Mrs. Grundy. (Tracy City, Tenn.) 1903-1930, 1921-10-06

| Snlper, by Heck. Hanged eff Gale
Moreland didn't might nigh It beat
him to death, Bill"
Many men crowded to the bedside
and smiled at him, and he smiled back
at them. Soon he asked:
did you capture the outfit?"
Every burned one of 'em, /" answered
John Moreland., They're all shet IN
/ tight In the downstairs O. the Office
buildin', onder gyard. The amt but
one of 'em plumb teetotally dead, TO-
Ia wonder; but the's whole passed. of
'em hurt. I've done sent Luke to town
on hossback. after doctor To- you
and Saul and Little Tom; and he can
tend to them crippled Balls, too, |
reckon, eff you think it's best. What're
| we a-goin'to do with them fellers, Bill?'
"We're going to take them to the
Gainesville jail" Dale answered
promptly.
Il had a different plan an that
planned out, JOHN said BY Heck,
winking at Ben Littleford. II had 1t
planned out to hang 'em all on big
green hemlock as Christmas tree TO-
Bill Some devilish rough Christmas
eve ye're a-havin', Bill, old boy, amt
itT
Rather smiled Dale. He closed
his eyes. His head ached, and he was
somehow very tired.
| Within the hour he went to sleep,
and when he awoke it was daylight on
Christmas morning. Ben Littleford,
half dressed, was stirring the Goals
to life in the wide-mouthed stone fire.
place. Dale felt better than he had
expected to feel; he greeted Little
ford with the compliments Of the sea-
son, arose and dressed himself.
Littleford had just gone with a
handful of kindling wood toward
the kitchen, when there was low,
light tapping at the outside door Of
Bill Dale's room. Dale arose from
his sheepskin-lined rocker before the
CHEEKY log fire, went to the door and
4 opened 1t. Before him stood slim,
barefoot boy in the poorest Of rags
in the pitifully slender arms there was
something wrapped rather loosely in
crumpled brown paper. Dale did not
remember having seen the lad before,
but he knew II was no Littleford.
Come in, son." he invited cordial-
ly-"c come In and warm yourself. My
goodness alive, it's too cold to 60
barefooted like that! Haven't you any
shoes, SOM"
"Shoes9" muttered the boy, queerly.
"Shoes?n
He was shivering from the cold. His
thin face looked pinched and blue, his
eyes big and hollow. Dale stopped,
picked him up bodily, carried him to
the old rocker he had just vacated,
and put him into 1t with hands as gem
tie as any woman's.
Ill" began ehe boy. Stafing
hard what"
Nov stick your feet out and warm
them, son--that's IT," and Dale chafed
the poor little, dirty. half-frozen feet
and legs.
son." he went on after moment,
his heart throbbing out Of sheer pity,
you go to the commissary clerk and
tell him to dress you up like the
crown prince of England, If he's got
it. and charge the same to the account
of Bill Dale. 1t will be my Christmas
gift to you, little boy. What's. your
nameT'
The lad turned his surprised black
eyes upon the face of the big and sun
Drowned man.
"Are you Bill Dale?"
"Yes."
. That which the boy said next strr,'-
the big and sunbrowned man with all
the force of bullet.
$50 you're Bill Dale. Well, D. my
soul /"
"Don't, buddy, don't"
The boy went on: MY name, it's
J Henery. / come here with a Christ.
mas gif' TO- you" He pointed dirty
forefnger toward the bundle In his
lap. "But you amt a-goin' to git II
!, now"
"Why?" Dale asked smilingIy.
"Why! Shoes ATS why. HILL
did ever have any shoes afore? Bare
footed as a rabbit. That's me. Bare
footed as a d--n' rabbit"
"Son," protested Bill Dale, "you'rf
entirely too small to swear. Yor
mustn't do 1t, y'know."
eyes," quickly, I'm small. I'm small
to my age. I'm done twelve year old
I've been measured To- the go-backs.
Measured for the go-backs.
laughed Dale, whats thatY'
81 why" soberly, when We grow lit
Ter std O. bigger, we've got the 20
backs. Nav, she measured me will
} yarn string out o. stocking which