American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1922-02-10

them called out boldly and babe the
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 would-be
tormentors.
At an iron door at the end Of the
corridor, the officer halted and faced
about.
IF there could be such a thing as
a comfortable cell here" he said In
low and kindly tones, sits this one."
He went IN earnestly: "Now / want
you, to believe me when I tell you that
1t is with real regret that / put you
behind a door of iron. But If 1 didn't
do 1t, somebody else would do 1t; and
it's possible that / can be a little more
decent about 1t than another officer
would be-"
II 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.
To all appearances, they were at least
clean. There was a narrow bed COW
cred with a pair Of gray blankets, a
stool and a soapbox, 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 a small light,
which dissipated the uncanny shad-
ows-and showed him q line from
Dante's Inferno" that to him seemed
very miserable; some former occupant
of that cell had written it with char
coal on the whitewashed outer wall.
Then Dale sat YEARLY down on the
nnrrov II leaned his head upon his
hands hogan to think.
He Ii, always wanted difficulties
to overcome, barriers to surmount, a
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 the barriers, do his work well
and fight his fight as a good man
fights, and win-if 1t were not for the
charge of having shot and killed Black
Adam Bali 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 a barrier,
He firmly believed that 1t had been
his bullet that had finished the earthly
existence of the giant hillman. True
it had been an accident But how was
he to convince a jury that it had been
an accident? Would the jury take his
word for it? The jury would not, OF
course.
The mysterious third shot, that had
come from a little distance-but he
could no reasonably expect deliver.
ance from that source. If only he had
held down his ~ab0minable, savage tenn
per; If only he had
Major Bradley interrupted his un.
pleasant train of thought.
mo brooding there, my boyl"
Dale looked up. The old attorney
as neat in appearance as though he
had not even seer a saddle that day,
was standing just outside the hate
full door of bars. Beside him stood q
whiteclad negro boy with a big tray
Of steaming food on one hand and a
pot of steamings coffee in the other.
The jailer came and unlocked the
door; also he very c~onsiderately
brought another stool and fresh water
The major entered the cell, and the
negro followed.
An amused twinkle appeared il
Daie's eyes rs Bradley put the tray
down on the soapbox. There wal
enough for five threshlng-machins
handsI The black boy was sent to the
front door to wait.
II thought you'd be as hungry as
1 am, and I'm as hungry as poor old
BY Heck ever wasl" laughed the
major, as he sat down and began tc
pour the coffee. "Riding always made
me as hungry as a bear in April. Light
right into 1t, Dale. There's nothing
like a good steak, for any meal, when
a fellow Is half starved; eh, Dalei
Try that one, won't your / told Massen'
gale I'd u his beheadment If these
steaks weren't perfect. Massengale," he
added, runs the hotel here, the Eu-
reka Funeral Parlors, and the One
Price Clothing Emporium"
Il wonder" smiled Bill Dale, "whai
he does with his spare timer"
Bradley laughed, his eyes twinkling
merrily. Dale found that he too was
hungry, now that savory odors had
invaded his nostrils. A minute later
and he had pronounced his steak deli
ciOus.
"Massengale shall not suffer be
headment," said the major; and he
began to carve his own steak.
It was an excellent meal, the grin
surroundings Notwithstanding. Wher
it was over, the negro boy came and
took away the dishes, and received
with a gladstone grin the two silver
coins that were given him. Then Brad