Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1922-06-22
CHAPTER XIII
Sentenced TO Hanu.


early on the following morning. They
went To the Big Pine mountain country.
and. by "A scheme that entailed some
shrewdness on the part of the chief
officer, arrested two Balls and two
Torreys on suspicion and took them
away without trouble.
The two Balls and the two Torreys
were lodged in the Gainesville Jail
and offered their liberty and exonera-
zion from all blame in the dynamiting
affair II they would give the names
Of the other guilty parties and appear
against them. The mountaineers de-
clared stoutly that they knew nothing
whatever OF the matter, and when
pressure was applied they grew sullen
and refused 10 talk at all.
Ii was plain TO Flowers that they
did know something about ii, and he
finally ordered that they be kept I'm
cell on a diet of bread and water until
their tongues loosened. At which the
Balls and TOrrcys swore loudly and
swore that they would rot in Jail
frst-unless their kinsmen came and
shot up the town and liberated them
by force
ITO me that is proof that you four
are guilty." grimly smiled the sheriff.
And If your folks want to try storm
ing the Jail, let them. A full com
pany OF militia can be rushed here
within an hour, at any time, and well
give your folks all the fun they want"
II may be recorded that the four
hillmen never confessed.
Bill Dale, closely Swallowed by one
lanky Samuel Heck with his inevitable.
ever-ready rifle, went among the work
ers with a cheer that he did not feel.
For Caleb Moreland was in Jail, and
Caleb Moreland was innocent. But
there was one sincere delight for
Dale: Hayes was driving the little
railroad ahead with all his might and
all the might of his men. Hayes was
in high favor with those under him;
they worked even harder when he was
absent than they worked when he was
standing over them.
The days ran on, and there was no
sign Of hostile demonstration from
the Balls and Torreys. Judging from
appearances, they were wholly salts
fed with Caleb Moreland's being in
jail.
Henderson Goff had disappeared.
Dale hoped that he was rid of The man
for all time, but he wasn't. Golf was
not so confident as was Major Bradley
that he could establish his innocence
IN the matter of the dynamiting Of the
two buildings and the restle. He
wished very much to steer clear OF
arrest, for reasons of his own, and he
was biding his time in a little town
IN western North Carolina. When the
dynamiting affair had blown over, he
would go back and try again, perhaps
by an altogether new scheme, TO get
himself into possession Of the More
land coal.
Then there came to the neighbor-
hood a man whom no MOreland, and
none of the LittlefOrds, had ever set
eyes upon before. He was a very un-
couth mountain man, with long black
hair and shaggy beard; his clothing
was outlandlsh and ragged. He had
not much TO say; there was about
him, somehow, an air Of mystery.
Two days after his arrival, in the
afternoon, the stranger met Dale mid
way between the Halfway switch ana
the opening of the coal vein, and
stopped him with an unpraised hand.
DO you know good coal when We
see it?'' he drawled.
"Why?" asked Dale, on his guard.
The stranger looked sharply In all
directions as though he wished 10
make sure that no person was within
earshot OF them. Evidently salts
fed he drew from trousers pocket
shining black lump of coal, which
he held out for Dale's inspection.
What do We think o. this here| ne
wanted to know.
Dale took the lump and examined
II closely. II was apparently as good
as the Moreland coal. which had sent
the expert Hayes into raptures. Dale
then looked closely at the stranger.
He appeared TO be honest; his gaze
was steady, and seemed very inno-
cent.
where did you get thisY Dale
asked.
The alert eyes narrowed. do ye
think this here vein you're a-fxin' to
mine is the only vein In the whoie
country"
"Where did you get thlsT Dale re-
peated.
do We think" drawled the other
"'at I'm plumb fool enough 10 give
nv find away 70 nothing ] been pore
oil o. my life, misterl"
How am / to know" frowned Daie'
"tbat you've really got a fndT
eyed believe yore own two eyes,
wouldn't yer"
Eyes" Dale agreed, "Td believe my
own two eyes, of course. What's your
name. and where are you fromT
"what do I git outen 1t? l don't
own the mountain It's In, but II shore
can be bought 70 fifteen cents acre.
And nobody knows about II but jest
me. 1t lays closer to the railroad an