The Ordway new era., 1921-11-18
CHAPTER XIV.
Tried.

FiGQ.
Tive days before Bill Dale was tried
Ia court at Csrtersville. the new Eliza
beth Littleford aiighted from an after
noon train at the Halfway switch. She
was dressed in a smart and neatly
atting suit Of dark blue, with lacey
white at her throat and at her wrists /;
she wore a hat OF dark blue relieved
by touch OF white. In one Of her
strong and weil-shaped, gloved hands
she carried travelling bag of black
leather.
A big and sunburned young man in
boots and corduroys fastened TO her.
He raised his broad-rimmed hat,
smiled, took the bng. and pressed her
hand as though he was very glad to
see her.
"Biil Daler she cried ioyously above
the roar of the passing train. "Bill
Dale, it's you!"
Sure, it's roe - laughed Dale. How
good you look l can hardly believe
its you"
But it is" she SMILED. "Tell me :;
what do you think the outcome o your
triad is going to be?"
Dale noted that her English had inn
proved. and It was gratifying to him.
As for the trial
81 don't know" lie said. But Ma
jor Bradley thinks III come clear. He
believes that somebody that was hid
det on the moulainside above US shot
Ball TO save me. By Heck limited that
lie knew that this was the case: and
he lntimated that would stand a bet
ter chance Of acpuiful than anybody
else would stand. and that II | re-
ceived a sentence the right man
would come forward with conres-
sion. have au idea that BY Heck
himself killed Adam Eall-that Is, if
l didn't do It."
And Gale Moreiand-wasn't It fine
for him to do what he done for you.
BiH Dale? How are you gettin' along
with the mine?'
First rate" Dale answered, bright
eHing at once. We're shipping now.
And we're getting smashing price
for every ounce Of it."
u see" said the Young woman. He
went on:
"Ali of the boys and girls of the
NoreIands, except the very little ones,
are in school at Cartersviile. and
they're learning fast When our bor-
rowed capital is paid back, the More
land families are going to buy farms
lying near CartersviIlc and go to them.
A big lowland farm close to good
schools and good little tOwa-well,
there are worse places on earth. Pity
poor David Moreiani can't know about
It,"
I'D sayv
She hung her head. She was think
ing as she had SO often thought be
fore, of her own benlghted people.
And the Litttefords:" she mur-
nured. II had slipped past her lips.
Dale and the Morelauds owed the Lit
tiefords nothing.
Dale understood, and he gave her
sympathetic glance.
"a few of the boys and girls OF the
littiefords are going to school in Car
tersville, perhaps one from each fam
iy." he told her. at is rather ex-
pensive you knew. on account of the
boarding. and they can't afford to
send all their children. However,
IhluiI-ultimately-yOur people will
have their chance for education, too
But it won't do much good to edu-
cate one out o each family" said Ellz-
abeth. They'd come straight back
here when they got through with their
seiiooiin'. and soon fo'git-I mean for
get!-it all. If they make their learn
IN pay 'em anything. they'll have TO
stay where they can use it."
She began to stare absently toward
her well-shod feet
Are you ready to GOf' Dale asked.
Elizabeth Llttieford raised her head
with slight jerk and said rather awk-
wardly:
Has the valley changed much?"
"Not very much" answered Dale.
There's a new log church, where an
did minister named Ashby Cross
breaches the gospel of straight walk
ing and human kindilness every Sun
day. Henderson Goff isn't here any
more. but he sent me his address in
case we wanted to sell the mlne The
Tcrreys have gone back to Jerusalem
'pNr aeu 'i'tt"i htli' anu tiic INNS
are rs quiet as mice, These, | believe.
are all the changes worth mentioning.
Together they set out and walked
without saying much, to the crest of
David Moreiands mountain, and there
they halted. The autumn sun. great
red ball of fire. was just setting beyond
the majestic Big Pine.
Dale pointed to a long, moss-coyered
slab of brown sandstone.
Lets sit down there and rest" lie
suggested. You're tired, Babe,
know. Don't mind my calling you
Babe, do you?"
She looked at him as though she