The Chesterfield advertiser. [volume] (Chesterfield C.H., S.C.) 1884-1978, 1921-08-11
him, SO also was this; entirely new to

him, so also was this entirely new to
him. - - q 4
Flowers took n ring OF heavy KEYS,
from the hand of the jailer, and led
I the way dowH n whitewashed corridor.
II was nor yet bedtime, and the other
prisoners We're still up: some Of them
were reading newspapers. others were
trying to, mend their clothing, still
others were doing nothing. A few of
them called out boldly and bade the
new. prisoner welcoine-and each of
these received a gruff order from the
sherif TO keep quiet. Dale paid no at
tention whatever to bis would-be
tormentors. s-.-
At an iron door at the end Of the
corridor. the officer halted and faced
about. e '.
"If there could be such a thing as
comfortable cell here" he said in
low and kindly tones, "it's this one."
He went on earnestly: snow want
you to believe me when I tell you that
1t Is with real regret that. I put you
behind door OF ifon.' But IL didn't
do 1t. somebody else would do It: and
It's possible that can be little more
decent about It sthan another officer
would be-" ;:
Il realize all that, y'know," replied
Dale, land I'm very much Obliged to
you, sheriff."
Flowers unlocked the door, and Bill
Dale walked in. Flowers locked tho
door and went away.
Dale began to inspect his quarters.
To all appearances, they were at least
clean. There was q narrow bed COW
cred with a pair Of gray blankets, a
stool and soapbot,' and nothing moro.
The light In the corridor behind him
maoe snaky black hines Of bar-shadows
on the brick partition walls and the
outer wall Of stone. Dale shuddered
In spite OF himself. He put up one
hand and turned; on a small light.
which dissipated the uncanny shad-
ows-and showed him line from
Dante's Inferno" that to him seemed
very miserable; sorne' former occupant
of that cell had written 1t with char
coal on the whitewHshed outer wall.
Then Dale sat wearfly down on the
narrow bed. leaned his head upon his
hands. and began toathink.
He had always wanted difficulties
to overcome, barrierssto surmount a
work to do, fight to fight for him.
self. In full measures he had found
them every on He did not doubt his
ability to overcome the difficulties. sur
mount the barriers, 90 his work we'll
and fight his fight is good man
fights, and win If It were not for the
charge Of having shotan killed Black
Adam Bail! 1t scented to him now
hatthat must end all that was worth
while for him. For; that was more
than a difficulty, more than a barrier.
He firn y believed that It had been
his bulle' that had finished the earthly
existence Of the giant 'hIllman. True,
1t had been an accident But now was
ne to. convince jury fh,it It mad been
I'm accident2 Would the jury take his
word for it3 The jury would not, of
course. -
The mysterious third shot, that had
come from q little distance-but he
could not reasonably expect deliver
ance from that source. II only he had
held down his abomInable, savage tenn
per; If only he had
Major Bradley interrupted his un-
pleasant train of thought.
mo 6roodlng there. my boyi"
Dale looked up. The old attorney,
as neat In appearance as though he
had not even seen a saddle that day.
was standing just outside the hate
ful door OF bars. Beside him stood a
whiteciad negro boy with big tray
OF steaming food on one hand and a
pot OF steamlng coffee in the other.
The jailer came and unlocked the
door; also he very considerably
brought another stool and fresh water.
The major entered the cell, and the
negro followed.