Licking Valley courier., 1921-09-29

all the LittlefOrds were there, and all
the Morelands, and old Granny Heck,
I the fortune-teller. On every face Babe
saw signs Of SYMPATHY, and sorrow.
Her eyes 1lled. she was 80 glad that
they, too, loved him. It 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
|. and horror are words that mean the
same 70. the mountain dweller.
She went on to tell him good-by.
she knew it would be hard, but she
steeled herself; she would be a Little
ford, and strong. He saw her coming,
and he turned his bay horse and rode
to meet her. She stopped and clasped
her hands, with her arms down full
length, and tried to smile at him.
"You promised me-" he said gently,
.'that you'd 80 back to Patricia and
finish your education."s
II keep my promises" was the quick
reply, "jest like every other Littleford
that ever lived kept their promises. l
would ha' went back this mornin',
eff 1t hadn't ha' been"
And there she broke off abruptly.
After a silent moment, she continued
sadly half tearfully: "And yet and
yet--the's not bit O. use in me
a-goin' back now!"
"Whyr Dale was smiling, and she
was glad to note that he did not ap-
pear to be grieving over his misfor
tune.
"'Cause the amt" simply.
But you'll gor'
"Yss," she said, 'in the mornin' I'll
60"
Re bent toward her and held down
his hand. "Good-by, little girl. 1 hope
it will come out all right, and l be-
lievs 1t will"
| Babe slowly lifted her hand to his.
Her eyes were downcast.
"GOod-by," she told him brokenly.
.And hope 1t will come out all right,
too-God knows I do, Bill Dale"
Thus they parted. Dale rode back
to the sheriff and Major Bradley, and
q minute later the three of them start
ed for the lowland and Cartersville
jail.
When a bend In the dusty ox-wagon
road had hidden them from view,
Elizabeth Littleford turned homeward.
Her mother followed her.
The younger woman dropped to the
stone step at the vine-hung front
porch with the air Of Oh, who is very
tired, plucked a full-blown marigold
and began absently to tear its petals
slowly apart. Mrs. Littleford looked
out across the meadows, sighed.
smoothed back her gray hair with
both hands, and sat down beside her
daughter.
II wouldn't worry about it, Babe,
honey" she finally said. Then she
too plucked marigold and began to
tear its petals slowly apart. EFF he
killed Adam Ball, 1t was to save him
self. He's good man, honey. l think
he's about the best man / ever seed
Babe"
''No, he never killed Adam Ball tC
save hisself even," Babe replied
"He's q fighter, but he amt no killer
Listen, mother, 1t might ha' been this
away:
! "He is ahind Of tree, and Adam II
ahind Of another tree. Adam shoots
at his hat, and he shoots at Adams
hat-which is the reg'lar way Of
two-man fight, as you know. Well
suddenly Adam he jumps up like he''
been shot, and falls a-groanin' ant
a-twistin'. Bill Dale, a-thinkin' he''
/ killed Adam, comes out from ahind O
his tree. Havin' drawed Bill Dale ou
into the open by his trick, Adam git
ready to shoot and kill him. Jest a
Adam Is about to shoot. somebody els
~ shoots and kills Adam and saves Bill
Dale--mebbe the amt time TO- any
thing else. Now don't ye sect An
don't II all sound natchel. motherT
Il reckon It does" granted the oil
woman. "But who was 1t shot Blac
Adamf' ,. ..t |.
Somebody who is q friend o. Bil
Dale's," said Babe. Somebody VIII
: was a.follerin' Bill with the idee {
, pertectln' him ef he needed II. Some
, body who knowed II was dang9'ou
; TO him to go on by hisself in r.