Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1921-08-18

sadly, half tearfully: "And yet-and
yet--the'S not a BIT o. nsa in ma
a-goin' back noww
"Whyr Dale was smiling, and she
was glad to note that he did not APP
pear to be grieving over his mister
tune.
"Cause the amt" simply.
"But you'll goT'
EYES," she said, "In the mOrnin' I'll
60"
He bent toward her and held down
his hand. "GOOd-by, little girl. l hope
1t will come out all right, and / be-
lieve 1t WILL"
Babe slowly lifted her hand to his.
Her eyes were downcast.
"Good-by," she told him brokenly.
"And hope 1t will come out all right,
too-God knows 1 do, Bill Dale"
Thus they parted. Dale rode back
to the sheriff and Major Bradley, and
a minute later the three Of them start
ed for the lowland and Gainesville
Jail.
When bend in the dusty Ox-wagon
road had hidden them from view,
Elizabeth LittlefOrd 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, plucked full-blown marigOld
and began absently to tear Its petals
slowly apart. Mrs. Littleford looked
out across the meadows, sighed
sm0Othed back her gray hair with
both hands, and sat down beside her
daughter. n res
Il wouldn't worry about 1t, Babe,
honey" she finally said. Then she
too plucked a marigoId and began to
tear Its petals slowly apart. "Ef he
killed Adam Ball, 1t was to save HIM
self. He's good man, honey. / think
he's about the best man / ever seed.
Babe"
mo, he never killed Adam Ball to
save hisself even," Babe replied.
Hes fighter. but he amt 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 regular way Of q
twOman fight as you know. Well,
suddenly Adam he jumps up like he's
been shot and falls a-groanin' and
a-twistin'. Bill Dale, a-thinkin' 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 amt time TO- any
thing else. Now don't We see? And
don't 1t all sound MATCHED, motherr'
II reckon 1t does. granted the old |
woman. ''But who was 1t shot Black
Adam?"
Somebody who is a friend o. Bill |
Dale's," said Babe. Somebody who
was a-follerin' Bill with the idee o.
pertectin' him eff he needed It, Some
body who knowed 1t was dangerous
To- him to go off by hisself 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 a 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 it is skeered bad now,
but later on he'll shore tell it, eff it'll
save Bill. You jest wait and see,
mother.
Il hain't never fo'got," Babe went
on, after a moment "about Black
Adam Ball a-tellin' me about a-workin'
that same trick on a man over In
Nawth Ca'liner-and he killed the 1
nan. The law never found 1t out.
And We see what Black Adam got.
Who lives by the sword shall perish
~ the sword It's ip the Good Book,
mother, honey; and everything in the
Good Book is God A'mighty's truth, as
rou know"
'Ef was pinned down to guess who
t was at done it." drawled Mrs. Lit
leAOIus u guess IL was Dy hcCAs
He was plumb fool about Bill Dale.
His nav she says he talks in his sleep
bout Bill Dale. He was allus aEfol.
erin him around like dawg."
Babe pointed to the meadow. An
ged and stopped and witchlike wom-
IN was limping slowly through the
lover, coming toward them.
Granny Heck" muttered Babe.
The neighborhood's newsbearer and
limped on up to the
abln, and dropped to the stone step
eside Ben LittlefOrd's wife and
aughter.
ia, la, lar she painted, for the
avs were warm. "And hain't 1t jest
urriblel / wisht may die this min
te ef / wouldn't might nigh as soon
ee my own son 60 to jail But EN-
III all come out right yit, Babe. /
ED 1t in the guards. and seed 1t In
le cup. Babe, hOneydumplin", he
ever no more killed Adam AN killed
i'm myself. / tell ye, the's been some
wful ongodly work done, somehow. /
now Bill Dale, and the shore hain't
nv Aurnod dram ~ hiIior hind A..