnnd
vein. Maybe he thought the price
would he high II II we're known that
lie wanted Il: | don't know. IL cart
remember"
Ben Littlefurds daughter was
watching closely. hoping against hope,
praying 10 heaven with all her heart
and then she saw John X. Dale put
his right hand up 10 John MOrplnnd's
hnnd, take u and press lt-and SHE
slw John Moreland, his bearded
mouth Jerking. give the answering
squeeze that meant something very
akin to forgiveness.
She ran out nj the gate. ran up 10
the giant hlllman and put her arms
around his neck; she drew his great
brown hend down and kissed him on
the cheek. And John Morrlnnd let
his rifle fall unnoticed to the snow
puI his arms around her shoulders ms
though she were his own daughter
bowed his head and sohhed out a
few words she did not understand.
Night had fallen when they reached
Ben Llttleford's cabin home. The gir
was welcomed with much 10y; old
Dale was received with almost afrec
tionate cordlality. ronring fire was
soon going In the hest room, and old
Dale WAS given the coslest OF the
sheepskln-llned rockers. Ben Little.
ford. washed scrupuously clean oi
coal smut. sat near the guest OF honor
John Moreland. who was so thought.
iul that he seemed to hear and see
nothing. sat close to Ben Llttleford.
Suddenly Dale looked toward his
host and asked: "Where Is my son p
At that moment Dale the younger
In boots and corduroys. appeared In