davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The spectator., 1922-04-14
CHAPTER XIX.
A Perfect Cross

On the floor of the richly-furnished library of the Dale home. near a west window, Miss Elizabeth Littleford sat reading by the fast fading light of an early March afternoon. Somehow she liked to sit on the floor. and always she liked 10 read; for one thing. books helped her to forget that she was lonely.
 There were footsteps behind her. soft footsteps because of the thick vel vet carpet then a low voice inquired /:
 "AreAt you afraid you will iniure your eyes. Elizabeth? Better have a light, hadn't you, dear?" The old coal king turned toward the switch on the wall
 No" she answered quickly. I'm through reading for today, and like this twilight"
 Her improvement in speech tnd in manners had gone on al surprisingly rapid rate. She rarely spoke wiea any but the simplest words, but she never fell into anything more than bara sem bance of the old drawling hill dialect unless it was while she was under the stress of some strong emotion.
 She closed the book and loo,ed up with eyes that were like the first stars in summer sky. Her beauty was wonderful it was finer and sweeter than it had ever been before.
 old Dale stood looking thoughtfully into her upturned face. He wss lit tie pale. and he seemed troubled and uneasy.
 Elizabeth shook her head. You're worrying again"
 He dropped into a nearby chair. leaned slowly forward and let one hand fall gently on her thick and silky chesnut-brown hair.
 ''I.wish," he said as though to him seelf. that I had daughter like you"
 He took his hand from her head, lay back wearily in his chair and closed his eyes. Then he bent forward again.
 "The Moreiands. Elizabeth-theyv moved away from the settlement, haven't they?"
 "Yes: Bill Dale has done wonderful things for them,' the girl answered.
 John k. Dale was silent for mo-
The spectator., 1922-04-14

l tight in the downstairs O the office | bulldin', onder gyard. The ain't but one of 'em plumb teetotally dead, fo' wonder; but the's a whole passel of 'em hurt. I've done sent Luke to town on hossbaek, alter a doctor fo' you and Saul and Little Tom; and he can tend to them crippled Balls, too, reckon, ef you think it's best. What're we agoin' to do with them fellers, Bill ?" We're going to take them to the Cartersville jail" Dale answered promptly.
 "I had different plan an that | planned out, John," said By Heck, winking at Ben Littleford. "I had it planned out to hang 'em all on a big green nemlock as Christmas tree fo' Bill. Some devilish rough Christmas eve we're a-havin', Bill, old boy, ain't it?"
 Rather" smiled Dale. He closed his eyes. His head acned and he was somehow very tired.
 Within the hour he went to sleep. and when he awoke 1t was daylight on Christmas morning. Ben Lttleford. half dressed. was stirring the coas to life in the wide-mouthed stone fire place. Dale felt better than he had expected to feel F he greeted Little ford with the compliments of the sea- son, arose and dressed himself.
 Littleford had just gone with a handful of kindling wood toward the kitchen. when there was low. light tapping at the outside door of Bill Dales room. Dale arose from his sheepskin-lined rocker before the opened it. Before him stood a slim, barefoot boy in the poorest of rags :: in the pitifully slender arms there was something wrapped rather loosely in erumpled brown paper Dale did not remember having seen the lad before but he knew it was no Littleford.
 Come in. son." he invited cordial ly-"come in and warm yourself My goodness alive, it's too cold to go barefooted like that! Haven't you any shoes, son?"
 "ShoesY muttered the boy, Queerly. "Shoes?"
 He was shivering from the cold. His thin face looked pinched and blue. his eyes big and hollow. Dale stopped, picked him up bodily, carried him to the old rocker he had just vacated, and put him into it with hands as gen tie as any woman's.
 H." began the boy, staring hard-"what-"
 Now stick your fee, out and warm them, son-that's it." and Dale chafed the poor little, dirty. halffrozen feet and legs.
 "Son,' he went on after moment, his heart throbbing out of sheer pity. you go to the commiSSary clerk and tell him to dress you up like the crown prince of England, if he's got It, and chatge the same to the account
The spectator., 1922-04-14
HEAR LAYS DAVID MoRELAND

