The Glenwood post., 1921-09-24


and tobacker's allus a consolation"
The sounds Of the shooting had car.
ried far. and 1t wasn't long until the
scene Of the tragedy was crowded with
Balls and Torreys, Littlefords and
Morelands. Major Bradley and Hayes,
too, we're there. Every man Of them
was armed; very little thing might
easily turn the place into shambles
The major saw this. and he was
afraid. He drew the leaders Of the
Morelands and the Littlefords aside,
and finally prevailed upon them to do
their utmost toward keeping peace un-
til the coming Of the sheriff.
At first John Moreland and Ben Lit
tleford were for taking Bill Dale from
the Balls and Torreys who guarded
him, If they had to depopulate the
whole Ball settlement, Jerusalem Cove
and Hatton's He'll to accomplish It'll
Happily. the majors counsel prevailed.
Sheriff Tom Flowers was tall and
1.-THE, smooth-faced man. He arrived
with Luke Moreland at noon, after
hours of hard riding. He saw the high
tension. and Immediately steeled him
self to handle the situation. After
riding straight to the center Nof the
gathering and there haIting his horse,
he said evenly:
"In order that | may know who to
arrest. | must know something of the
circumstances. Only one man must
speak at time. No playing bad with
me; and remember that, gentlemen.
I'll certainly drop the fellow who
starts playing hoss with me, II it's the
last move l make on earth. Now some
body gently use his powers Of speech"
Major Bradley, more sOldierlike than
ever. went forward. "As the attorney
of Mr.. Dale, who stands accused Of
killing Adam. Ball." he said to the Of
ficer, II beg leave to state that my
client will do no talking at present"
Dale understood, and he did not
open his mouth.
But old Ball had something to say,
and he proceeded to say IT.:
He killed my son, ADAM" pointing
to Dale, "in cold blood. Me and about
dozen O. my kin was on our way
over Long ridge to look at bee tree,
when we heered three pistol shots. We
was right up thar" pointing to the
northwsrd. land we come a-runnin'
over here to see, by comics. what was
the matter. Well, by gonnies, we found
Bill Dale thar down on his knees
aside o my son, Adam, who was as
dead as HI or deader; and Bill Dale
was a-sobbin' and a-sobbin' about 1t.
And ef he never killed my son Adam,
what was he a-sobbin' and a-sobbin'
about, l az you that7 And my son
ADAM he had rifle, by comics. but
he never shot none at all. He was
with us up to few minutes before, and
ne hadn't shot none all mornin'.
Shurift Flowers, wisht ye'd gi' me a
good, big chaw o. tobacker, by gon-
MES, cause my son Adam his death
/ has made me feel bad"
Major Bradley stopped caressing his
well-kept gray imperial, walked over to
the dead mans rifle, picked 1t up and
put its muzzle to his nose. He scented
fresh pOwder-smoke. Then he faced
old Ball with II strange. hard glitter
in his blue eyes.
You are a liar, SIR" he said with a
peculiar politeness.
stir ran quickly over the Balls
and Torreys, Sheriff Flowers called
out:
"Quiet, there |" and there was quiet
He continued: where is Mr.. Dale's
revolver?'
The Balls had 1t. They produced it.
II had three empty chambers when
It should have had but one!
Pass 1t to me butt FIRST" ordered
the laws representative. He knew
that many a man had been shot while
taking revolver barrel first. and he
was taking no chances.
Old Bail obediently turned the weap-
on around.
"Say, sheriff." he chittered, have
ye plumb fogOt about me AKIN ye TO
a chaw o. store bought7 BY comics,
Adams death"
Flowers turned 10 Dale.
IL have heard through Luke More
land" he said with more or less Of
feeling In his voice. "a good many
things in your favor. l want you to
know that I'm sorry to have to take
you and place you in the Gainesville
jail To show you that I mean 1t, I'll
spare you the irons and allow yeu to
ride your own horse along beside me.
as though you were not under arrest
at ALL
Dale had by this time worn the keen
edge from his grief by means Of his
great will power. He bowed slightly
TO tnc orncer ana replied with gr ave
courtesy:
Relieve me. sir" with the very
faintest trace Of smile. II am very
much obliged to you
Luke Moreland. led up the sleek
young bay that BIZ Dale had named
Fox, and Dale swung himself easily
into the saddle. He faced the sheriff.