Polk County news. [volume] (Benton, Tenn.) 191?-1983, 1921-09-15

He WeEt on earnestly NOW l want
Won 10 believe me when tell you that
b. Is with real regret that / put you
ibehind a door Of iron. But If l didn't
do Il, somebody else would do a.; 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, 'and 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 narrow bed COW
cred with a pair of gray blankets, a
stool and a sOapbox. and nothing more
The light in the corridor behind him
made snaky black lines CT bar-shadows
on the brick partition walls and the
outer wall of stone. Dale shuudered
in spite OF himself. He put up one
hand and turned on SMALL light,
which dissipated the uncanny skad-
Ows-and showed him a lire rom
Dante's Inferno" that TO him seemed
very miserable; some former occupant
of that cell had written it with char
coal on the whtewaShed 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
10 overcome, barriers to surmount
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
and fight his fight as good man
fights, and win-if it were not for the
Adam Ball 1t seemed to him now
that that must end ell that was worth
while for him. For that was more
than a difficulty, more than barrier.
He firmly believed that 1t had been
his bullet that had finished the earthly
existence of the giant hillman. True,
it had been an accident. But how was
he to convince a jury that it had been
an accident? Would the jury take his
word for it? The jury would not, OF
course.
The mysterious third shot, that had
come from a little distance--but he
could not reasonably expect deliver
ance from that source. If only he had
held down his abominable, savage tenn
per; if only he had
Major Bradley interrupted his I'M
pleasant train of thought.
mo brooding there, my boyP
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
whitehead negro boy with a big tray
of steamlng food on one hand and u
pot of steaming coffee in the other. :.
The jailer 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 was
enough for five Neutrality-suspicious.
hands, The black boy was sent to the
front door to wait.
Il thought you'd be as hungry as
| am, and I'm as hungry as poor old
BY Heck ever WASH laughed the
major, as he sat down and began to
pour the coffee. Riding always made
me as hungry as bear in April. Light
right into it, Dale. There's nothing
like a good steak, for any meal, when
q fellow is half starved; eh, Dale?
Try that one, won't you? | told Massen-
gale I'd cause his beheadment If these
steaks weren't perfect Massengale," he
added runs the hotel here, the Eu-
reka Funeral Parlors, and the One
Price Clothing Emporium"
81 wonder" smiled Bill Dale. ''what
he does with his spare timer
Bradley laughed, his eyes twinkling
merrly. Dale found that he too was
hungry, now that savory odors had
invaded his nostris. A minute later,
and he had pronounced his steak deli
cious.
"Massengale shall not suffer be-
headment," said the major; and he
began to carve his own steak.
1t was an excellent meal, the grim
surroundings Notwithstanding. When
1t was over, the negro boy came and
took away the dishes, and, received
with a gladstone grin the two silver
coins that were given him. Then Brad
ley produced handful Of cigars, and