The Pulaskian., 1921-10-27

the B1ItS, or the Ieuu DetWCeu HcH pSo@ pie and the Morelands and of how she had hated the bloodshed. She told Of the coming of Major Bradley, of her burning thirst for education, of the old trainman who had thrown her q news paper each day, and of the coming of Bill Dale
 1T was lonesome" she continued, and nobody ever seemed to under. stand how I felt. That is, until Bill Dale came. After 1 met him, couldn't see anything but him; he seemed to me like somethin' I'd had and lost. 5. :"
 "Then" said Mrs. Dale, 'why cid you refuse to marry"
 ''Wait-you don't know it all," Eliz- abeth interrupted her. There was the killin' O that heathen. Adam Ball. I went to tend the trial because knew could clear your son if Major Brad ley couldn't. You see, Mrs. Dale, I happened to know who did kill Adam Ball, and meant to tell if it was nee essary.
 ''On the mornin' of the killin' Bill had started up the river by himself. It was dangerous for him to go off like that, on account O them Balls and Tor reys. Back in the Big Pine country there is tall. thin man named Sam Heck. He's q big eater, an awful liar, and q worshiper of Bill Dale. Sam heard my father say it was dangerous, and he whispered: T1l jest sneak through the laurels and gyard Bill from ahind him. I heard him say it, Mrs. Dale.
 ''So he went sneakin' along the foot Q the north end O David Moreland's mountain, with his rifle in his hand, to guard your son. Bill didn't know he was bein' followed, because Heck is as crafty as a eat. I got nervous about Bill, so I went into the laurels and fol- lowed Sam Heck. When I overlook him, he was standin' behind clump O sheep laurel and lookin' toward the river.
 T whispered, Where's BinY
 "He said, Be still, Babel And then he thuInbed his rifles hammer back NllHouL 1 SuuQu.
 T looked toward the river and saw Bill Dale a-walkin' up the nearest bank, and l saw Black Adam slip be- hind tree not far away. Bill saw Adam, and he slipped behind tree, too. Adam shot at Bills hat, and leased Bill. Bill shot at Adams hat and then Adam Ball jumped up groan- in like he was done for, and fell, all a. twistin', to the ground. But he wasn't hit. He put his gun out by the tree to kill Bill as soon as he showed himself. It was one O his old tricks"
 Elizabeth Littleford raised her head slowly and went on in voice that was much shaken:
 ''I had always talked against killin'. and yet l stood there and begged Sam Heck to finish him. The rest happened in no time. Ball was already a-lookin along his sights. Bill Dale was nearly out in the open. I-" she faltered. and then came rush of words: q wouldn't marry him without tellin' him, because it wouldn't be fair to him; and If I iOih HAAA, ROQlQu nave Hue. The woman he marries mustn't be a- a s-savage."
 She stopped and stared at Mrs. Dale almost defantly. Her head was high. and her hands were clasped In her lap so hard that they trembled.
 "I think you have made a mountain out of molehill, my dear," the older woman said gently. What you did was right, not wrong; any good woman would have done just what you did. Elizabeth, am sure.'
 Elizabeth Littleford faced Mrs. John K. Dale squarely. There was a strange glow in her eyes.
 But l haven't told you everything. .n she murmured-"I took Sam Heck's rife from him. and killed Adam Ball myself"
 CTo BE coNTINUED1