The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1921-10-06

After a silent moment, she contlnueu
sadly. half tearfully: "And yet-and
yet--the's not bit o. use In mo
a-goin' back now !"
"WhyT" Dale was smiling, and she
was glad to note that he did not ap-
pear to be grieving over his misfor-
tune.
"'Cause the amt" simply.
"But you'll gof
"Yes," she said. 'ln the mornin' Ill
GO"
He bent toward her and held down
his hand. "Good-by, little girl / hope
It viii come out all right, and i be-
lleve II 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 do, BIZ 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 Cartersville
jail
When a 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 vire-hung front
porch with the air OF one who Is very
tired, plucked a full-blown marigold
Eafra, nj. 20 tie nptnle
slowly apart Mrs. L.ttleford looked
out across the meadows, sighed.
smoothed back her gray hair with
both hands, and sat down beside her
daughter.
II wouldn't worry about II, Babe,
honey" she finally said. Then she
too plucked marigold and began to
tear Its petals slowly apart. "Ef ne
killed Adam Ball, IL was to save him
self. He's a good man, honey, | think
he's about the best man l ever seed,
Babe"
mo, he never killed Adam Ball TO
save hisself even." Babe replied.
Hes fighter, but he amt no killer.
Listen, mother 1t might ha' beer this
away:
'He is ahlnd of a tree, and Adam is
ahlnd 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. 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. Havln' drawed BIZ Dale out
into the open by his trick. Adam gifts
ready to shoot and kin him. Jest as
Adam is about 70 shoot. somebody else
shoots and kills Adam and saves Bill
Dale-mebbe the amt time To- any
thing else. Now don't ye see? And
don't 1t all sound natchel, motherT
II reckon il does" granted the old |
woman. But who was it shot Black |
Adam?"
Somebody who is a friend o. BIZ |
Dale's," said Babe. Somebody who |
was a-follerln' Bill with the idee O. |
pertectln' him ef he needed 1t. Some
body who knowed II was dangerous
TO him TO go Off by hisself in the
woods. that away. I've got 1t reasoned
out jest like this. And who
ever II was 'at was friend enough TO
Bill Dale 10 XIII man to save him
will be friend enough TO own up when
the proper time comes and keep Bul
Dale from a-bein' hungr>Xhoeyer Il
was at done IL Is skeertd bad now,
but later on he'll shore tell It, ef it'll
save BIZ. You Jest wait and see,
mother.
81 hAin't never fo'got,". Babe went
on, after moment "abou; BlacA
Adam Ball a-tellln' me about a-workIn'
that same trick on a man over IN
Nawth Ca'liner-and he killed the
man. The law never found Il 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 ths
Good Book is God A'mighty's truth, a.
You know"
"Ef I was pinned down to guess who
u WIS Ut uOne III, urHWleQ Mrs. Lit.
tleford, "rd guess It was BY Heck.
He was a plumb fool about BIZ Dale.
His nav she says he talks in his sleeu
about Bill Dale. He was allus a.fol.
erin him around like dawg."
Babe pointed TO the meadow. AR
aged and stopped and witchllke won.
an was llmplng slowly through tn,
clover, coming toward them.
Granny Heck" muttered Babe.
The neighborhood's newsbearer and
fortune-teller llmped on up to the
'abin, and dropped to the stone steu
beside Ben LIttlefords wife ana
laughter.
La, la, la" she painted, for tho
lays were warm. "And haln't II lest
wisht ] may die this min.
lite eff l wouldn't might nigh as soon
see my own son go 10 Jail! But 'en
til all come out right yit, Babe.S
iced II In the cyards. and I seed II in
he cup. Babe, honeydumplln", hs