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

was n trifle pale now But it-Bill
Dale. IL somehow don't seem just right
for you to love me. Because I'm such
pore little nobody. I'm as ignorant
as sin; and l hain't-havent even got
good manners. But-but if you love,
if you're sure you do, tell me why
There came another minute Of pain
full silence.
Because" said Dale, speaking slow
ly, you have always seemed to be
one of my own kind. You seem real,
TO me. l was SO sick of artihciallties
in women that loved you the moment
saw you. l know you are primitive,
but l am primitive, too. And you
weren't calling yourself Ma-a-am-mah
to a Id poodle.
Major Bradley" he went on, "fcels
sure that l will be acquitted. If it
turns out like that, l want you to
marry me at once. Tell me-will you,
Babe"
How boyishly impatient he was. Was
he afraid he would lose her by wait
ing?
You love me, don't YOU Babe?" he
pursued.
She faced him with the sudden,
queer light of tragedy in her eyes.
But she didn't speak He pressed her
hand until it hurt and demanded:
you do, don't you, Babe?"
Yes" she told him, in a voice that
he barely heard.
"Then why won't you marry me?"
She didn't answer. She wouldn't
answer.
The day Of the trial dawned clear,
with The snap Of autumn in the
sir. The courthouse was filed to its
capacity within fifteen minutes after
the doors were thrown open. Every
man who had q rifle was forced 10
leave 1t behind with the sheriff's depu-
ties; a company OF the states militia
was there, and each member of it had
hundred rounds of ball cartridges
In his belt-the authorities were taking
no chances.
Amid a breathless hush, the wheels
of the law began to move. Caleb More
land quickly told what he had to say,
! and backed ii UP with proof; ,-he
brought out a perfect aiibi. The
! judge and the jury frowned and smiled
In the same instant. Dale went for
ward ana took his place. He pleaded
Not Guilty" \ little later the state
introduced It's evidence and rested.
The counsel for the defense, patri-
clan and soldier-like Immaculate from
his toes TO the crown of his head,
went eagerly to his feet. He had fully
prepared himself, and he delivered his
argument with an eloquent aud force
full swing. 1t was plain that the jury
was favorably impressed by the words
of this man who never accepted case
unless he was absolutely sure that his
client was in the right.
Major Bradley hinged his argument
on the mysterious third shot. If Dale's
bullet had killed Adam Ball, would
J not Adam Ball have been shot squarely
or at least nearly squarely from the
front? As it was, the Goliath had been
shot straight through the temples
That third shot had been fred by some
hidden friend of Dale's, the major de.
clared, and it had been done for the
purpose Of saving Dale's life. Ball
had been in the act of playing u cow
ardly trick; he had killed man in
North Carolina by just such trick
and he had boosted OF II.
The attorney for the state made a
rejoinder that almost favored the de-
PENDANT. Then the court charged the
jury, and the twelve good men retired
The jury was out not more than
twenty minutes, but to Elizabeth Lit
tleford it was an age of torture.
The twelve men filed slowly in and
faced the judge, who turned austere
eyes upon them and asked:
Gentlemen of the jury, have you
reached a verdict?'
They had. Elizabeth Littleford'
head swan as she bent forward to
catch the foreman's words
Not guilty!"
A wild shout rose from the leathery
throat of the happy BY Heck. The
Morelands and the Littlefords cheerec
until they were hOarse. Sheriff Ton
Flowers had difficulty in quieting the
tumult Bill Dale shook hands unit
his shoulders ached. The Balls ane
their relatives. bitter with resentment
and hatred, stole out, were given theil
rifles, and went toward the biz hills
with the eye Of the militia hard upol
them.
Then the Morelands and the Little
fords and the Hecks, with Dale anC
his mining man Hayes, came out, anC
they, too, started for the big hills.
Dale had hired a horse and side
saddle for Ben Littlefords daughter
and the two rode in each others com
pany on the journey home. When they
were well into the mountains, Dale
drew his horse over close TO that Of
his companion.
"As soon as / can build and furnisl
-" he began, when Elizabeth inter
rupted:
"We're ridin' too fast. We're too
much ahead o. the others. one o then
Balls might try to pick you off witt