Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1921-09-02
viii We Tom 7"


who fastened to the jail. y
An hour later Caleb Moreland was
the occupant of the cell at the end Of
the whitewashed corridor, and Dale
was mounting his bay horse Fox to
ride back into the heart Of. the ever
lasting hills. He arrived two hours
after nightfall. The Morelands were
glad to see him, and the Littlefords
were glad to see him. There was re
ioicing there In the broad valley tina,
lies between David Morelahd's noun
tain and the Big Pine. Everybody haC
been expecting him, and many wert
the pairs Of eyes that had been watch
ing for him. He found himself sud
denly wishing, with q tightening at hi
throat, that his father could know
how much bigger and how much bet
ter II was to be thus esteemed thar
70 be wealthy.
Luke took charge Of his tired horse
and led It away to the old log barr
and to some fifteen ears Of yellow
corn. Luke's father escorted hin
proudly, the guest Of honor, in to one
of Adde Moreland's Incompatible old
fashioned suppers, which was non'
the worse for being late. Severa
Llttlefords sat at the long, home
made table.
John Moreland turned up the ligh'
little, and cracked a worn but time
ly Joke; then he looked toward one
Of tn, men whom he had foughl
throughout many years, and mutteret
lotto his thick brown beard:
saul, friend, will ye do rs the IA
vor O akin the blessln', ef ye pieaseF
"Shore, John, O course"
Saul LlttlefOrd, the very ill,terate,
laced his big fingers together across
his plate, bent his head, and told the
good Almighty that they were all
very much obliged to Him for the fine
supper they had before them, for Ad-
die Moreland who Had cooked it, for
peace, and for Bill Dale. -.
It was almost midnight when the
visitors left. They had been sitting
outside, on the honeysuckle-scented
front porch and in the cabin yard At
last Bill Dale and John Moreland
were left together on the porch.
There's a thing that has puzzled
me since the moment l got here this
evening"" said Dale. "Why Is 1t that
nobody seems to be grieving over
Caleb's being in jail?"
The big hIllman's answer came al
most sharply: mo Moreland ever
grieved over a sacrifyce, Bill"
Dale sat up straight. "a sacrifice
What do you mean|
This time the big hillman's answer
came slowly. ~ mean at Gale he's
a-takin' all O. the load off o yore
shoulders at he can. Gale he's a-takin
yore place in jail ontel the trial comes
off, whichIl be at the October term
O. cote. He trusts you to come back
and set him free on the day o the
trial. o. course you'll do 1t; we hain't
never doubted that TO one little MIN
ute, Bill. But it wasn't oil done 10
yore sake. You're the hope o the
Morelands, and you can do a heap
more here an Caleb can
He leaned toward Bill Dale and
went on in a confidential tones
"And | can tell ye this here. e1
you're found guilty o KILN Adam
Ball. and sentenced fo' even one year
the Morelands and the Littlefords Is
a-goin' to take We from the oIicers and
turn ye loose with good, long starr
on the law"
"Wouldn't that be rather"
Dale broke off because he had seer
the tan figure Of a man appear In thu
open gateway. 1t was BY Heck, ant
he spoke.
"Hello, John Moreland"
Hello yeself!" growled Moreland
who was not at all pleased at the In
terruptiOn.
Heck advanced, carrying his rifle
bv its muzzle. He halted with one
foot on the stone step.
i've got news TO ye, Bill" he SAID
recognizing Dale even in the dark
ness. "Ive been a-eavesdrappin' VI
at old Balls house, and l had to choke
about ten dawgs to do it. Bill. oi'
boy, them Balls has done swore D!
everything on earth and In HeaVel
and in Torment at they'll Kill you e
the law don't. Igod, ye'd better water
out, Bill"
John NIorelan1 1855 from his chair.
Much obleeged to ye, BY. And good
night to We. Les 20 into the house
Bin. ! didn't think them ID pole
cats had that much narre-and dVn
hardly believe it yit. 1t might ha' beer
white Ticker a-talkin. Their kind o
white Ticker amt hawneSt, like B.
Heck's Is. though his'n IS bad enough
Their klndll make man reSlrrec
his dead incmieS out o. the graveyard
and shoot 'em up all over again.
aln't a-goin' to do great deal o harm
Bill, ef We don't light no lamp whel
We go to bed. a man CANT never tel
lest what's a-goin' to happen"
"And the Ball-Torrey outfit Dali
began, when the Moreland chief cut in