The Ordway new era., 1921-10-28

lie nlHnI IuSSti anu
summer day dawned, and in the Car
tersville Jail there was one prisoner
who had not slept at all. Each OF
those long and heavy black hours had
been an age to this prisoner to whom
Jail was so new.
AT noon furious windstorm. ac-
companied by much vivid lightning
and binding rain. sprang out OF the
west and began to sweep the country
side and out of the lowering wet gloom
there came one TO deliver Bill Dale.
He was mountaineer, young and stall
wart and strong. and about him there
was much of that certain English fine
ness that was so striking in his father.
He entered the low, square building
of brick and stone and stopped in the
center of the corridor, where he stood,
while water ran from his wet clothing
and gathered in little pools at his feet,
and looked to his right and TO his left.
Dale saw him. and cried out in sur
prise:
"Calebw
Caleb Moreland walked straight, his
Iltiu anu MS SllVuibtlS bhNN'
splendid picture of virile young man
hood, to the end of the corridor. He
gripped two of the doors hated bars,
bars that had long been worn smooth
by other human hands; he pressed his
smoothly shaven, sunburned face
against the iron, and smiled.
How are ye a-feelln' by this time,
~. 1. g.f V.ltt 4fVNfF
IT."
Dale took a step toward him. We'll,
queens boudoir is nicer. What are
you doing here, Cale?'
I've come to set you free said
Caleb Moreland.
Dale stared unbelievingly. But
that is impossible, Gale. How could
you set me free?"
Call Tom Flowers, and III sight
ye."
Dale called, and the officer came inn
mediately. Caleb Moreland turned
from the cell door and faced him.
I've come here to own up to the
KILN O Black Adam Ball. began the
young hillman.
He swallowed, went trifle pale un-
der his tan, and continued bravely:
''Bill Dale thar, he never done it. I
am the one at done it. Bill lie shot at
Adam, but lie missed-Adam had done
shot at Bill fust, y'onderstaud, Tom.
But l didn't miss. / don't never miss.
I'm plumb tombstone shot They
allus rules me out at any shootin'
match. I'd ha' owned up to 1t yeste-
day, but the thought O. Jail had me
| skeered bad. jest CANT let as good
a man as Bill Dale thar suffer fo' a
thing / done myself. So you let him
out, Tom, and put the right man in
thar"
Flowers had good heart, and this
touched it. But he was not very much
surprised.
Tell us about it, Caleb" he re-
quested.
Caleb looked toward Dale. then he
faced the lord of Cartersville's little
prison again.
well, shuriff, when ! seed Bin Dale
20 Off toward the trustle by hisself
and alone, | knowed right then he was
in danger o bein' laywayed by some
o. them thar lowdown Balls and
Cherokee Torreys. So | decides tc
foller after him and gyard him. with.
out him a-knowin' anything about it
which same i done. When lie met
Adam Ball"
He broke off abruptly.
GO on" urged Flowers.
ranl-nY 7
and his eyes were still twinkIing. 81
reckon l won't do no more talLin' ies
now. Yes, i reckon the proper plac,
TO me to do my big talkin' is in til,
co'tehouse at my trial. Lock me III
will ye Tom?"
"We'! see," said Flowers
Forthwith he dispatched DEBUT,
for Judge Carter and Major Rrad,ey
who hastened to the Jail.
An hour later Caleb Moreland wa
the occupant of the cell at the end n
the whitewashed corridor, and Dal
was mounting his bay horse Fox I,
ride back into the heart of the ever
lasting hills. He arrived two hour
after nightfall. The MoreIands wer
, glad to see him, and the Littleeord
| were glad to see him. There was re
1oicing there in the broad valley tina
, lies between David Morelands NOM
; tain and the Big Pine. Everybody Ina
been expecting him, and many wer
the pairs Of eyes that had been watcl
{ ing for him. He found himself sur
denly wishing, with tightening at hi
, throat, that his father conId kno,
/ how much bigger and how much be-
ter 1t was to be thus esteemed tina
to be wealthy.
Luke took charge OF his tired hors
and led 1t away to the old log bar
| and to some fifteen ears of yello,
corn. Luke's father escorted hi,
proudly, the guest of honor, In to on
l OF Addie MOreland's Incnmna ral.Ia 81.