The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1921-10-20

floWeTS lNbb TlHE oi htdNy ktFN
from the hand of the jailer, and led
the way down Z whitewashed corridor.
IL was not yet bedtime, and the other
prisoners were still up; some of them
were reading newspapers, others were
trying 80 mend their clothing. ,still
others wese doing nothing. few OF
them called out boldly and bade the
new prisoner welcome-and each OF
these received a gruff or6er from the
sheriff to keep quiet. Dale paid no at
tention whatever TO his would-be
tormentors.
At an iron door at the end OF the
| corridor. the officer halted and faced
| about.
! III there could be such q thing as
comfortable cell here" he said in
low and kindly tones. ''it's this one"
| He went on earnestly: Now ! want
| YOU TO believe me when ! tell you that
| II Is with real regret that | put you
behind door 81 iron. But II | didn't
do It, somebody elSc would do Il; and
it's possible that can be Attle more
decent about II than another officer
would he"
81 realize all that. y'know." replied
Dale, "and I'm very much obliged to
you. sheriff"
Flowers unlocked the door. and Bill
Dale walked In. Flowers locked the
door and went away
Dale began to inspect his quarters.
TO all appearances, they were at least
clem. There was narrow bed COW
cred with a pair of gray blankets, a
stool and soapbox. and nothing more.
The light In the corridor behind him
made snaky black lines of bar-shadows
on the brick partition walls and the
outer wall of stone. Dale shuddered
in spite Of himself. He put up one
hand and turned on small light,
which dssipated the uncanny shad-
ows-and showed him a line from
Dante's "lnferno" that to him seemed
very miserable; some former occupant
OF that cell had written 1t with char
coal on the whitewashed outer wall.
Then Dale sat wearily down on the
narrow bed, leaned his head upon his
hands, and began to vlink.
He had always wanted difficulties
to overcome, barriers TO surmount, n
self. In full measure he had found
them every one. lie did not doubt his
ability to overcome the difficulties, sur.
mount the barriers do his work well
and fight his fight as good man
fights, and win-if Il We're not for the
, charge OF having shot and killed Black
: Adam Ball Ii seemed to him now
, that that must end all that was worth
Willie for him. For that was more
) than a difficulty, more than a barrier
lie firmly believed that II had been
= his bullet that had finished the earthly
! existence of the giant hillman. True
II had been an accident, But how was
he tos convince jury that IL had beer
' an accident? Would the jury take his
E word for It? The jury would not, Of
: course.
I The mysterious third shot, that haC
come from little distance-but h,
y could not reasonably expect deliver
:, ance from that source. If only he haI
a held down his abominable, savage TEN
] per; II only he had
Major Bradley interrupted his un
J. pleasant train Of thought.
) mo broodlng there, my boyl"
Dale looked up. The old attorney
n as neat In appearance as though h,
l. had not even seen a saddle that day
was standing just outside the hate
full door of bars Beside him stood
whlteclad negro hoy with a big ira,
Of steaming food on one hand and
pot OF steaming coffee in the other.
|" The jailer came and unlocked tn
= door; also he very consideratel
= brought another stool and fresh water
y The major entered the cell, and tn
> negro followed.
!" An amused twinkle appeared &
. Dales eyes as Bradley put the ira
y down on the soapbox. There wa
y enough for FIVE threshing- -machn
= hands! The black boy was sent to tn
'" front door 10 walt.
II thought you'd be as hungry a
=, I am and I'm as hungry as poor oil
40 by Heck ever wasl" laughed tn
"a major, as he sat down and began
10 pour the coffee. Riding always mad
"a me as hungry as bear In April. Ligi
=. right into II, Dale. There's nothin
=. like a good steak, for any meal. whe
n a fellow is half starved; eh, Dale
Try thar one, won't YOU? told Massel
re gale I'd cause his beheadment II thes
~ steaks weren't perfect. Massengale," b
m added, runs the hotel here, the FL
reka Funeral ParlorS and the On
Price Clothing Emporium
in IL wonder" smiled Bill Dale, "whl
he does with his spare timer
NJ Bradley laughed, his eyes twinklir
nd merrily. Dale found that he too WI
IS, hungry, now that savory odors ha
It. invaded his nostrils. A minute late
ng and he had pronounced his steak de
clous.
ed 'Massengale shall not suffer b
| haadmanf - Snl1 tho nior. and