The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1921-12-23

I mas glf 10 you. lie pvinIeo IA dirty
forefinger toward the bundle In his
lap. but you amt a-goin' to git II
now"
why" Dale asked smilingly.
why Shoes ATS why. HI,
did / ever have any shoes afore2 Bare
footed as a rabbit. That's me. Bare
footed as a d-n' rabbit"
"Son," protested Bill Dale, you're
entirely too small to swear. You
mustn't do 1t, y'know."
"Yes," quickly, "Tm small. I'm small
to my age. I'm done twelve year old.
I've been measured TO the ~go-backs."
Measured for the g~o-backs,"
laughed Dale, whats that7"
why" soberly, when We grow lit
Ter std O. bigger. we've got the go
backs. Nav, she measured me with
a yarn string out o. a stocking which
had been wore by a woman seventy
seven-year old, and ZEN she wrapped
the yarn string around the door-hinge.
I'll gin to grow higher, or die, one or
t'other, afore the string wears out on
the hinge. Bound to-"
Again Dale laughed. Mountain SUI
perstitions always amused him. Ben
Littleford came into the room, and
Dale arose and faced him.
"Do you know this boy, BenT
ITS Lyss Balls boy" answered
Littleford, puckerlng his brows.
"What's he a-doin' here?"
"He brought a Christmas present
for me-" said Dale, but he has de-
cided that I shan't have It."
"The only Christmas present you
could git from a Ball would be a bull
let" frowned Ben Littleford.
He stepped to the rocker and took
the bundle from the boys lap; he
took away the crumpled brown pa
per-and there In mis- hands was a
loaded and cooked revolveri
"By George" exclaimed Bill Dale.
"What'd I tell YEP smiled Ben Lit
tleford.
An hour later Dale and a score of
L~ittlefords and Morelands entered the
big downstairs room Of the Office and
supplies building. The defeated Balls
and Turner'S lounged here and there,
sullen and silent, on the rough-board
floor Of their temporary prison.
Dale walked into their midst and
addressed them quietly.
You'll admit, won't you, that I've
got what you fellows call the dead
wood on your And that 1t lies In my
power to send every single one Of you
to the state penitentiary?"
81 reckon So" admitted Adam Balls
father. He was pretty well cowed, and
so were the others.
"But I've decided not to do It." went
on Bill Dale. II can't forget that this
Is Christmas day. You may have your
liberty as a present from the man
you've tried so hard and SO unjustly
to kill. After the doctor gets through
with Little Tom and Saul Littleford,
he will come here to dress all your
wounds; then our guards will give you
back your rifles, and you may 60
home. I'm not asking you to promise
me anything, you understand. I'm
simply trusting the human heart, and
l don't believe I'll be disappointed"
Dale turned to John Moreland.
MOreland's rugged face wore a puz-
zled, displeased smile.
IF your brother David was here"
Bill Dale demanded with a bare shade
of anger In his voice, what do you
think he'd do about 1t? It's Christ
mas day, isn't it?"
The old Moreland chiefs counte-
nance softened; his grey eyes bright
ened. "Yes," he said, "it's Christmas
day, Bill" He looked toward the Balls
and Turner's.
Merry Christmas, gen'lemenl" he
said.
Adam Balls father Immediately
asked him for a chew of tobacco.