The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1921-10-07

sadly, half tearfully: And yet-and
yet--the's not a bit o. use In ms
a-goin' back now !"
"Why?" Dale was smiling, and she
was glad to note that he did not APP |
pear to be grieving over his mister
tune.
"'Cause the ain't" simply.
"But you'll go7'
EYES," she said, Sin the mornin' I'll
CO."
He bent toward her and held down
his hand. "Good-by, little girl. i hope
it will come out all right, and be-
lieve 1t 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, Bill Dale"
Ehus they parted. Dale rode back
to the sheriff and Major Bradley, and
a minute later the three of them start
ed for abe lowland and Gainesville
Jail.
When 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 vine-hung front
porch with the air of one who is very
tired, pluckeu a full-blown marigold
and began absently to tear Its petals
slowly apart. Mrs. Littleford looked
out across the meadows, slgheds
smoothed back her gray hair with
both hands, and sat down beside her
daughter.
II wouldn't worry about It, Babe,
honey" she finally said. Then she
too pIucked marigold and began to
tear Its petals slowly apart EFF he
killed Adam Ball, 1t was 70 save him
self. He's good man, honey. think
he's about the best man ever seed,
Babe"
'No, he never killed Adam Ball to
save hisself even" Babe replied.
Hes fighter, but he amt no killer.
Listen, mother, 1t might ha' been this
away:
HE is ahind Of tree, and Adam Is
ahfnd of another tree. Adam shoots
at his hat, and he shoots at Adams
hat-which is the regular way Of a
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. Havin' drawed Bill Dale out
into the open by his trick. Adam giti
ready to shoot and kill him. Jest as
Adam Is about to shoot, somebody else
shoots and kills Adam and saves Bill
Dale-mebbe the amt time TO any
r thing else. Now don't ye seer Ant
don't 1t all sound natchel, notherf"
At reckon it does" granted the oil
10 woman. "But who was 1t shot Blacl
Adam?"
+ Somebody who Is friend o. Bill
Dale's," said Babe. Somebody VIII
'e was a-folIerin' Bill with the idee G
pertectin' him eff he needed 1t. Some
body who knowed 1t was dangerou
To- him to 60 off by hisself in tn
:, woods that away. I've got 1t reasone
~ out Jest like this. +. And who
& ever 1t was at was friend enough t
;A Bill Dale to kill man 10 save hir
," will be friend enough TO own up whe
the proper time comes and keep Bt
Dale from a-bein' hung. Whoever
was at done it Is skeered bad nov
but later on he'll shore tell 1t, ef it.
save Bill. You Jest wait and se'
mother.
le "I hain't never fo'got," Babe wer
| aoh
Adam Ball a-tellin' me about a-workii
e that same trick on a man over l
AZ Nawth Ca'liner-and he killed tn
re man. The law never found 1t GU
II And We see what Black Adam go
~ who lives by the sword shall peris
81 by the sword It's In the Good Bool
u. mother. honey; and everything In tn
Gu Good Book is God A'mighty's truth, 9
~ you know" .......
EFF was pinned down to guess WI
:, 1t was at done It," drawled Mrs. Ii
AZ tleford, I'D guess 1t was BY Hec
- He was a plumb fool about Bill Dal
a., His NAV she says he talks in his slee
A about Bill Dale. He was allus a-fc
-, lerin' him around like dawg."
~ Babe pointed to the meadow. A
&C. aged and stopped and witchlike wor
os an was limping slowly through Il
&C clover, coming toward them.
M Granny Heck" muttered Babe.
ne The neighborhoods newsbearer al
ed fortune-telIer llmped on up to Il
ng cabin, and dropped 10 the stone st'
of beside Ben Littleford's wife al
i've daughter. ..-. -.... ..
ia, la, lar she painted. for L
nd days we're warm. And hain't 1t 1e
nd turriblei / wisht may die this mi
.ay ute eff wouldn't might nigh as So
ad- see my own son go to jail But =
his it'll all come out right yit Babe.