The Glenwood post., 1921-10-08
CHAPTER XIII
Sentenced to Hang.

Sentenced to Hang
Sheriff Tom Flowers and four able
deputies rode out Of Gainesville very
early on the following morning. They
went to the Big Pine mountain country.
and, by scheme that entailed some
shrewdness on the part Of the chief
officer, arrested two Balls and two
Torreys on suspicion and took them
away without trouble.
The two Balls and the two Torreys
were lodged in the Cartersville jail
and offered their liberty and exonera-
tion from all blame in the dynamidng
affair if they would give the names
of the other guilty parties and appear
against them. The mountaineers de-
clared stoutly that they knew nothing
whatever of the matter, and when
pressure was applied they grew sullen
and refused to talk at ali.
1t was plain to Flowers that they
did know something about 1t, and he
finally ordered that they be kept in. a
cell on a diet of bread and water until
their tongues loosened At which the
Balls and Torrcys swore loudly and
swore that they would rot in Jail
8rst-unless their kinsmen came and
shot up the town and liberated them
by force!
''ro me that Is proof that you four
are guilty" grimly smiled the sheriff.
And if your folks want to try storm
ing the jail. let them. A full COM
pany OF militia can be rushed here
within an hour, at any time, and Well
give your folks all the fun they want"
1t may be recorded that the four
!. billmen never confessed.
.
Bill Dale, closely shadowed by one
lanky Samuel Heck with his inevitable,
ever-ready rife, went among the work
ers with cheer that he did not feel.
For Caleb Moreand was In jail. and
Caleb Moreland was innocent But
there was one sincere delight for
Dale: Hayes was driving the little
railroad ahead with all Ms might and
all the might of his men. Hayes was
In high favor with those under him
they worked even harder when he was
absent than they worked when he was
standing over them.
The days ran IN, and there was no
sign of q hostile demonstration from
the Falls and Torreys. Judging from
appearances, they were wholly salts
fed with Caleb Moreland's being in
Jail
Henderson Con had disappeared.
Dale hoped THAT he WAS rid Of the man
for all time, Bat he wasn't GOff was
not 80 confidear as was Major Bradley
that he could establish his innocence
In the matter &c the dynamiting II the
two buildings and the trestle. He
wished very rBuch to steer clear OF
arrest for reasons Of his own, and he
was bidlng his time In little town
In western North Carolina. When the
dynamiting affair had blown over, he
would go back and try again. perhaps
by an altogether new scheme, to get
himself into possession of the Mere
land coal.
Then there crme to the neighi3Or-
hood man whom no MOreland, and
none Of the Littlefords. had ever set
eyes upon before. He was very un-
couth mountain man, with long black
hair and shaggy beard; his clothing
was sutlandish and ragged. He had
not much to say; there was about
him, somehow, All air Of mystery.
Two days after his arrival, in the
afternoon. the stranger met Dale mid
way between the Hallway switch and
the opening Of the coal vein. and
stopped him with an unpraised hand.
DO you know good coal when ye
see III" he dr1wIed
.Why?' asked Dsie, on his guard.
The stranger locked sharply in all
directions. =. though he wished 10
make sure that no person WIS within
cnrshot Of them. Evidently salts.
fled. he drew fron trousers packet
shining black iump Of coal. which
he held out for Dale's Inspection.
What do ye think o this her~r' he
wanted to know.
Dale took tho lump and examined
1t closely. II was apparently ~ good
rs the Morvland coal, which had sent
| the expert Hayes into raptures. Dale
then locked closely at the stranger
He appeared to be honest: his gaze
was steady, and seemed very limo
cent.
~Where did you get this1" DALI
asked
| The alert eyes narrowed. "Do n
think this here vein you're a-nxin' Il
mloe IL the only ysln In the whole