Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1922-07-13
CHAPTER XIV.

noon uuin at the Halfway switch. She
WAS dressed i'm smart and neatly
frm. suit of dark blue, with lacey
white ul her throat and at her wrists f;
She uorr "a hat Of dark blue relieved
by q touch of white. In one of her
strou. and Well-shaped, gloyed hands
Size carried travelling bag of black
leather.
4 big ana Sunburned young man in
boots and corduroys FASTENED to her.
he raised his hroad-rimmed hat.
smiled. took The bag, and pressed her
band MS though he was very glad to
see hDr.
"Hm Dale" She cried joyously above
the rear Of The passing train. "Bill
Dale it's YOU"
"Snrc It's me-" laughed Dale. "How
good yau look can hardly believe
MS iou'
"But it is" she smiled. Tell me
what do You think the outcome O. your
trial &, going TO be:'
Dale noted that her English had inn
proved. and it was gratifying to him.
As iur the trial
q don't know" he said But Ma
ior Bradley thinks I'll come clear He
believes that somebody that was hid
dem ou the moutainSide above us shot
Bal % save me. by Heck limited that
hc knew that this was the case; and
be- iutmatcd that ! would stand a bet
ter Glance Of acquttal than anybody
else would stand, and that IL ] re-
ceiNel sentence the right man
Norll come forward with confess
s.oa have an idea that by Heck
himself Killed Adam Ball-that is, If
l Didn't do IT," .4el,l
"Aud Gale ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ii fine
for him to DO what he done for you.
Jill Dale? How are you gettin' along
With the mine?'
"irst rate" Dale answered, bright
enns at once. Were shipping now.
And We're getting a smashing price
for every ounce of It,"
~ Soc" said the young woman. He
went on:
Morauds, except the very little ones,
are n school at Gainesville, and
they're learning fast. When our Dor
roueI capital is paid back, the More
land families are going 10 buy farms
lying near Cartcrsyillc and 90 to them.
A big lowaud farm close to good
schools and "a good little town-weIl,
there are worse places on earth. Pity
poor David MoreIand can't know about
it,"
ora sayr'
She hung her head. She was think
ing as She had so often thought be-
fore. Of her own benighted people.
"And the Iittlefords?' she muir
mured Tt had slipped past her lips.
Dale aud 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
Iittlefords are going TO school In Car
tersyille, perhaps one from each fam
ilv," he told her. at is rather ex-
pensive, YOU know. on account of the
boarding. and they can't afford to
send an their children. However,
observation-disclosures people VIII
have their chance for education. too
But IL won't do much good to edu'
cate one out o. each family" said Ellz'
aheth They'd come straight back
here when they got through with their
schoolm. and soon fo'git-I mean for
get lit an. If they make their learn
n' pay EN- anything, they'll have tt
stay where they can use It,"
She began to stare absently toward
her wel-shod feet.
Are YOU ready 10 go?" Dale asked
Elizabeth Littleford raised her head
with slight jerk and said rather awk
wardly:
Has the valley changed much"
Not very much" answered Dale
There's a new log church, where nj
old minister named Ashby Cross
breaches the gospel of straight walk
ing and human kindness every sun
day. Henderson Gon isn't here any
more. but he sent me his address II
caSe we wanted to sell the mine! Ih'
Torreys have gone back TO Jerusalem
cove and Hatton's hell, and the Baili
are as quiet as mice. These, / believe
are all the changes worth mentioning.
Together they set out and walked
without saying much, TO the crest
David Moreland's mountain, and there
they halted. The autumn sun, grea
red ball Of fire, was just setting beyon'
the majestic Big Pine.
Dale pointed to long, moss-covere'
slab of brown sandstone.
Lets sit down there and rest IN
suggested. You're tired, Babe,
J know. Don't mind my calling yo'
Babe, do you?"
She looked at him as though sh
were surprised at his asking that. Inc
sat down.
Bill Dale suddenly leaned toward he
and took one Of her hands; and IL
didn't take IT as Jimmy Fayne ha'
done-as though he were afraid OIL II
you know / love you, don't yo
BabeT -