Licking Valley courier., 1921-10-06

behind door of iron. But If | didn't
do 1t, somebody else would do II; and
it's possible that can be little more
decent about 1t than another officer
would be"
II 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 the
door and went away.
Dale began to inspect his quarters.
To all appearances, they were at least
clean. There was a narrow bed COW
cred with a pair of gray blankets,
stool and soapbox, and nothing more.
The light In the corridor behind him
made snaky black lines 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 small light,
which dlssipated the uncanny shad-
Ows-and showed him line from
Dante's "Inferno" that to him seemed
very miserable; some former occupant
Of that cell had written 1t with char
coal on the whitewashed outer wall.
Then Dale sat YEARLY down on the
narrow bed, leaned his head upon his
hands, and began to think.
He had always wanted difficulties
to overcome, barriers to surmount, a
work to do. fight to fight for him
self. In full measure he had found
them every one. He did not doubt his
ability to overcome the difficulties, sur
mount The barriers, do his work well
ands fight his fight as good man
fights, and win-if II were not for the
charge Of having shot and killed Black
Adam Ball II seemed to him now
that that must end all that was worth
while for him. For that was more
than difficulty, more than barrier.
He firmly believed that II had been
his bullet that had finished the earthly
existence Of the giant hillman. True
II had been an accident. But how was
he to convince jury that It had been
an accident? Would the jury take his
word for itf The jury would not, Of
course.
The mysterious third shot, that had
come from little distance-bul he
could not reasonably expect deliver
ance from that source. If only he had
held down his abOmlnable, savage tenn
per; If only he had
Major Bradley interrupted his un-
pleasant train of thought.
mo brooding there, my bOyl"
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
full door Of bars. Beside him stood a
whiteclad negro boy with big tray
of steaming food on one hand and a
pot of steamlng coffee In the other.
The jaier came and unlocked the
door; also he very considerably
brought another stool and fresh water
The major entered the cell, and the
negro followed.
An amused twinkle appeared In
Dale's eyes as Bradley put the tray
down on the soapbox. There wa.
enough for five threshlng. machin,
hands The black boy was sent to tn,
front door to wait.
~ thought you'd be as hungry a
l am, and I'm as hungry as poor oil,
. BY Heck ever wasl" laughed tn
major, as he sat down and began +
pour the coffee. "Rlding always mad
me as hungry as bear In April. Llgh
right into 1t, Dale. There's nothin
like a good steak, for any meal. whel
! fellow is half starved; eh, Dale
Try that one, won't you? told Massen
gale I'd cause his beheadment II thes
. steaks weren't perfect. Massengale." h
. added, runs the hotel here, the Eu
, reka Funeral Parl0rs, and the One
, Price Clothing Emporium"
=. 81 wonder" smiled BIZ Dale, "wha
he does with his spare timer
Bradley laughed, his eyes twinklln
merrily. Dale found that he too wa
hungry, now that savory odors ha
Invaded his nostrils. A minute late
n and he had pronounced his steak del
ciOus.
/ "Massengale shall not suffer b,
!, headment," said the major; and B
, began to carve his own steak.
n II WIS an excellent meal, the gril
! surroundings Notwithstanding. Whe
! 1t was over, the negro boy came oil
y took away the dishes, and receive
r. with a gladstone grin the two sllv,
h coins that were given him. Then Bra
a ley produced q handful OF cigars, ar
two Of them were promptly lighted.
~ "Now, sir" said the old lawyer,
Ia feel like talking. Let's see, you ga
a your man Hayes orders to carry h
"a work right along as though nothlI
"A had happened, didn't your And u
=, sheriff is to go back the day after I
3. morrow to arrest two or three Bal
n and two or three Torreys, to see VIII
he can find out concerning the dyn
.o hitting Of the two buildings and d
40 trestle-today was not n good time
N make the arrests. Am correctT
Correct" nodded Dale.
Bradley regarded his cigar though
in fully.
"Now," he said In a low tone, su
,u denly lifting his gaze to the othe
nj face, tell me about the thing tn
% brought you here. Don't omit even t
~ slightest detail. Nobody can overhe
\, you II you will hold your voice dow
These walls are very thick, you s.
ad Well, you may begin"
a In carefully guarded tones, +
pa Dale gave ghtforwurd accor
oh of the whole unfortunate occurren
nd The major listened lntently to eve
u word Of II, so intently TIM, he all0w