Mrs. Grundy. (Tracy City, Tenn.) 1903-1930, 1921-09-08


joyment most rndely. From behind
clumps Of laurel and huckleberry
bushes, from the tall grasses, from
everywhere--it seemed from nowhere
there sprang dozens Of Balls and
Torreys with rifles in their hands |
Bill Dale had walked, as gently as q
kitten, straight into a trap.
His right hand moved toward the
butt Of his revolver, then dropped
at his side. 1t was foolish, worse
than useless, to show fight; dozens
of rifles were staring at him with their
frowning. murderous eyes, and their
bullets would riddle him II he showed
fight. He glanced toward Walt Tur-
ner, kinsman Of the Balls.
Turner was laughing openly. "Pore
little kitty
IF ever / have the chance" NUT
tered Bill Dale, "I'll thrash you for
this cute little joke Of yours"
"You won't never have the chanst, :"
laughed Walt Turner.
The Balls and the Torreys began
to close In on all sides, and a solid
ring Of dark and for the most part
bearded, wickedly triumphant faces
formed itself around Dale. Adam
Balls father, the acknowledged leader
of that band of cutthroats that was
now the Ball-Torrey faction, glared at
Dale with black eyes that were filed
with the fire of intense hatred; then
he seized Dale's revolver and thrust
It inside the waist-band of his worn
Jeans trousers. Dale felt the grip
of rough hands on his shoulders and
arms. He fully realized his great
danger; but he strove to keep all signs
Of fear out Of his countenance. and
he was not unsuccessful.
II presume this Is what you call
taking the law into your own hands,
isn't it?" he said with smile that
was forced.
"Edzactly!" snapped old Ball. I'VE
ketched We TO the law, and we held
We TO the law, and we turned ye over
to the law; and 'en. by comics, the
law turned We loose the very next
day! And 'en the shuriff he comes
out here and arrests four O. us! Eff
the law won't try We and punish We
TO a-shootin' my son Adam In cold
blood, by comics, we'll try We and
punish We TO- a-doin' 1t. But We
needn't be skeered none at all. Ye're
plumb shore to git jestice. I'll prom
ise We iestice."
"You've evidently overlooked the
fact that another man confessed to
the killing, and that that was why
they liberated me-" said Dale.
ITS some cussed frame-up," snarled
the leader of the gang. mo man on
earth don't like no other man well
enough TO- that. Asides. you're the
one at killed my son Adam, by gon-
nies, and you're the one at must suf-
fer 70 it. Right here onder this here
warnut tree we're a-goin' to hold cote
and have yore trial, by jedge and jury,
and you'll shore git what's a-comin'
Bill Dale cut In with some bitter
ness: "And you'll be the Judge, and
your plans have already been laid, and
I'm to be hanged by the neck until
dead; Ell? Well, you'll pay dearly for
1t, l promise you. We always have
to pay for what we get, you know.
The Morelands and the Littlefords will
be quick to settle the account. You
know that"
NO" old Ball disagreed hotiy. II
don't know that!"
He turned to the others.
"Set down, boys. It's the same price
as standin. The jury will please set
over thar" pointing to his right. 1.-THE
pris'ner and his guards will please set
right over thar" pointing to his left.
THE hon'rable jedge, which same Is
me, will please set right thar" indi-
eating a spot at the base Of the gnarled
walnut. "rhe rest" he finished Twill
set anywhar they On pleases. Set
down. men,"
His orders were obeyed. Dale found
himself sittingson the ground between
two pairs of mountaineers and facing
line of twelve mountaineers-the so
called jury. To his left was the self
appointed judge, and TO his right
lOunged score or more of men whose
attention was then being turned to-
ward a jug Of fiery new whisky that
had never been near to revenue
stamp or anything else that was hon.
est. The jug travelled rapidly from
one hairy mouth to another
Old Ball passed the jug to a mem
Der of the Jury" and announced:
! swell, dammit, co'te's open now"
kitty. kitty, kitty" taunted Walt
Turner. "Pore little kitty I"
The mockery began. 1t was ridicu-
lous, and yet it was grim. Adam
Balls father himself furnished most