The Bienville Democrat. [volume] (Arcadia, Bienville Parish, La.) 1912-1980, 1921-09-29
CHAPTER x-Continued.

4 little after wOrk-time that day, |
Erin Dale started alone on the way OF
Inc narrow gauge railroad for the sid
Ina He wished to see for himself just
what the damage had been to the
frpstle, and he hoped to meet Golf, or
Ball. or a Torrey, and learn some
ming that would be to his advantage.
Before he had covered two miles, he
had seen two of the enemy skulklng
Through the woods, and he recognized
them for Terreys from Jerusalem
IIfoye and Hattons He'll; he knew 1t
i ii their very swarthy skin, their high
Esheekbones and their coarse black
EAair, the outcroppings of the Cherokee
Indian blood in them. They looked
cunning and wicked. Dale loosened
III Its holster the big revolver that
Major Bradley had persuaded him to
carry for his own protection. john
1loreland had taught him how to use
firearms.
At a point near where the little
stream that flowed past the Halfway
switch emptied into Doe river, where
Dpe river turned almost squarely TO
the left, Dale halted abruptly. He had
teen a man dart behind a scrubby OAK
some thirty yards ahead of him; quite
Naturally, he concluded that the fel-
How meant to waylay him, and he, too,
stepped behind tree, a big hemlock.
A silent minute went by. Then Dale
Eput his hat out on one side of the tree
1nd peeped from the other side; 1t
was an old trick that Grandpap More
land had told him about. A rifle
cracked promptly and sharply, and a
bullethole appeared in the rim OF his
hat!
Following 1t, there came the coarse
bass voice of Black Adam Ball, the
nountaineer Goliath:
You CANT fool me. l jest shot tc
put a hole in yOre new hat and tt
ShOw We at | amt no bad shot. Y0t
saint hit my hat" \
Dale's temper, the temper that hat
always been so hard to keep under
control, rose quickly. He tried to rea
non with himself, and couldn't; nj
passion mastered him. He snatche(
the big revolver from it's holster ant
secked 1t. With as steady a hand a
Ever held a weapon trained, he begal
10 take aim at Balls SLOUGH hat, tn
half Of which was in plain view at on
vide Of the scrubby oak.
I fooled you once, back there Il
the middle of the river" he cried hot
y, "and now I'm going to fool 20
A@inr'
There was in his voice that old, oil
ynmitiye rage. which frightened hin
md puzzled him too, in his better mi
nents.
He let down the bead until 1t wa
rarely visible In the notch, and ease
"a the trigger. The revolver roare
va Spat forth a tiny tongue OF flam
ND little cloud of white smoke. Ba
apfang erect, wheeled, and fell crasl
lhg to the leaves!
Dale dropped his weapon. He wei
u white as death, and his two hant
eiutched uncertainty at his throat. +
*as 4 murderer. No. he wasn't-h
bullet had gone wild; it had strut
6alts head on the other side OF Il
<~V " oSSiltllt. Out INV SVu'N
prove that 1t had been an acclden
would any jury believe him? II VI
AZ from probable.
he stepped from behind the hel
lock and went toward the writhll
sellath, whose legs only were vislb
nsw.
Then a third shot rang out on y
etnlng stiffness. It had been mr.
em q point some little distan
~, and Dale's condition Of mine
Y moment was such that he didl
q note the direction from viii
sound had come, He was unhu
he had not heard the whine Of
~ q o. the pattering Of shot on I
- When he looked about hi
n no one; neither did he see =
II II ~ 49, nh, Yln.h Mnn ~ thAa1l