New Mexico state record., 1921-10-28

death has made me feel sort o bad
and tobacker's allus a consolation"
The sounds of the shooting had car
ried far, and it wasn't long until thu
scene Of the tragedy was crowded will
Balls and Torreys, Littlefords ant
Morelands. Major Bradley and Hayes
too, were there. Every man of then
was armed; a very little thing NIGH
easily turn the place into shambles
The major saw this, and he was
afraid. He drew the leaders of the
Morelands and the Littlefords aside
and finally prevailed upon them to dc
their utmost toward keeping peace un'
I'll the coming of the sheriff.
AT first John MOreland and Ben Lit
tleford were for taking Bill Dale from
the Balls and Torreys who guarded
him, If they had to depopuate the
whole Ball settlement, Jerusalem Cove
and HattOn's He'll to accomplish 1t I!
Happily, the majors counsel prevailed.
Sheriff Tom Flowers was a tall and
1.-THE, smOOth-faced man. He arrived
with Luke Moreland at noon, after
hours OF hard riding. He saw the high
tension, and Immediately steeled him
self to handle the situation. After
riding straight TO the center of the
gathering and there halting his horse
he said evenly:
In order that l may know who TO
arrest, ! must know something of the
circumstances. Only one man must
speak at time. No playing bad with
me; and remember that, gentlemen.
I'll certainly drop the fellow who
starts playing hoss with me. If it's the
last move | make on earth. Now some
body gently use his powers of speech"
Major Bradley, more soldlerlike than
ever, went forward. "As the attorney
of Mr.. Dale, who stands accused of
killing Adam Ball." he said TO the Of
ficer, Il beg leave TO state that my
client will do no talking at present"
Dale understood, and he did not
open his mouth.
But old Ball had something to say,
"lIe killed my son, ADAM" pointing
to Dale, "ln cold blood. Me and about
Il dozen o my kin was ON our way
over Long ridge TO look at bee tree,
when we heered three pistol shots. We
was right up thar" pointing to the
northward, ''and we come a-runnin |
over here to see, by comics, what was |
he matter. Well, by comics, we found |
Blll Dale thar down on his knees |
side o. my son, Adam, who was as
lead as HI or deader; and Bill Dale
Nas a-sobbin' and a-sObbln' about il.
Nnd ef he never killed my son Adam,
what was lie a-sobbln' and a-sobbin'
lbout | ax you that? And my son
Adam, he had rifle, by comics, but
le never shot none at all. He was
With us up TO few minutes before, and
le hadn't shot none all mOrnin'.
ihurln' Flowers, / wlsht yed gl me
.ood, big chaw O. tobacker, by gon-
lies, cause my son Adam his death
has made me feel bad"
Major Bradley stopped caressing his
gray imperial, walked over to
he dead mans rifle, picked It up and
ut its muzzle to his nose. He scented
resh powder-smoke. Then he faced
ID Ball with strange, hard glitter
l his blue eyes. ,
"You are liar. sir" he said with ,
eculiar pollteness. ,
A stir ran quickly over the Balls |
nd Torreys. Sheriff Flowers called |
ut: |
"Qulet, there !" and there was quiet.
e continued: 'Where is Mr.. Dales .
+
The Balls had It,. They produced it.
had three empty chambers when 1
should have had but one. [
Pass II TO me butt frst." ordered v
lc laws representative He knew @