The Ordway new era., 1921-11-04
CHAPTER xti-continued.

-tf-
yci,n Moreland turned up the light
little, and cracked worn but time
~ Joke: then he looked toward one
N the men whom he had fought
throughout many years. and muttered
iato his thick brown beard:
"SauI. friend, will ye do US the ia
VOC O. akin the bIessin', ef We pleaseT'
Shore, John. o. course"
Saul Llttleford, the very illiterate,
taced his big fingers together across
ois plate. bent his head, and told the
good Almighty that they were all
very much obliged to Him for the fine
supper they had before them, for Ad-
lie Moreland who had cooked it, for
peace. and for Bill Dale.
It WIS almost midnight when the
visitors left. They had been sitting
outside. on the honeysuckle-scented
fsont porch and La the cabin yard. AT
',st Bill Dale and John Moreland
were left together on the porch.
There's a thing that has puzzled
ose since the moment 1 got here this
evening"" said Dale. why is it that
so5ody seems to be grieving over
Gateb's being in Jail"
THE big hillman's answer came al
,aost sharply: No Moreland ever
grieyed over a sacrifyce, BILL"
Dale sat up straight "A sacrifice!
Vghat do you mean?"
This time the big hillman's answer
came slowly. Il mean at Gale he's
4-jskin' all o the load off o yore
shoulders at he can. Gale he's a-takin'
gOce place in jail ontei the trial comes
~. which1l be at the October term
. cote. He trusts you to come back
1ad set him free ON the day o the
sriaL o. course you'll do it; We hain't
never doubted that 70 one little min
ate. Bill But it wasn't all done fo'
Yore sake. You're the hope o. the
afooelands, and you can do a heap
a,ore here an Caleb can"
tie teamed toward Bill Dale and
weot on in confidential tone:
''and 1 can tell We this here. eff
you're found guilty o KILN Adam
Bali. and sentenced 70 even one year,
she Norelands and the Littlefords is
,-sotn' to take ye from the officers and
turn ye loose with a good, long start
uo Ehe law"
Wouldn't that be rather"
Dale broke of because he had seen
the tall figure OF a man appear in the
,pen gateway. II was By Heck and
ne spoke.
'sHello, John Moreland -
"He.lo yeselfr" growled Moreland,
wtio ssas not at all pleased at the in
tecruption.
Heck advanced, carrying his rifle
ny Its muzzle. He halted with one
foot on the stone step.
'Fve got news fo' ye. Bill" he said.s'
recognizing Dale even in the dark
ness. I've been a-eavesdrappin' up
- old Balls house. and had to choke
about ten dawgs TO do it. Bill, old
hoy, them Balls has done swore by
everything on earth and in Heaven
-od ia Torment at they'll kill you eff
the law don't Ig0d ye'd better watch
out. Bill"
Holm Morelnnd rose from his chair.
Much obleeged to We BY. And good
-light to ye. Les go into the house,
Riif. didn't think them id pole
cats had that much narve-and don't
hardly believe 1t yIt. 1t might ha' been
lghite Ticker a-talkin. Their kind o.
white Ticker ain't hawnest, like By
uecks ts, though .iis'n is bad enough.
Iselr kind'lI make q man resurrect
ais dead inemies out o the graveyard
tnd shoot EN- up all over again. 1t
sat s-goin' to do a great deal o harm,
.f'iii. eff ye don't light no lamp when
Ye go to bed. A man CANT never tell
iest what's a-goin to happen"
And the Ball-Torrey outfit" Dale
hegan. when the Moreland chief cut in
"Ef the Ball-TOrrey outfit posters
you. they're every one purity burned
spt 90 die with what is knOwed genial
" ia this section as the rifie-bullet dis
ease"