New Mexico state record., 1921-10-28
CHAPTER xi
BY Heck keeps A Secret.

Hen SHeflH IOm Flowers ana the
others had been gone for half an hour
Elizabeth Littleford sat up in the 81.
lence. 1t was a great and heavy silence
that hOvered there over the north end
Of David Moreland's mountain. There
was not even the drumming of yel-
4 l0Whammer, not even the saucy chat
tering of boomer squirrel, not even
the twittering of bird. Not leaf
stirred anywhere. Everything seemed
lifeless. 1t was almost rs though she
We're the sole inhabitant of the world.
Then she thought. 1t was noOntlme,
and the officer and his prisoner would
doubtless halt at John Moreland's
cabin for the MONDAY meal; and If
she FASTENED she would get to see Bill
Dale again.
SO she ran like n doe through the
green woodland, through the tangle of
laurel and Ivy and over the moss
covered stones, across shoulder of
David Moreland's mountain. She was
pie garment OF white-dotted blue
calico, and her long brown hair flowed
behind her like the hair of young
witch-because OF the excitement of
the morning. she had forgotten to give
1t its usual daily plating.
As she drew near to the Moreland
leaders home, she saw Bin Dale and
the sheriff walk out mt the gateway
and mount their horses. Major Brad
ley came out, and he, too, mounted his
going along. There was great crowd
all the Littlefords were there, and all
the Morelands, and old Granny Heck,
the fortune-teller. On every face Babe
saw signs of sympathy and sorrow.
Her eyes filed. She was so glad that
they, too, loved him. Ii was worth GO
ing to jail TO know that one was loved |
like that, Not that 1t didn't hurt TO |
see him going TO jail, of course. jail |
md horror are words that mean the
same to the mountain dweller.
She went on 10 tell him good.by.
She knew it would be hard, but she
steeled herself; she would be Little.
'ord, and strong. lie saw her coming,
md he turned his bay horse and rode
% meet her. She stopped and clasped
ler hands. with her arms down full
ength, and tried TO smile at him.
"You promised me-" he said gently,
that you'd go back TO Patricia and
lnlsh your education"
II keep my promises" was the quick
eply lest like every other Littleford
hat ever lived kept their promises.
would ha' went back this mornIn',
f it hadn't ha' been"
And there she broke off abruptly.
lfter a silent moment, she continued
adly. half tearfully: "And yet-and
et--the's not a bit o. use in me
-goin' back now!"
"Why?" Dale was smiling. and she
vas glad to note that he did not np-
ear to be grleying over his mlsfor- !,
nne.
"'Cause the amt" simply.
But you'll goy"
"Yes," She said, 'in the mornin' I'll
o."
He bent toward her and held down
is hand. "Good-by, little girl. I hope
will come out all right, and l be-
eve Il will"
Babe slowly lifted her hand TO his.
Ter eyes were downcast.
"Good-by," she told him brokenly.
And | hope 1t Will come out all right.
knows I do, Bill Dale" 1,
Thus they parted. Dale rode back =
} the sheriff and Major Bradley, and !
minute later the three of them start
for the lowland and Cartersville q
MI.
When a bend In the dusty ox-wagon
lad had hidden them from view. q
lizabeth Littleford turned homeward. 4
er mother followed her. n
The younger woman dropped TO the D
one step at the vine-hung front /.
orch with the air Of one who is very I
red. plucked a full-blown marlgold n
nd began absently to tear its petals ii
owly apart. Mrs. Littleford looked O
1t across the meadows. sighed. "
noothed back her gray hair with
nh hands, and sat down beside her n
Iughter. d
Il wouldn't worry about IT. Babe, k
,ney," she finally said. Then she D
o plucked a marigold and began TO h
ar its petals slowly apart. ''Ef he II
lied Adam Ball, IT was TO save him.
If. He's a good man, honey. / think
Is about the best man / ever seed.
lbe." ];
"No, he never killed Adam Ball TO G.
We hisself even," Babe replied. m
les fighter, but he amt no killer. M
sten, mother, It might ha' been this th
-ay: hs
He IL ahind Of tree, and Adam Is e1
ind Of another tree. Adam shoots m
his hat, and he shoots at Adams 81