The Pulaskian., 1921-09-22

sadly, half tearfuily: And yet-and yet--the's not a bit O use in me a-goin' back noww
 "Why7" Dale was smiling, and she was glad to note that he did not ap- pear to be grieving over his misfor- tune.
 "'Cause the aIn't." simply.
 But you'll go?"
 "Yes," she said, ''in the mornin I'll go"
 He bent toward her and held down his hand. "Good-by, little girl. l hope it will come out all right, and I be- lieve 1t will"
 Babe slowly lifted her hand to his. Her eyes were downcast. "Good-by," she told him brokenly. And I hope it will come out all right, too-God knows do, Bill Dale."
 Thus they parted. Dale rode back to the sheriff and Major Bradley, and minute later the three of them start ed for the lowland and Cartersville jail
 When bend In the dusty ox-wagon road had hidden them from view, Elizabeth LittIeford turned homeward. Her mother followed her. The younger woman dropped to the stone step at the vine-hung front porch with the air of one who is very | tired, plueked a full-blown marigold and began absently to tear It's petals slowly apart. Mrs. Lfttleford looked out across the meadows, sighed. smoothed back her gray hair with both hands, and sat down beside her | daughter.
 Il wouldn't worry about 1t, Babe, honey,7 she finally said. Then she too plucked marigold and began to tear its petals slowly apart "Ef he killed Adam Ball. 1t was to save him. self. He's a good man, honey. I think he's about the best man ever seed, Babe.r
 "No, he never killed Adam Ball to save hisself even," Babe replied. Hes fighter, but he ain't no killer. Listen, mother, it might ha' been this away:
 "He is ahind of a tree, and Adam Is ahind of another tree. Adam shoots at his hat, and he shoots at Adams hat-which Is the reg'lar way of | two-man fight, as you know. We'll, l suddenly Adam he jumps up like he's been shot, and falls a-groanin' and a-twistin' BfIl Dale, a-thinlSin' he's killed Adam, comes out from ahind of his. tree. Havin' drawed Bill Dale out into the open by his trick, Adam gifts ready to shoot and kill him. Jest as Adam is about to shoot, somebody else shoots and kills Adam and saves Bill Dale-mebbe the ain't time fo' any thing else. Now don't ye see? And don't 1t all sound natcheI, mother?"
 q reckon it does," granted the old woman. "But who was 1t shot Black | Adam"
 Somebody who Is friend O Bill Dale's," said Babe Somebody who was a-folIerin' Bill with the idee O pertectin' him eff he needed it. Some | body who knowed 1t was dangerous fo him to go off by hissef in the woods that away I've got it reasoned | out jest like this. And who- ever 1t was 'at was friend enough to Bill Dale to kill man to save him will be friend enough to own up when the proper time comes and keep Bill Dale from a-bein' hung. Whoever 1t was at done 1t Is skeered bad now, but later on he1l shore tell it, ef it'll save Bill. You jest wait and see, mother.
 T haln't never fo'got." Babe went on, after moment about Black Adam Bali a-tellfn' me about a-workin' that same trick on man over in Nawth Caliner-and he killed the man. The law never found 1t out. And ye see what Black Adam got. Who lives by the sword shall perish by the sword It's in the Good Book, mother. honey; and everything in the Good Book is God A'mighty's truth, as you know"
 Eff I was pinned down to guess who it was at done it." drawled Mrs. Lit tleford, "Td guess it was By Heck. He was plumb fool about Bill Dale. His maw she says he talks In his sleep about Bill Dale. He was allus a-fol- lern' him around like dawg."
 Babe pointed to the meadow. An aged and stopped and witchlike wom- an was limping slowly through the clover, coming toward them.
 Granny Heck" muttered Babe.
 The neighborhood's newsbearer and fortune-teller limped on up to the cabin, and dropped to the stone step beside Ben Littleford's wife and daughter.
 La, la, law she panted, for the days were warm. And hain't it jest turrfblel I wisht I may die this min- ute eff I wouldn't might nigh as soon see my own son go to jail But 'en it1l all come out right yit, Babe. seed 1t in the cyards, and seed 1t in the cup Babe. honeydumplin' he never no more killed Adam 'an killed