The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1921-11-25
CHATTER xIx-continued.

- u
big, crooked finger came way from the
hair-fne trigger He had never expect
ed to hear the man whom he knew as
John X. Carlyle shy tiiat which be had
Just said. 1t had never entered bis
mind that John *. Carlyle could be
sorry.
Then the great and bitter desire for
revenge rushed Into his brain again.
and his head went down, and his keen
right eye looked along the sights and
10 the kneeIlng mans breast His trig-
ger finger began slowly 10 crook
Until this Instant Elizabeth Little
ford had been as enc frozen, had been
as figure carved In stone Now she
sprang TO her feet and went between
Moreland and his ancient enemy.
"Put 'at gun down--wait ontel tell
ye, John Moreiand. what I've got to tell
YER she cried tenseiy, lapsing into the
old dialect In her excitement. While
bIoreland stared. she went on:
1T wasn't Newton Wheatley at put
up the money to start yore coal mine
a-goln'; II was this man here And the
Alexander Crayheld Coal corp'ration-
which has been a-payin' you two prices
10, yore coal--that was this man here
Mr. Hayes was his--his ally through II
all. And hes sorry, John Moreand,
this man ls--so sorry that he wants to
die; and CANT We see II, John More
land?'
She caught her breath again and
continued tearfuily: "oh, he don't
desarye to be killed, and Ell he did
you're too good a man 10 kill him.
He's done paid-you don't know, like
do. how he's paid. You mustn't
fo'get that. And you mustn't fo'get
Bill Dale, his son. Put down that gun,
John Morelandi Yore people IL saved,
MS David wanted 'em saved. Now
d.d-dont go and s-s-spoil 1t all, TO-
Gods sakei''
The big mountaineer's eyes were
wide with amazement, for Elizabeth
Lsttleford's every word had borne the
ring Of truth. lie was too dazed to
understand her allusion to Bill Dale
as his old enemy's son. The rifle came
back from across the palings, and its
EAtt3-SilpI butL iOuuu piiCG III liie
snow beside John Moreland's foot.
Slowly John X. Dale arose and
drew close TO him, and then from
John X. Dale's soul came pouring the
pent.up anguish of remorse that had
scared II through the years. The tor
rent Of words flowed on, while the
mountaineer stood rigidly regarding
him with strange light IN his pierre
ing eyes.
II can't ask you to forgive me-"
Dale finished brokenly. Il don't ex-
pect forgiveness; my crime was too
great. But can't you, for the sake Of
the hSy. let me keep on trying to
atone for my sinf''
John Moreland looked long and
searchlngly into the face Of the plead
ing man before him. The bitter
struggle that was going on within him
was mirrored on his rugged coun-
tenance, But gradually the bitterness
faded; his huge frame trembled; he
put a hnnd slowly down on the others
shoulder.
.The boy" he muttered--Bill Dale
is he yore boy7 yore name was Car,
lyle then"
My boy, yes-my boy, Bill Dale
Carlyle Is an old family name NJ,
fatftr was at the head Of big Goa
concern; he sent me down here In
rDgnlto to get a line on the Morelant
vein, Maybe he thought the pric,
would be high II II were known tina
he wanted It; l don't know. I'll can
remember
Ben Littleford's daughter wa
watching closely, hoping against hope
praying to heaven with all her heart
and then she saw John X. Dale pu
his right hand up to John Moreland'
hand, take 1t and press it--and sh
saw John Moreland. his bearde
mouth jerking. give the answerln
squeeze that meant something yer
akin 20 forgiveness
She ran ont at the gate, ran up I
the giant hillman and put her arm
around his neck she drew his grea
brown head down and kissed him o
tie cheek. And John Moreland Ii
his rifle fall unnoticed to the snow
put his arms around her shoulders q
though she were his own daughte
bowed his head and sobbed out
few words she did not understand.
Night had fallen vixen they reache
Ben Littlefsrd's cabin home The 81
was welcomed with much joy; o.
Dale was received with almost affe
tionate cordially. A roaring fire WI
soon going in the bet room. and o
Dale was given the cosiest OF Il
staeepskIn-IIned rockers. Ben Littl
ford, washed scrupulously clean
coal smut, sat near the guest of homo
John Moresand, who was SO though
faI that ~ seemed 70 hear and s