Polk County news. [volume] (Benton, Tenn.) 191?-1983, 1921-10-20

MOreland didn't might nlgh peat
him 10 DEATH Billr
Many men crowded to the bedside
and smiled at him, and he smiled back
nj them. Soon he asked:
"DId you capture the OUTFIT"
every burned one Of EN-" answered
John Moreland. They're all shet up
; tight I'm the downstairs o. the Office
bulldin', onder gyard. The aln't but
one of 'em plumb teetotally dead. TO
wonder; but the's whole passed. OF
EN- hurt. I've done sent Luke to town
ron hossback, after q doctor TO you
and Saul and Little Tom; and be can
tend to them crippled Balls, too, |
reckon, eff you think It's best. What're
we a-goin' to do with them fellers, BillT'
Were going to take them to the
Gainesville JAIL" Dale answered
promptly.
81 had a different plan an that
planned out, John" said BY Heck,
winking at Ben Littleford. Il had 1t
planned out to hang 'em all on big
green hemlock as Christmas tree TO
Bill! Some devilish rough Christmas
eve we're a-havin', Bill, old boy. amt
it,"
Rather, smiled Dale. He closed
his eyes. His head ached, and he was
somehow very tired.
Within the hour he went TO sleep,
and when he awoke It was daylight on
Christmas morning. Ben Littleford,
talf dressed, was stirring the Goals
to life in the wide-mouthed stone fire.
place. Dale felt better than he Fad
expected to feel; he greeted Little
ford with the compliments of the sea-
son. arose and dressed himself.
Littleford had just gone with
handful off kindling wood toward1
the kitchen, when there was a low,
light tapping at the outside door OF
Bill Dale's room. Dale arose from
his sheepskin-lined rocker before the
CHEEKY log fire went to the door ana
opened It. Before him stood slim.
barefoot boy in the poorest OF rags;
In the pitlfuily slender arms there was
something wrapped rather loosely In
crumpled brown paper. Dale did nor
remember having seen the lad before
but he knew IL was no I.ittleford.
"Come in, son." he invited cordial
ly-"come in and warm yourself. MY
goodness alive, it's too cold to go
barefooted like that! Haven't you any
shoes, son?'
"ShoesY" mutterel The boy, queerly.
"ShoeS?"
lie was shivering from the cold. His
thin face looked pinehed and blue, ms
eyes big and hollow. Dale STOPPED.
picked him up bodily, Carried him 70
the Uif rocker ne nad just vacated
and put him into it with hands as gen.
tie as any woman's.
I'LL" began the boy, staring
| hard-"what-"
Snow stick your feet out and warm
them, son-thats it," and Dale chafed
the poor little, dirty, half-frozen feet
and legs.
"Son," he went on after a moment,
his heart thrcbbing out of sheer pity,
lyon go to the commlssary clerk and
tell him to dress you up like the
crown prince of England, If he's got
it. and charge the same to the account
of Bill Dale. 1t will be my Christmas
gift to you, little boy. WHAT'S your
name?"
The lad turned his surprised black
ewes upon the face of the big and sun
Drowned man.
"Are you Bill Dale"
Eyes"
That which the boy said next STIR
the big and sunbrowned man with all
the force of bullet.
$50 you're Bill Dale. Well, D. my
soul!"
Don't, buddy, dont!"
The boy went on: my name, it's
Henery. come here with Christ
mas gif' fo' YOU" He pointed dirty
rorefnger toward the bundle In his
Ian. But you amt a-goin' to git 1t
now"
"Why?" Dale asked smilingly.
",Nhyi Shoes -'at's why. HI,
did ever have any shoes afore? Bare
footed as a rabbit. That's me. Bare
footed as a d-n' rabbitW
"son," protested Bill Dale, you're
entirely too small to swear. You
mustn't do 1t, y'know.'
eyes" quickly. "I'm small. I'm small
m nv age. I'm done twelve year old.
I'VE been measured fo' the go-backs."
.aieasured for the go-bncks."
laughed Dale "what's thatf" :.
.Why," soberly, when We grow lit
Ter 'stid o. bigger. we've got the go
hacks. Nav, she measured me with
q warn string out o. stocking which
had heen wore by woman seven =