The spectator., 1922-03-28
CHAPTER xV.
T ried.

httlng suit Of dark blue, With lacey white at her throat and at her wrists she wore a hat of dark blue relieved by touch of white. In one of her strong and well-shaped, gloved hands she carried travelling bag of black leather
 big and sunburned young man in boots and corduroys hastened to her. He raised his broad-rimmed hat, smiled. took the bag, and pressed her hand as though he was very glad to see her.
 Bill Dale." she cried joyously above the roar of the passing train. Bill Dale, it's you!'
 Sure, it's mel" laughed Dale. "How good you look I can hardly believe it's you"
 But it is," she smiled. "Tell me 2: what do you think the outcome O your trial is going to be-"
 Dale noted that her English had i'm proved. sand it was gratifying to him. As for the trial
 "I don't know" he said. But Ma jor Bradley thinks I'll come clear. He believes that somebody that was hid den on the moutainside above us shot Ball to save me. By Heck hinted that he knew that this was the case; and Ee intimated that l would stand bet ter chance of acquittal than ahs body else would stand, and that if l re- ceiyed a sentence the right man would come forward with confes- sion. I have an idea that By Heck himself killed Adam Ball-that is, if I didn't do it."
 And Cafe Moreland-wasnt it fine for him to do what he done for you, Bill Dale? How are you gettin' along with the mineY'
 First rate" Dale answered. bright enins at once. Were shipping now. And we're getting a smashing price for every ounce of it.'
 ''I see" said the young woman. He went on:
 All of the boys and girls of the Merchants, except the very little ones, are in school at Cartersville and they're learning fast When our bor- rowed capital is paid back the More land families are going to buy farms lying near Gainesville and go to them, A big lowland farm close to good schools and a good little town-well, there are worse places on earth. Pity poor David Moreland cant know about It."
 "I'd say!"
 She hung her head She was think ing, as she had so often thought be- fore, of her own benighted people.
 And the Littlefords?" she mur- mured. It had slipped past her lips. Dale and the Morelands owed the Lit tlefords nothing.
 Dale understood, and he gave her a sympathetic glance.
 "A few of the boys and girls of the Littlcfords are going to- school in Car tersville, perhaps one from each fam ily," he told her. Tt is rather ex- penSiVe, you know. on account of the boarding, and they can't afford to send all thei: children. However, I think-ultimately-your people will have their chance for education. too"
 But it won't do much good 10 edu- cate one out O each family" said Eliz- abeth. They'd come straight back here when they got through with their schoolin, and soon fo'git--I mean for get Lit all. If they make their learn in pay em anything. they'll have to stay where they can use it."
 hn tn sta al flxy nrI her wcll-shod feet.
 Are you ready to go?" Dale asked.
 Elizabeth Littleford raised her head with a slight jerk and said rather awk- wardly:
 Has the valley changed much?"
 Not very much" answered Dale. "There's a new log church, where an old minister named Ashby Cross breaches the gospel of straight walk ing and human kmdiness every Sun day. Henderson Golf isn't here any more but he sent me his address in case we wanted to sell the mine The Torreys have gone back to Jerusalem cove and Hattons hell, and the Balls are as quiet as mice. These l believe, are all the changes worth mentioning"
 Together they set out and walked. without saying much, to the crest of David Moreland's mountain, and there they halted. The autumn sun, great red ball of fire, was just setting beyond the majestic Big Pine.
 Dale pointed to long, moss-covered slab of brown sandstone
 Let's sit down there and rest" he suggested. You're tired, Babe, know. Don't mind my calling you Babe do you?"
 She looked at him as though she were SUI prised at his asking that. They sat down.
 Bill Dale suddenly leaned toward her and took one of her hands; and he didn't take it as Jimmy Payne had done-as though he were afraid of it.
 You know 1 love you, don't you