IL was a living curse. q breathing curse-a terrible anathema. II dead David Moreand himself had arisen from the tomb and uttered il, il would not have struck John K. Dale with greater force He grew weak, as to his knees iu the snow, and his iron gray head fell forward to his breast. Elizabeth Littleford knelt in the snow beside him. She tried to find comfort ing words. for she loved him and was sorry for him, but no words would come.
 There was a slight sound. the muf- fled breaking of dry twig in the snow just beyond the palings in front of them. Elizabeth Li;tleford looked up to see the glaut figure of John Moreland, whose face was white and whose eyes were filled with the fire of hate and anger, who held a rifle in his cold, bare hands. The rifles hammer came back. and the fine trigger caught it with faint click
 Moreland took auotIer step forward and leveIed the weapon across the palingS.
 Eff il was any use fo' ye 70 pray Carlyle" he said. and his voice was shaking and hoarse and ehoked. I'd give ye time. But it ain't no use at all Look up Face it. Try to be man fo one second n yore low-down life"
 Old Dale raised his head, saw David Moreland's brother, and realized all there was to realize. His eyes widened a little; then look of relief fitted across his heavy countenance.
 shoot and even up the score" he said bravely, and his head was high. According to your code. it is just. And I'll he able to forget at last, at last. So shoot and settle the account"
 (TO BE CONTINUED
The spectator., 1922-04-14
A Great Gadness Filled Elizabeth's
 Heart

not one footprint ahead of them; il was not so much used now They said little. Each thought their own thoughts, and neither cared to speak them to the other.
 Just before they reached the noun tain's crest, they passed n group of Snow-laden pines that concealed big. hrown-bearded man who had been stealthily following the trail of a lone wild turkey. He wore khaki hunting clothes and high laced boots, and there was certain English tineneSS about him. In his bare hands he carried q repeating rifle. which marked him nS one born in the hills; a loWlander would have had q choke-hored shotgun
 When he saw John k. Dale he stopped suddenly. It might have been intuition, or il might have been sheer curiosity, the average hiilman being a stranger to neither-he followed and watched the two. unseen by them,
 On the pine-friuged crest Elizabeth Littleford halted to view that which lay around and below him. old Dale stopped close at her side and he. too, looked at that which lay around and below them; and to hiS mind also there came memories crowdiug.
 The young woman brushed back a wayward wiSp of brown hair and turned to the man beside her
 The Moreland part a the settle ment looks lonesome, don't itfa she said. "See, there's no smoke conn' from their cabin chmueyS. ." She went on abSently. But the Littefords are there yet
 old Dale caught the meaning that was in the latter sentence. It was not q shallow meaning.
 We are going to take care of the Littlefords Elizabeth" he assured her. I've thought much over it, and just now I've decided. When l decide, it's for all time! You know that, don't youT
 A great gladness filled Elizabeth's heart. IL did not occur to her to ask how. in what manner, he was going to take care of her people; it was enough 10 know that he was going to take care of them. He put fathers arm lightly around her shoulders. She tried to speak, ehoked, and couldn't utter word. But it didn't matter. John K. Dale understood perfectly.
 Then he took his arm away, faced to the right, and drew his hat rim low over his eyes. For two minutes he stood there and looked for the little old cabin down near the foot of the north end of the mountain, and he failed to find it. His mind had gone back once more to that woeful night that had cut bis life in twain. He remembered plainly waking in the early morning with an aching head and with the ranking taste of much dead whisky in his mouth. Remembered seeing Da- vid Moreland, with bullet hole through and through him. lying on the floor beside him. Remembered his horror, his smothered cries of anguish, and his hurried flight. ..
 He had wondered, he remembered, why the law made no attempt to track him down. He had not known that the
The spectator., 1922-04-14

ment, after which he said suddenly Il want to see my son; there is something l must tell him. Will you go with me, Elizabeth?"
 "Of course I'll go with you"
 She thought she knew what it was that stirred him. By intuition, supple mented by Bill Dale's occasional cryp- tic utterances. and pieced out by hill tradition, Elizabeth Littleford gradu- ally had come into possession of the old coal mans grim secret.
 Neither of them knew that John Moreland was then visiting his beloved old hills for the sake of some shooting.
 The following day John K. Dale and Elizabeth Littleford alighted from a northbound passenger train at the Halfway switch. The mountains were covered with three inches of snow, and the hemlock and pines bore heavy bur dens of the beautiful white stuff but the air was still, and it wasn't very cold.
 You'd get your clothing all black on the coal train Dale said to his companion, "so you'd rather walk over. wouldn't you? Anyway, the train isn't here I'm good for six miles I think"
 Yes" smiled Ben Littleford'S daughter I'd rather walk-if you're sure that six miles won't be too much for you
 Together. with the girl leading the way, they set out across David More lands mountain. The old trail showed
The spectator., 1922-04-14
Kindness to Animals Pays.

