The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1922-02-15

new prisoner welcOme-and each OF
these received a gruff order from the
sheriff to keep quiet. Dale paid no at
tention whatever to his w0tlld-be
tormentors. 49,
=, At an iron door at the end Of the
corridor, the officer halted and faced
about. ~.~' we. r. IT, '.
.Tf there could be such a thing MS
a comfortable cell here" he said i'll
low and kindly tones, 'its this one"
He went on earnestly: 'Now / want
you to believe ME when tell You that
it is with real regret that: put you
behind a door Of iron. But IL l didn't
90 it, somebody else would do it; and
it's possible that I can be little more
decent about it than another officer
would be-" =. a..
Il realize all that, y'know," replied
Dale, land I'm very much obliged to
you. sheriff.. -. ~ 8 g. &
Flowers unlocked the door, and Bill
Dale walked in. Flowers locked the
door and went away. 49,. =, 49,.
Dale began to inspect his quarters.
To all appearances, they We're at least
clean. There was 4 narrow bed COW
cred with pair of gray blankets,
stool and a soaphox, and nothing more.
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 Il line from
Dantc's ''lnferno"~ that to him seemed
very miserable; some former occupant
of that cell had written it with char
coal on the .whitewaslled outer wall.
Then Dale sat wearily down on the
narrow,>Bed. leaned his head upon his
Glands. apd began <to think. ,>-
lie had always wanted difficulties
to overcome, barriers to surmount,
work, to do, a fight to fight for him
self. In full measure he had. found
them every one. He did not doubt his
ability to overcome the difficulties, sur
mount flM barriers, do his work we'll
and fight his fight as a good man
fights, and win-if it were not for the
charge OF, having shot and killed Black
Adam Ball! It, 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 it had been
his bullet that had finished the earthly
existence Of the giant hillman. True,
1t had been an accident. But how was
he to convince jury that it had been
On accident? Would the jury take his
word for it? The. jury would not, Of
course. -..~. .."~...% e.,
The mysterious third shot, that had
coma from a little distance-but he
could not reasonably expect deliver
ancc from that source. If only he had
held down his abomfnable, savage tenn
per; Il only lie had T.. ~
Major Bradley interrupted his IN
pleasant train of thought.
mo brooding there. my boy!'
Dale looked up. The old attorney.
rs neat in appearance rs though he
had not even ,seen'a saddle that day.
WAS standing just outside the hate
full door Of bars. Beside him stood a
| whiteclad negro. boy with big tray
OF steaming food on one hand and
pot Of stcaming coffee in the other.
The jailer came and unlocked the
door; also he very considerably
! brought another stool and fresh water.
The major entered the cell. and the
| negro followed. :. a...-... 49,.
AZ amused y, twinkle appeared In
J Dalc's eyes rs Bradley put the tray
down on the soapbox. There was
enough for five .threshing- nachine
hands! The black boy was sent to the
front door to wait.
| Il thought you'd be as hungry us
] am, and I'm as hungry as poor old
by Heck ever WASP laughed the
major, as he sat down and began to
pour the coffee, "Riding always made
me asAhungry as a bear: in April. Light
right into it, Dale. There's nothing
like Il good steak, for any meal. when
a fellow is half starved; eli. Dale?
: Try that one, won't you? l told Massen-
! gale I'd cause his beheadment if these
steaks. weren't perfect. Massengale," he
added, runs the hotel here, the Eu-
reka Funeral Pariors,, and the One
Price Clothing Emporium" g..
Il WONDER smiled Bill Dale, what
he does with his spare time:" -.v.
Bradley laughed his eyes twinkling
merrily. Dale found that he too was
hungry, now that savory odors had
=! invaded his ncstrils. A minute later,
and he had pronounced his steak dell
| ciOus. &.E- ENf51 ~ =
'Massengale shall not suffer be-
headment," said the major; and he
began to carve his own steak.
1t was an excellent meal, the grim
| surroundings Notwithstanding. When
it was over, the negro boy came and
took away the dishes, and received
with n gladstone grin the two silver
| coins that were given him. Then Brad
ley produced handful of cigars. and
two of them We're promptly lighted.
Now, sirsg said the old lawyer, II