Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1921-10-14

ance from that source. If only he had
held down lis abominable, savage tenn
per; # only he had
Major Bradley interrupted his un-
pleasant train of thought.
mo breeding there. my boy!'
Dale looked up. Tie old attorney,
as Feat I'm appearance as though he
had not even seen saddle this: day,
was stauding just outside the hate
full ,lDor Of bars. Beside him stood
wh:ie clad rcgrO boy with a dig tray
Of stear1lhg food on one hand aEd a
pot Of steaming coffee In the other.
The taller came and unlocked the
door, also he very considerably
brought smother stool and fresh water
The mar entered the cell. and The
negro followed.
An amGsed twinkle appeared In
Daics eyes as Bradley put the tray
down on the sOapbox. There was
enoug;: for five threshing ma chine
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 was!' 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
fellow is half starved; eh, Dale?
Try that one, won't you? told Massen-
gale Ia 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"
II wonder" smiled Bill Dale, what
he does with his spare time?"
Bradley laughed, his eyes twinkling
merrily. Dale found that he too was
hungry, now that savOry Odors had
invaded his ncstrils. 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 a handful of cigars, and
two of them were promptly lighted.
Now, SIR" said the old lawyer, 81
feel like talking. Let's see, you gave
your man Hayes orders to carry the
work right along as though nothing
had happened, didn't you? And the
sheriff Is to go back the day after to-
morrow to arrest two or three Balls
and two or three Torreys, to see what
he can find out concerning the dyna-
hitting of the two buildings and the
trestle-today was not good time to
make the arrests. Am l correct?"
Correct" nodded Dale.
Bradley regarded his cigar thought
fully.
Now" he said In a low tone, sud
denly lifting his gaze to the others
brought you here. Don't omit even the
slightest detail. Nobody can overhear
you If you will hold ycur voice down.
These walls are very thick, you see.
Well you may begin"
In carefully guarded tones, Bill
Dale gave a straightforward account
of the whole unfortunate occurrence.
The major listened intently to every
word Of it, so intently that he allowed
his cigar to 60 out. Often he stopped
his client and asked him to repeat GER
tain portions of the story In order
that he might be doubly sure of
point.
AS Major Bradley rose to ask the
Jailer to come and let him out, Dale
muttered dOWnheartedly:
Tell me, major: what do you think
of my case? 1t looks rather bad,
doesn't it,"
Not bad enough to warrant your
feeling blue over it, my boy!" said
Bradley, showing his polished white
teeth in smile that was meant to be
iSuSSul inS. Il tAluh we III SSL you out
of 1t. Anyway, don't worry about it
Worry will kill cat, they say! You
didn't kill Adam Ball. John Moreland
had taught you how to shoot pretty
well; and if you took even half as
careful an aim as you think you did,
you couldn't have missed Balls hat by
SO much.
Il have an idea, Dale" he resumed,
that If we knew who fred that third
shot we'd know who did for Ball. 1t
might have been done In order to save
you. Ball was noted, I understand, as
an unfair and tricky fighter. He might
have been trying to trick you when
he rose and fell groaning. Perhaps he
meant to draw you into the open, that
he might have a clean shot at you.
CHI"
Dale shook his head goomily.
Hardly plausible, major. In that
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