There are four important places from which purebred dairy cattle come: The isles of Jersey and Guern- sey in the English channel. the Ayr country in Scotland. and the Friesian country in Holland. It is a charac- teristic of the people in all the eight regions from which pure' red cattle cone that they are always kind to one another and to all animals. Kindness makes better beef, and nlore cream.
The spectator., 1922-04-14

of Bill Dale. IL will he my Christmas gift to you, little boy. Whats your name?"
 The lad turned his surprised black Drowned man.
 Are you Bill Dale?"
 "YeS"
 That which the boy said next struck the big and sunbrowned man with all the force of bullet
 ''So you're Bill Dale. We'll, D. my soul Y
 Don't, buddy, don't"
 The boy went on. My name. it's Henery. come here with Christ
The spectator., 1922-04-14

nOuntaILeer $ Coue of honor denanoa that the mountaineer himself collect that which Is due him.
 Tell me- he said in tones so low that Elizabeth barely heard, where is David Moreland buried?'
 He had turned, and stood facing her. She pointed to the southward.
 'They buried him out the crest O the mountain little ways, on the highest place, by the side of his wife. That was always a touchin' thing to me, that he buried his wife on the very highest point of his own mountain. You know why, don't you? David Moreland believed in God and a hereafter and he believed that heaven was up. He wanted to get even his wife's ashes as close to heaven as he could"
 "1-rd like to go out there" John Dale said, his voice almost a whisper I'd like to see the place."
 "I wouldn't" replied Ben Little lords daughter. For she knew-oh, she knew.
 Yes yes, my dear-I must see the place" declared John K Dale, hoarse- ly whispering-"let's go out there"
 There was never any disobeying him when he was determined and he was determined now. It is strange, that dread human thing that drew him
 Elizabeth turned and started out the snowy crest of the mountain, wend- ing her way here and there between clumps of snow-heavy laurel and ivy and under snow-heayy pines. After quarter of an hour of this somewhat difficult travelling, the two drew up be- fore a small inClosure made of round oaken posts and round open raiIings and hand-split and pointed oaken pal ings as high as a mans shoulders all of which were gray and weatherbeat- en. Elizabeth knew the spot well. She swung the gate stiffly open on its wood- on hinges and stepped inside. Old Dale, trembling in every fiber, followed her. His face was very, very pale
 Before them were two snow-covered mounds hordered with the dead stalks of flowers of another year-marigolds. pretty -hy-nights zinnias Near the two graves there grew bare branched wild honeysuckle and redbud, and green-leased laurel. which in the sum. Iner time were covered with beautiful and fragrant blossoms of golden vel low. royal purple, and waxen white At the head of one mound great, rough ly-shaped slab of brown sandstone marked the last resting place of David Moreland's young wife; it had been lettered by David Moreland himself, and it was crude but sincere tribute to womankind.
 On the face of the other great slab of brown sandstone were chiseled other ill-shaped letters and misSpelled words. The hands of John Moreand had done this. old John Dale stepped unsteadtIy closer and read:
The spectator., 1922-04-14

