Cheyenne Wells record. (Cheyenne Wells, Cheyenne County, Colo.) 1???-1969, 1921-12-29

reached 4 verdict?"
They had. Elizabeth LittIeford's
mead swan as she bent forward to
catch the foreman's words
Not gulltyw
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
tumuit. Bill Dale shook hands until
MS shoulders nched. Tie Balls and
their relatives, bitter with resentlnen,
anu hatred, stole out, were given their
rihes. and went toward the big hills
with the eye of the militia hard upon
them.
Then the MOrelands and the Little
f0rds and the Hecks. with Dale and
his mining man Hayes. came out. and
they. too. started for the big hills.
Dale had hired horse and a side
saddle for Ben LittlefOrd's daughter,
ana 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. .,-.,. p ~ H.
las soon as l can build and furnish
-" he began. when Elizabeth inter-.
rupted: r5 lid.
Were ridin' too fast. We're too
much ahead O. the others: One o. them
Balls might try to pick you on with
his rife gum" -a.,.s. ,
"NOt much danger of that" Dale re-
piled. 'The Balls have already been.
warned about sniping; your father told
them that their very name would lie
secured of the earth II there was any
sniping. Besides. BY Heck Is acting
as advance guard somewhere ahead Of
U.S." -. f'
He continued, "As soon ms | can
build and furnish little house out
near the mine. want you to marry
me. Babe. VIII your"
Elizabeth Littleford seemed not to
haye heard.
"Will you, Bnbe?'
She faced him sadly. He saw In
her hazel eyes the same queer light
of tragedy that he had seen there a
day or two before; and now. rs then.
he wondered what 1t could mean.
"Tell me, Babel" =.
Her head fell forward. The sunlight
found glints Of gold in her thick chest
nut-brown hair. She was silent for
moment; then her voice came duly:
ard better not marry you. Bill Dale"
Dale sat up straight and rigid In
his saddle and. stared hard at her SOL
EMMY beautiful profile. He could
hardly believe that he had heard cor
rectly. He knew she loved him. She
had told him that she loved. him. Then
why wouldn't she marry him? He
tried to reason IT out, and the attempt
made his brain ache; he was unable
to reason. He knew only that she was
nil of the future to him. all of the
world to him, and-that she had re-
fused to marry him.
When they were within two miles
Of home. Dale went suddenly white
and caught her almost rudely by
wrist.
"Is It Jimmy Fayne?" he demanded
lOtly.
She gave him a reproachful glance
md said nothing. He flung her hand
from him angrily.
Dale did not speak again until they
lad entered the broad valley that was
home to him. Somehow he felt limp
low. The great wave Of anger had
passed.
IL guess you are too good for me-"
,e said. There was weakness In his
,oice. and it was the first weakness
The had ever known in him. q.
Twill you always, think Of me "as
he finest and most beautiful ~oinln
n the worldly she asked. Z. z"
always" II, -. -. :,
ats the best.I can hope for" muir
nured Elizabeth. = ,.M15 :,:..E
ITS the best:I can .fqpe f6f," Eiizzf-'
'eslf repeSte,l-dE thouRhislie were falH;;.
ng to herself. 8. ,s.'a
They rode Oh in isBencG 3"
s. -. s..I;:~, 'r's
.a.x u
There was no sleep for Rf1i Dale that
light. The sweetness Of his liberty
,ad all been taken away BY Babe Lit
leford's refusal to marry him. lie
'ecame bitter toward her again. She
Iad been exceedingly unfair to him:
While she really loved him, she was
DING to marry Jimmy Fayne because
re had so much money. She was UNI
,rateful to him: 1t was through him
hat she was being educated, being
fitted out OF her uncOuth and Hitter.
tie self and set on a higher social and
plane. All he had ever
card OF the so.called unfathomable
nystery of womankind he now he
eved, and more. All this. OF course,
,as unworthy. But Bill Dale was in
ensely human. and to be human Is
D be unworthy.
1t turned cold that night. A little
efore noon of the next day. BY Heck
teppet, into the Moreland Coal COM
any's Office.
Dale looked YEARLY up from his lit
cred desk.