Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1921-09-29

judge and the jury frowned and smiled
in the same instant Dale went for
ward and took his place. He pleaded
'NOt Guilty" A little later the state
introduced it's evidence and rested.
The counsel for the defense, patri-
clan and soldier-like, immaculate from
his toes to the crown of his head,
went eagerly to his feet. He had fully
prepared himself, and he delivered his
argument with an eloquent and force
full swing. 1t was plain that the jury
was favorably impressed by the words
of this man who never accepted a case
unless he was absolutely sure that his
client was in the right.
Major Bradley hinged his argument
on the mysterious third shot. If Dale's
bullet had killed Adam Ball, would
not Adam Ball have been shot squarely
or at least nearly squarely from the
front? AS it was, the Goliath had been
shot straight through the temples
That third shot had been fired by some
hidden friend of Dale's, the major de.
clared, and it had been done for the
purpose of saving Dale's life. Ball
had been in the act of playing a cow
ardly trick; he had killed a man in
North Carolina by just such trick
and he had boasted of it.
The attorney for the state made a
rejoinder that almost favored the de-
fendant. Then the court charged the
jury, and the twelve good men retired.
The jury was out not more than
| twenty minutes, but to Elizabeth Lit
| tleford it was an age of torture.
The twelve men filed slowly in and
faced the judge. who turned austere
| eyes upon them and asked:
Gentlemen of the jury, have you
reached a verdict"
They had. Elizabeth Littlefords
head swan as she bent forward to
catch the foreman's words
mot guilty!"
A wild shout rose from the leathery
throat of the happy By Heck. The
Morelands and the Littlefords cheered
until they were hoarse. Sheriff Tom
Flowers had difficulty in quieting the
| tumult. Bill Dale shook hands until
his shoulders ached. The Balls and
| their relatives, bitter with resentment
and hatred, stole out, were given theiI
rifles, and went toward the big hills
with the eye of the militia hard upon
! them.
Then the Morelands and the Little.
fords and the Hecks, with Dale and
| his mining man Hayes, came out, and
they, too, started for the big hills.
| Dale had hired a horse and a side
saddle for Ben LittlefOrd'S daughter
and the two rode in each others com
pany on the journey home. When they
| were well into the mountains, Dale
drew his horse over close to that Of
his companion.
"As soon as can build and furnish
-" he began, when Elizabeth inter
rupted:
Were ridin' too fast. We're toe
much ahead O. the others. One O. then
Balls might try to pick you off witt
his rife gun"
| ANOL hluNh Va lAoIs OoAC ~
piled. 1.-The Balls have already beer
warned about sniping; your father tolC
them that their very name would b'
secured off the earth if there was an!
sniping Besides, By Heck is actin.
as advance guard somewhere ahead o.
u.s."
He continued, "As soon as cal
build and furnish q little house ou
near the mine, 1 want you to MARI.
me. Babe. Win you?"
Elizabeth Littleford seemed not t.
have heard.
'Will you, Babe?"
She faced him sadly. He saw ii
her hazel eyes the same queer ligh
of tragedy that he had seen there
day or two before; and now, as then
he wondered what it could mean.
'TeG me, Bah"
Her head fell forward. The sunligh
found glints of gold in her thick chest
nut-brown hair. She was silent for
moment; then her voice came duly !:
"Id better not marry you. Bill Dale.
Dale sat up straight and rigid i