The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1921-10-20

summer day dawned and In the Car
tersvile Jail there was one prisoner
who had not slept at all. Each of
those long and heavy black hours had
been an age TO this prisoner TO whom
Jail was so new.
At noon furious wndstorm, &C
companied by much vivid lightning
and binding rain, sprang out Of the
west and began 10 sweep the country
side and out OF the lowering wet gloom
there came one to deliver Bill Dale.
He was a mountaineer, young and stall
wart and strong, and about him there
was much OF that certain English fine
ness that was so striking In his father.
He entered the low, square building
of brick and stone and stopped in the
center OF the corridor, where he stood,
while water ran from his wet clothing
and gathered In little pools at his feet
and looked to his right and to his left.
Dale saw him, and cried out in sur
prisei
"Calebr
Caleb Merchant walked straight, his
head up and his shoulders back, a
splendid picture OF virile young man
hood, to the end OF the corridor. He
gripped two of the DOORS hated bars,
bars that had long been worn smooth
by other human hands; he pressed his
smoothly shaven. sunburned face
against the iron, and smiled.
How are we a-feelln' by this time.
Bill? It's some HI of place. amt
itf"
Dale took a step toward him. well,
queens boudolr is nicer What are
you doing here, Cale?"
1--WE come to set you Free" said
Caleb Moreland.
Dale stared unbelievlngly. But
that is impossible, Gale. How could
you set me free?"
Call Tom Flowers, and I'll sight
ye."
Dale called, and the officer came Inn
medlately. Caleb Esssaad turned
from the cell door and fRcad him.
I've come here to own ap to the
Eillin' O. Black Adam Ball." tegan the
young hillman.
He swallowed, went trifle pale un-
der lbs tan. and continued braveiy:
"Bill Dale thar, he never done IL
am the one at done it. Bill he shot at
Adam, but he missed-Adam had done
shot at Bill fust, y'onderstand, Tom
But didn't miss. I don't never miss
I'm plumb tombstone shot. They
allus rules me out at any shootin
match. I'd ha' owned up to II yeste'.
day, but the thought o. Jail had me
skeered bad Jest caln't let as good
man as Bill Dale thar suffer TO Q
thing / done myself. So you let hin
out, Tom, and put the right man In
the-"
Flowers had good heart, and thi,
surprised.
"Tell us about 1t, Caleb" he re
quested.
Caleb looked toward Dale. then h,
faced the lord Of Cartersville's littl,
prison again.
"Well, shuriff, when ! seed Bill Dali
go off toward the trustle by hlssel
and alone. kpowed right then he wa
in danger o. beln' laywayed by som
, o. them thar lowdown Balls an
. Cherokee Torreys. So decides t
foller after him and gyard him, with
out him a-knowin' anything about II
which same done. When he me
|, Adam Ball"
, He broke on abruptly.
, go on" urged Flowers.
II reckon / won't" smiled Calet
' and his eyes were still twinkling.
reckon won't do no more talkin' jes
now. Yes, / reckon the proper plac
/ TO me to do my big talkin' is In tn
I co'tehouse at my trial. Lock me u
. will We Tom7"
. "we1l see," said Flowers.
: Forthwith he dispatched deput
n for Judge Carter and Major Bradley
Q who FASTENED to the Jail.
: An hour later Caleb Moreland wa
the occupant OF the cell at the end q
the whitewashed corridor. and Dial
was mounting his bay horse Fox I
4 ride back into the heart OF the eyel
o lasting hills. He arrived two hour
: after nlghtfall. The Morelands wer
Q glad to see him, and the Littleford
a were glad to see him. There was r,
n ic'cing there in the broad valley this
. lies between David Morelands moui
9 tain and the Big Pine. Everybody hs
7 been expecting him, and many wei
the pairs Of eyes that had been watcl
y ing for him. He found himself su,
!. denly wishing, with tightening at h
n throat, that his father could kno
II how much bigger and how much be
? ter It was to be thus esteemed tina
i TO be wealthy.
II Luke took charge of his tired hor,
II and led 1t away TO the old log bar
n and to some fifteen ears Of yello
4 corn. Luke's father escorted hi
proudly, the guest of honor, in to OF
a of Addie Morelands Incompatible oil
% fashioned suppers, which was MOI
= the worse for being late. Sever