mas glf fe you. He pointed dirty forefnger toward the bundle h his lap. But you aint a-goin' to git it now"
 "WhyT Dale asked smilingly.
 Why Shoes -'at's why. H-E, did l ever have any shoes atore? Bare footed as a rabbit. That's me. Bare footed as d-n' rabbit"
 Son. protested Bill Dale. you're entirely too small to swear. You mustn't do it, y'know."
 Yes" quickly, I'm small. I'm small to my age. I'm done twelve year old I've been measured fo' the go-backs."
 Measured for the gobacks." laughed Dale, whats thatT"
 Why" soberly, when ye grow lit Ter 'stid O bigger, we've got the go- backs. Nav she measured me with a yarn string out O a stocking which had been wore by woman seventy seven-year old, and 'en she wrapped the yarn string around the door-hinge I'll gin to grow higher, or die, one or t'other, afore the string wears out on the hinge. Bound to-
 Again Dale laughed. Mountain su- perStitions always amused him. Ben Littleford came into the room, and Dale arose and faced him.
 Do you know this boy, Ben?"
 "lt's Lyss Balls boy" answered Littleford puckering his brows What's he a-doiR here?'
 He brought Christmas present for me" said Dale, but he has de cided that I shan't have it."
 "The only Christmas present you could git from a Ball would he a bul, let" drowned Ben Littleford
 He stepped to the rocker and took the bundle from the boys lap: he took away the crumpled brown pa per-and there in his hands was a loaded and cooked revolver,
 By George" exclaimed Bill Dale
 'What'd I tell yep smiled Ben Lit tleford
 An hour later Dale and score of Littlefords and Morelands entered the bl supplies building The defeated Balls and Turner's lounged here and there sullen and silent. on the rough-board floor of their temporary prison.
 Dale walked into their midst and addressed them quietly.
 You'll admit. won't you. that I've got what you fellows call the dead wood on you? And that it lies in my power to send every single one of you to the state penitentiary?
 "I reckon so," admitted Adam Balls father. He was pretty well cowed, and so were the others.
 But I've decided not to do it." went on Bill Dale. "I can't forget that this Is Christmas day. You may have your liberty as present from the man you've tried so hard and so unjustly to kill. After the doctor gets through with Little Tom and Saul Littleford, he will come here to dress all your wounds then cur guards will give you back your rifles, and you may go home. I'm not asking you to promise me anything, you understand. I'm simply trusting the human heart. and l don't believe I'll be disappointed.
 Dale turned to John Moreland. Moreland's rugged face wore pug zled, displeaSed smile.
 If your brother David was here" Bill Dale demanded with a bare shade of anger in his voice. what do you think he'd do about It? It's Christ mas day, isn't itY'
 The old Moreland chiefs counte- nance softened; his grey eyes bright ened. Yes" he said. its Christmas day, Bill" He looked toward the Balls and Turner's.
 Merry Christmas. gentlemen :" he said
 Adam Balls father immediately asked him for a chew of tobacco.
The spectator., 1922-04-14
World Calls for Service.

He serves best who serves most, and he should serve most who is best equipped for service. Unless he do serve, crooked paths will not be made straight, or errors corrected. Today service alone exalts the man.-Ex, change.
The spectator., 1922-04-14
MANS BEST AGE

A man is as old as his organs; he can be as vigorous and healthy at
 70 as at 35 if he aids his organs in performing their functions. Keep your vital organs healthy with
The spectator., 1922-04-14
USE SL0AN'S TO
 EASE LAME BACKS

NOU can't do your best when
 your back and every muscle
 aches with fatigue.
 Apply Sloan's Liniment freely, roith- cnt rnbbtng, and enjoy penetrative glow of warmth and comfort.
 Good for rheumatism, neuralgia, sprains and strains, aches and pains, sciatica, sore muscles, stiff joints and the after effects of weather exposure. For forty years pains enemy. Ask your neighbor. Keep Sloan's handy.
 At all druggists-35c, roc, $1.40.
The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1922-03-25
CONTINUED from Page One)

rich vein of ore below the deepest
old workings of the Montezuma
mine in Arabia district, near Love-
lock, bring to mind recollections
of my boyhood days.
As l remember the Montezuma
there was noticing there but a
great big hole in the ground re-
sembling a stone quarry; but it
was claimed that this was large
chamber of bonanza ore.
In 1877, years after its pro-
ductive days, this property was
owned by the late Luther Buckner,
formerly called General Buckner,
SO called I was told because at one
time he was attorney general of
Nevada. Whether this was the
fact or whether he was called
General because he was Kentucky
born where colonies and generals
are wont to be born, the writer
cannot say. Be that as it may he
was always General or Colonel
to those who knew him.
Unfortunately for him, the gen.
eral was more devoted to mines
and mining than he was to his
profession, and on coming into pos
session of the Montezuma he felt
sure there was a fortune in il
for him. He spent every dollar
he could get in trying to sink
shaft to cut the vein, which
he figured should be reached al
vertical depth of ninety feet be-
low the old workings.
The old gentleman toiled early
and late to sink this shaft, but
fell short of his coveted goal
Because of age and financial strin-
gency he was compelled to sell
transferring his holdings to the late
Joseph German.
Now we read with much interest
that a good grade of shipping ore
has been encountered ninety feet
below the deepest of the old work
ings, proving that the old gentle
mans faith was well grounded, al
though his figures were somewhat
at fault.
The finding of this ore in 9
mine that was considered "workec
out" over half a century ago, to
gether with many such experiences
cause one to wonder if a mint
ever is really worked out"
The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1922-03-25
FORMER McDERMITT MAN
TO DIRECT WELLS BANK

