The spectator., 1922-03-03

"Aw, shet up! Ye can tell it at the trial" growled old Ball. Then to his kinsmen.
 Well hold Dale right here, boys, ontel the shurlff he's sent alter comes. And we'll not move Adam, which same Is accordin' to law. I reckon Shuriff Tom Flowers'll find a different job from what he expected to find; won't he, boys? Say, I wisht one O you fellers'd gi' me good, big chaw O tObacker Be durned ef don't. Adams death, it has made me feel sort Q bad, by gonnics, and tobacker's allus consolation
 "Bill Dale, you hain't got chaw O tobacker on ye, have ye-bought to- backer store tobacker? It's durned sight better'n homemade, l says. Ye say ye don't chew! Chew-h-l Whyn't ye say 'chaw,' like man! I alluS kuOwed ye wasn't no count, mo- how. Nobody at don't chaw tobacker ain't Do count. .. All right, Jim Ike" te his nephew, "Tll take a chaw O yores. then. And I'll take a tel'ably big chaw, Jim Ike, cause Adams death has made me feel sort . bad, and tObacker'S allus a consolation"
 The sounds of the shooting had car ried far, and it wasn't long until the scene Of the tragedy was crowded with Balls and Torreys, Littlefords and MorelaDds. Major Bradley and Hayes, too, were there. Every man of them was armed; very little thing might easily turn the place into a shambles. The major saw this, and he was afruid He drew the leaders of the Morelands and the Littlefords aside, and finally prevailed upon them to do their utmost toward keeping peace un- til the coming of the sheriff.
 At first John Moreland and Ben Lit tleford were for taking Bill Dale from the Balls and TorreyS who guarded him, if they had te depopuate the whole Ball settlement, Jerusalem Cove and Nations Hell to accomplish it ]. Happily, the majors counsel prevailed.
 Sheriff Tom Flowers was a tall and 1.-the, smOothfaced man. He arrived with Luke Nore.and at noon, after hours of hard riding. He saw the high tension, and immediately steeled him self ts handle the situation After riding straight to the center of the gathering and there halting his horse, he said evenly:
 Tn order that l may know who to arrest. I must know soGethiug of the circumstances. Only one man must speak at time. No playing bad with me; and remember that, gentlemen. m certainly drop the fellow who starts playing hoss with me, If it's the last move l make on earth. Now some body gently use his powers of speech"
 Majss Bradley, more soldierlIke than ever, Nent forward AS the attorney of Mir. Dale, who stands accused of killing Adam Ball" he said to the of hcer. Il beg leave to state that my client will tie no talking at present"
 Dale understood, and he did not open his mouth.
 But old Ball had something ts say, and he preceded to say it.
 He killed my son. Adam" pointing to Dale, "in cold blood Me and about dozen o my kin was on our way over Long ridge to look at bee tree. when VIC hssred three pistol shots. We was right up thar pointing ts the northward. and we come a-runnin' over here 10 see, by sonnies, what was the matter. Well. hy gonnies, we found Bill Dale thar down on his knees aside Q Ry sen, Adam. who was &s dead As h-i CT deader; and Bill Dale was a-sobbln' and s-sohbin' absst 1t. And sf hs never killed my son Adam, nhat wHs hs a-sobbln' shd a-ssbbln' about, l aI you that? And my son Adam, he had . rife. by gonnlca, but he never shot none al all Hs was with ss ap ts few minutes before, and he hadn't ssot none all mornin'. Shurih Flowers, wlsht ye'd gi' me . go0d, big shaw e tsbacker, by gon- niss. cause my son Adam his death it has made me feel bad"
 Majsr Bradley stopped earessiny his wsl-kspt gray imperial. walked ever ts luO 0Wad ibSo iiHVt RtNhcN II up uut put it's nszzle te his nose. He scented fresh powder smoke. Then he faced old Ball with . strange, hard glitter in his blue eyes.
 You are . lar, sir" he said with . peculiar politeness.
 A stir ran quickly over the Balls and Torrsys Sherlfr Flowers called @tA
 Quiet, tbere!" and there was quiet. He csntinued: Where is Mr. Daie's revolvsr?"
 The Balls had it. They produced It. 1 1t had three empty chambers when 1t should have had but one
 "Pa1 It ts me butt first" ordered the laws representative. He know that many . man had been slAet while 1 taking . revolver barrel first. and he was taking no chances.
 Old Bail obediently turned the weap-