The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1922-06-15
CONTINUED from page p

the streets are lined with trees. Vnoy
have electric lights there, and water
mains, q common school and high
school. courthouse. jail and .
theRter.
1t was q little after nightfau when
Dale and the other two men rode
through the shaded streets. Dale noted
that the people they met under the
swinging lights spoke cordially and
with marked courtesy to his compan-
ions. It was very evident that the Of.
6cer and Major Bradley were In high
standing In their home town.
Sheriff Tom Flowers drew In before
q hltching-rack that stood In front Of
the courthouse. great old wooden
building with clock in its tower.
"We'll dismount here" said he.
They did. The major took the rein
Of Dale's horse.
cared for, sir" he said to Dale. "And
as soon as / have seen to our horses.
I'll be with you. I wish to talk mat
tiers over with you. Suppose ! bring
supper for us both, Ell p
Dale thanked Bradley, and turned
away with the officer They walked
short block and entered low, square
building Of brick and stone Of which
the windows were small and high and
barred with iron. Dale knew that Il
was the Gainesville jail. and his heart
sank In spite Of him. Just ag death
by violence had been entirely new to
him, so also was, this entirely new to
him.
Flowers took a ring Of heavy keys
from the hand Of the jailer. and led
the way down whitewashed corridor.
1t was not yet bedtime, and the other
prisoners were still up: some Of them
were reading newspapers, others were
trying to mend their clothing. still
others were doing nothing. A few Of
them called out boldly and babe the
new prisoner welcome-and each Of
these received gruff order from the
sheriff to keep quiet. Dale paid no at
tention whatever to his would-be
tormentoFs.
At an iron door at the end Of the
corridor, the officer halted and faced
about.
sIe there could be such q thing %
q comfortable cell here" he said in
low and kindly tones. ats this one"
He went on earnestly: 'Now ! want
you to believe me when tell ron that
Il Is with real regret that put you
behind door Of iron. But II didn't
dc It, somebody else would do It; and
It's possible that ! can be q little more
decent about 1t than another officer
would be-"
u realize all that. y'know," replied
Dale, "and I'm very much obliged to
you. sheriff"
Flowers unlocked the door, and Bill
Dale walked In. Flowers locked the
door and went away.
Dale began to inspect his quarters.
10 all appearances, they were at least
clean. There was narrow bed COW
cred with pair Of gray blankets. Q
stool and soapbox, and nothing moro.
The light In the corridor behind him
made snaky black lines Of bar-shadows
on the brick partition walls and the
outer wall Of stone. Dale shuddered
In spite Of himself. He put up one
hand and turned on small light.
which dissipated the uncanny shad-
Ows-and showed him q line from
Dantes sInfernO" that 70 him seemed
very miserable; some former occupant
Of that cell had written e with char
coal on the whitewashed outer wall.
Then Dale sat YEARLY down on the
narrow bed. leaned bis head upon bic
hands, and began to think.
He had always wanted difficulties
TO overcome, barriers to surmount Q
work TO do. a fight to fight for him
self. In full measure b., had found
them every one. He did not doubt his
ability to overcome the difficulties, sur
mount the barriers, do his work well
and nght his light as q good man
fights. and win---if Il were not for the
charge Of having shot and killed Black
Adam Bali & seemed to him now
that that must end all that was worth
while for him. For that was more
than a difficulty. more than barrier.
He firmly believed that Il had been
his bullet that had finished the earthly
existence Of tie giant hillman. True
II had been an accident. But how was
he to convince q jury that 4 had been
an accident7 Would the jury take his
word Tor 1T The Jury would not u
course.
The mysterious third shot. that had
come from little distance-but b.
could not reasonably expec. deliver
ance from that source. II only he had
held down his abominable, savage tenn
per; II only he had
Major Bradley interrupted his un'
pleasant train Of thought.
"No brooding there. my boyI"
Dale looked up. The old attorney
as neat in appearance as though he
had not even seen a saddle that day
was standing just outside the hate
fui door Of bars. Beside him stood q
whiteclad negro boy with big ira,
q steaming food on one hand and I