State Bank Examiner Gilbert C.
Ross returned from the western part
of the state last Friday, and he was
accompanied by F. R. Sprague,
whose services have been procured
as cashier of the Wells State Bank,
says the Herald.
Since arriving here Mr.. Sprague
has been very busy looking into
various matters and putting things
into shape so that the bank could
be opened just as soon as possible.
President Olmsted stated that it has
been definately decided that the
bank would open for business on
the first day of April. The Of
ficers in charge will be A. C. Ohm
sted, president; H. H. Coryell, vice.
president and F. R. Sprague, cash.
Ter. Mr.. Sprague is Nevada man,
having had charge of bank at
McDermitt, Humboldt county, for a
number of years. 1t is stated that
he has been in the banking business
for about fourteen years, and is
thoroughly familiar with every end
of the business.
There has been a force of car
penters and painters employed for
the past couple of weeks in re-
modling and renovating the interior
of the bank building. The work
was completed this week and the
interior of the building now pre-
sents a very neat and attractive
appearance.
The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1922-03-25
MONEY FOUND IN RUINS

No jewelry but a few dollars
in silver was found Monday in the
ruins of the Riverside hotel, but
those who were digging in the ruins
were forced to give up the work
because of the heat, and more water
was turned into the place.
The money was found in the old
cash drawer which was uncovered
where it fell in the ruins of the
office. =
Old trunks, many of them filled
with clothing and books, were stored
in the basement and are still smold-
ering and burning under the piles
of brick that covered them when
the walls crashed in.
The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1922-03-25
PERSONAL NOTES
AND LOCAL ITEMS

A. L. Bachrodt, manager of
the Pitt Mill & Elevator Company
at Lovelock, spent yesterday in
this city on business, continuing
on to Battle Mountain.
E. C. Lye came in from Paradise
Valley yesterday.
w. E. Brennan of Rebel Greek
was an arrival here yesterday.
Farley Ellison came in today
from the Ellison rach in Quinn
River valley.
E. C. Swanger is in town from
the Ellison ranch.
George Balm came to Winnie
mucca yesterday from Golconda.
Roy Hanson of Golconda visited
this city yesterday.
Robert Bass was in town yes
terday from Golconda.
Eugene Backus and George Buck
ley spent Thursday in this city.
John Forgnone is spending a few
days in town from Paradise Valley.
Born-In Winnemucca, Nevada,
March %, 1922, to the wife Of
Pedro Delea, a son.
Judge Callahan and Attorneys
Brandon and Campbell, who have
been attending to court matters in
Lovelock, have returned to this
city.
DR.. C. E. Swezy has gone to San
Francisco, to be absent about a
week.
The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1922-03-25
vICINIA CITY DOUBLED

While it is little early to fore
cast the voting strength of Storey
county at the coming general cleo
ton, the fact that it is election
year, is causing more or less specu-
lation in that direction. That the
total vote this year will double that
of two years ago is a conservative
estimate, according to present out
look, and is is probable that the
territory south of the Divide will
alone contain more qualified electors
in 1922 than registered in the entire
country in 1920.-Virginia Chroni-
Gle.
The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1922-03-25
SPECIAL GAS CELL NOT
INTENT OF LAW TRAINER

To provide a separate cell at the
state prison in which to administer
lethal gas in the execution of con-
demned men was not the intent of
Assemblyman Harry Bartlett Of Ell
ko county, Trainer of the lethal gas
law, according to James Byers, as
semblyman with Bartlett in the last
legislature, who is in Carson on
business today, says the Appeal.
1t was not the plan of Bartlett in
introducing the bill, Byers claims,
to take the condemned men from
the cell over which the death
watch is kept to a special cell for
execution.
Bartlett's intention was to have
the lethal gas cell in the row of
other cells, he said, and to have
the death watch kept over the man
in the gas cell.
1t was also the intention of the
Trainer of the law not to let the
condemned man know the exact
hour at which he was to die, but
let him go to sleep unknowingly
and to give sufficient gas to
cause his death.
The removal of the gas after
death has come was detail which
the Elko county assemblyman be-
lieved could be worked out easily.