Licking Valley courier., 1921-10-06
THE CLAN CALL.
CONTINUED from page two.)

you. Ball was noted. understand, as
an unfair and tricky fighter. He might
have been trying to trick you when
he rose and fell grOaning. Perhaps he
meant to draw you into the open, that
he might. have clean shot at you.
Eh2"
Dale shook his head goomily.
"Hardly plausible, major. In that
event there was nothing against the
man whose bullet finished Ball. be-
cause he did 1t to save me; and he
would have owned to II and prevented
my arrest. A man who liked me well
enough to kill Ball to save my life
would like me well enough to confess
and save me from suffering for it.
am sure of that, major"
"Ah, my boy" smiled the older of
the two, "you don't yet know the noun
tain heart. Jail is terrible thing to
the liberty-loving m0untaineer. But
love of you, and love Of falr-dealing
will soon overcome the fear of Jail,
and you will be freed-if what
strongly suspect proves to be well
founded. I'll leave you now, Dale. I'll
see you In the morning, sir, Good
night |"
When his optimistic attorney had
gone, Dale glanced once more at the
to him miserable line from Dante's
Inferno" and began to remove his
outer clothing preparatory to going to
bed. He did not feel anything like so
confident concerning the outcome Of
his trial as Major Bradley evidently
felt. Then he became even more
detected. and he told himself that the
major had spoken so reassuringly
merely to help him keep up heart.
The night passed, and another bright
summer day dawnel, and In the Car
tersvllle jail there was one prisoner
who had not slept at all. Each Of
those long and heavy black hours had
been an age to this prisoner to whom
| jail WdS 81 new
At noon a furious wlndstorm. ac-
companed by much vivid lightning
and binding rain, sprang out of the
west and began to sweep the country
side and out of the lowering wet gloom
there came one to deliver Bill Dale
He was mountalneer, young and stal.
wart and strong. and about him there
was much of that certain English fine
ness that was so striking In his father
He entered the low, square building
Of brick and stone and stopped In the
center Of the corridor, where he stood
while water ran from his wet clothing
and gathered IN little pools at his feet
and looked to his right and to his left
Dale saw him, and cried out In sur.
| prise:
"Calebp
Caleb Moreland walked straight, his
head up and his shoulders back, q
splendid picture of virile young man
hood, to the end Of the corridor. He
| EilppCu lNO VI lnC hOOi hulCh Dai o
bars that had long been worn smooth
by other human hands; he pressed his
smoothly shaven, sunburned face
against the iron, and smiled.
"How are We a-feelln' by this time
Billf It's some HI Of a place, ain't
III"
Dale took a step toward him. ''Well
queens boudolr is nicer. What are
you doing here, CaleT
"Pve come to set you free" sale
Caleb Moreland.
Dale stared unbelievingly. "Bu
that is impossible, Gale. How coulC
you set me freer
Call Tom Flowers, and I'll sigh
ye."
Dale called, and the officer came i'm
medlately. Caleb Moreland turnet
from the cell door and faced him.
i've come here to own up to thi
KILN O. Black Adam Ball." began tn
young hillman.
He swallowed, went q trifle pale IN
der his tan, and continued bravely:
"Blll Dale thar, he never done II.
am the one at done II. Bill he shot a
Adam. but he missed-Adam had don
shot at BIZ fust, y'onderstand, Tom
But didn't miss. don't never miss
I'm plumb tombstone shot. The