The Ordway new era., 1921-11-18


pie and the Morelands and of how she
had hated the bloodshed. She told or
the coming of Major Bradley, OF her
burning thirst for education, of the old
trainman who had thrown her news
paper each day, and of the coming OF
Bill Dale.
II was lonesome" she continued,
"and nobody ever seemed to under
stand how | felt. That is, until BIZ
Dale came. After met him. couldn't
see anything but him; he seemed to me
like Somethin' I'd had and lost. :"
Then" said Mrs. Dale, 'why did
YOU refuse to marry"
"Wait-yOu don't know il ALL" Eliz-
abcth interrupted her. There was the
KILN o that heather, Adam Ball. |
went to tend the trial because knew
| could clear your son If Major Brad
ley couldn't. You see, Mrs. Dale.
happened to know who did kill Adam
Ball, and | meant to tell il 1t was nee
essary.
"On the mornin' of the KILN Bin
had started up the river by himself. II
was dangerous for him to 90 of like
that. on account o them Balls and Tor
reys. Back In the Big Pine country
there is tall, thin man named Sam
Heck. He's a big eater, an awful liar,
and a worshiper Of Bill Dale. Sam
heard my father say it was dangerous,
and lie whispered: I'll jest sneak
through the laurels and Gyard BIZ
from ahnd him heard him say 1t,
Mrs. Dale.
80 he went sneakin' along the foot
o the north end o. David Moreland's
mountain. with his rifle in his hand, to
guard your son. Bill didn't know lie
was bein' followed, because Heck is as
crafty as a cat. | got nervous about
Bill, so l went into the laurcls and fol-
lowed Sam Heck. When overlook
him, he was standin' behind u clump
o. sheep laurel and lookIn' toward the
river.
II whispered. where's BillT'
He said, BE still, Babel And then
lie thumbed his rifles hammer back
without sound.
81 looked toward the river and saw
Bill Dale a-walkin' up the nearest
bank, and l saw Black Adam slip be-
hind tree not far away. Eli saw
Adam, and he slipped behind a tree,
too. Adam shot at Bills hat and
teased Bill. Bill shot Mt AJam's hat
and then Adam Ball jumped up groan-
in like he was done for, and fell all a
twistin', to the ground. But he wasn't
hit. He put his gun out by the tree to
! kill Bill MS soon as he showed himself.
1t was one o his old tricks"
Elizabeth Littleford raised her head
| slowly and went on in a voice that was
much shaken:
| Il had always talked against KILN.
and yet l stood there and begged Sam
| Heck to finish him. The rest happened
| in no time. Ball was already a-lookin'
along his sights. Bill Dale was nearly
out in the open. L" she faltered, and
| then came rush of words: ~ wouldn't
marry him without tellin' him, because
it wouldn't be fair to him; and If !
told him, he-he wouldn't have me.
| The woman he marries mustn't be a
q s-savage."
| She stopped and stared at Mrs Dale
| almost detiantly. Her head was high
and her hands We're clasped in her Ian
so hard that they trembled.
II think you have made mountain
out of n molehill, my dear" the older
woman said gently. What YOU did
was right, not wrong; any good woman
would have done just what you did
Elizabeth, I am sure"
Elizabeth Littleford faced Mrs John
X. Dale squarely. There was strange
glow In her eyes.
"But haven't told you everything
she murmured-"I took Sam Heck's
rifle from him, and killed Adam Ball
myself"
(To BE coNTINUED)