The Bienville Democrat. [volume] (Arcadia, Bienville Parish, La.) 1912-1980, 1921-10-06

L y
Dale, land I'm very much obliged to {
you. sheriff"
Flowers unlocked the door, and Bill {
Dale walked in. Flowers locked the |
door and went away.
Dale began to inspect his quarters.
TO all appearances, they were at least
clean. There was a narrow bed Gov
cred with a pair of gray blankets, a
stool and soapboX, and nothing more
The light in the corridor behind him
made snaky black lines of bar-shadoWS
on the brick partition walls and the
outer wall of stone. Dale shuddered
in spite of himself. He put up one
hand and turned on a small light,
which dissipated the uncanny sNad'
ows-and showed him a line from
Dante's Inferno" that to him seemed
very miserable; some former occupant
of that cell had written 1t with char
coal on the whitewashed outer wall.
Then Dale sat YEARLY down on the
narrow bed, leaned his head upon his
hands, and began to think.
He had always wanted difficulties
to overcome, barriers to surmount,
work to do, a fight to fight for hlm'
self. In full measure he had found
them every one. He did not doubt his
ability to overcome the difficulties, sur
mount the barriers, do his work we'll
and fight his fight as a good man
: fights, and win--if it were not for the
4 charge of having shot and killed Black
Adam Ball! It seemed to him now
t that that must end all that was worth
Y while for him. For that was more
than difficulty, more than barrier.
e He firmly believed that 1t had been
'. his bullet that had finished the earthly
It existence of the giant hillman. True
;! It had been an accident. But how was
k he to convince a jury that it had beer
ID IN accident? Would the jury take hi
word for it? The jury would not, o
h. course.
e, The mysterious third shot, that hat
4: come from a little distance-but n
It, could not reasonably expect deliver
lie ance from that source. If only he ha
. held down his abomlnable, savage ten
1T per; if only he had
Is Major Bradley interrupted his III
pleasant train of thought.
In mo brooding there, my boy!
a Dale looked up. The old attorne
as neat in appearance as though h
ut had not even seen a saddle that da
ow was standing just outside the hat
We full door Of bars. Beside him stood
W. whiteclad negro boy with big trs
nat of steaming food on one hand and
not Of steaming coffee in the other.
pcy The jailer came and unlocked Il
vly, door; also he very considerate
a brought another stool and fresh wat'
ged The major entered the cell, and t
negro followed.
led, An amused twinkle appeared
to. Dales eyes as Bradley put the tt
pht down on the soapbox. There "
,ain enough for five threshing-machi
am. hands! The black boy was sent to
front door to wait.
II thought you'd be as hungry.
| am, and I'm as hungry as poor
By Heck ever was!" laughed
major, as he sat down and began
7een nour the coffee. "Riding always mi
NUS me as hungry as bear In April. III
o'a- right into it, Dale. There's noth
RI 2" like a good steak, for any meal W
lses' fellow is half starved; Ell, ID
reeh TRY that one, won't you? told Mass
rees' gale I'd cause his beheadment If tt
[riet' steaks weren't perfect. Massengale''
lney added, "runs the hotel here the
'aler reka Funeral Parlors and the !
hlsh Price Clothing Emporium"
ID 81 wonder" smiled Bill Dale, W
he does with his spare time"
.''ao Bradley laughed, his eyes twink
, ,toa merrily. Dale found that he too
. .' .ha hungry, now that savory odors
I'D invaded his nostrils. A minute Il
ANU and he had pronounced his steak
70 of. ciOus.
:. s, -, "Massengale shall not surfer
headment," said the major; ant
,oeo,o began to carve his own steak.
'e.0.s 10 Il was an excellent meal the
III. -. -, surroundings notwithstanding. '
oo''" II was over, the negro boy came
- took away the dishes, and rec
. uo,n with a gladstone grin the two
i''" coins that were given him. Then
,,,,, ley produced a handful OF cigars
.e a. two of them were promptly light
.. nn' "Now, SIR said the old 'awyf
( mat. lee' inv ' LIS ordors 70 carr
or'hs work right along as though nc
;, had happened, didn't you! AM
~. sheriff is to go back the day all
square 'no,'o" y. throo rorrevs TO see
wh'e. he can find out concerning the
81 ah. hitting Of the two buildings an
''a' trestle-today was not a good II
a aea.s make the arrests. Am | correc
ue".n Correct" nodded Dale.
new " Bradley regarded his cigar IN
fully.
SNOW" he said in low toni
y ,sd denly lifting his gaze TO tne
allu ,eu foce. tell me about the thin'
o'. n.%". brought you here. Don't omit e'
= :. o o., slightest detail. Nobody can o'
u y. . .''era YOU If you will hold your voice
- " ".,,l These walls are very thick "
T. ~. '' a. Well. you may Begin
, az .ba In carefully guarded tones
ooc, If Dale gave a Straightforward
ror Tho Of the whole unfortunate ecc'