The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1922-06-22

The major listened lntenCly 10 every
word Of it, so intently that he allowed
his cigar to go out. Often he stopped
his client and asked him to repeat GER
tain portions Of the story in order
that he might be doubly sure Of
point.
AS Major Bradley rose to ask the
jailer to come and let him out, Dale
muttered downheartedly:
'1Tell me, major: what do you think
! CT my case? 1t looks rather bad,
doesn't it?''
mot bad enough to warrant your
feeling blue over it, my boyl' said
Bradley, showing his polished white
teeth in smile that was meant to be
reassuring. II think we'll get you out
of it. Anyway, don't worry about it
Worry will kill cat, they say You
didn't kill Adam Ball. John Moreland
had taught you how to shoot pretty
well; and If you took even half as
careful an aim as you think you did,
you couldn't have missed Balls hat by
SO much.
II have an idea, Dale" he resumed,
shat if we knew who fred that third
shot we'd know who did for Ball. 1t
might have been done In order to save
you. Ball was noted, understand, as
an unfair and tricky fighter. He might
have been trying to trick you when
he rose and fell grooming. Perhaps he
meant to draw you into the open, that
he might have clean shot at you.
Eh?"
Dale shook his head goomily.
Hardly plausible, major. In that
event there was nothing against the
man whose bullet finished Bail, be-
cause he did it to save me; and he
would have owned to it and prevented
my arrest. A man who liked me well
enough to kill Ball to save my life
/ would like me we'll enough to confess
and save me from suffering for It !
am sure Of that, major"
"Ah. my boy" smiled the older Of
! the two, "you don't yet know the noun
| tain heart. Jail is a terrible thing to
| the liberty-loving mountaineer. But
love of you, and love of fair-dealing.
will soon overcome the fear of jail,
and you will be freed-if what /
strongly suspect proves to be well
founded. I'll leave you now, Dale. I'll
see you in the morning, sir. Good
night!"
When his optimistic attorney had
gone, Dale glanced once more at the
to him miserable line from Dante's
"Inferno," and began to remove his
outer clothing preparatory to going to
bed. He did not feel anything like so
confident concerning the outcome of
his trial as Major Bradley evidently
! felt. Then he became even more
| detected, and he told himself that the
! major had spoken SO reassuringly
merely to help him keep up heart.
/ The night passed, and another bright
summer day dawned. and In the Car
tersville 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 a furious windstorm, ac-
| companied by much vivid lightning
and binding rain, sprang out Of the
west and began to sweep the country
side and out Of the lowering wet gloom
there came one to deliver Bill Dale.
He was 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 III little pools at his feet,
and looked to his right and to his left.
Dale saw him, and cried out In sur
prise:
"Calebl"
Caleb Moreland walked straight, his
head up and his shoulders back,
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-feelin' by this time,
Bill? It's some hi Of g. place, AIM
it?"
Dale took step toward him. well,
queens boudoir is nicer. What are
you doing here, Cale2'
'Pve come to set you Free" said
Caleb Moreland.
Dale stared unbelievingly. :. "But
that is impossible, Gale. How could
you set me freeY
"Jall Tom Flowers, and I'll sight
ye."
Dale called, and the officer came Inn
mediately. Caleb MOreland turned
from the cell door and faced him.
I've come here to own up to the
KILN O Black Adam Ball." began the
young hillman.
lie swallowed, went trifle pale un-
der his tan, and continued bravely:
bill Dale thar. he never done it.