The spectator., 1922-03-28

the hills, of the feud between her peo- pie and the Morelands and of how she had hated the bloodshed. She told Of the coming of Major Bradley, of her burning thirst for education, of the old trainman who had thrown her news paper each day, and of the coming of Bill Dale.
 "and nobody ever seemed to under. stand how 1 felt. That is. until Bill Dale came. After met him, I couldn't see anything but him; he seemed to me like somethn' I'd had and lost. :"
 Then" said Mrs. Dale, "why did you refuse to marry"
 "Wait-you don't know it all," Eliz- abeth interrupted her. "There was the killin' O that heather, Adam Ball. I went to tend the trial because l knew l could clear your son if Major Brad ley couldn't. You see, Mrs. Dale, I happened to know who did kill Adam Ball, and I meant to tell if 1t was nec- essary.
 "On the mornn' of the killin' Bill had started up the river by himself. It was dangerous for him to go off like that, on account O them Balls and Tor reys. Back in the Big Pine country there is a tall, thin man named Sam Heck. He's big eater. an awful liar, and worshiper of Bill Dale. Sam heard my father say 1t was dangerous, and he whispered: m jest sneak through the laurels and gyard Bill from ahind him. I heard him say it, Mrs. Dale
 ''So he went sneakin' along the foot O the north end O David Moreland's mountain, with his rifle in his hand to guard your son. Bill didn't know he was bein' followed, because Heck is as crafty as cat. 1 got nervous about Bill, so I went into the laurels and fol- lowed Sam Heck. When l overlook him, he was standin' behind clump O sheep laurel and lookip' toward the river.
 II whispered. Where's Bill?
 He said. Be still. Babel And then he thumbed his rifles hammer back without sound.
 II looked toward the river and saw Bill Dale a-walkin' up the nearest bank, and 1 saw Black Adam slip be- hind tree not far away. Bill saw Adam, and he slipped behind tree. too. Adam shot at Bins hat, and leased Bill. Bill shot at Adams hat and then Adam Ball jumped up groan- in like he was done for. and fell. all a. twistin to the ground. But he wasn't hit. He put his gun out by the tree 10 kill Bill as soon as he showed himself. It was one O his old tricks"
 Elizabeth Lttleford raised her head slowly and went on in voice that was much shaken:
 'I had always talked against killin'. and yet l stood there and begged Sam Heck to finish him. The rest happened in no time. Ball was already a-lookin' along his sights. Bill Dale was nearly out in the open. r." she faltered, and then came q rush of words: Il wouldn't i<arry him without tellin' him, because il wouldn't be fair to him; and If l
  The woman he marries mustn't be a. a s-savage."
 She stopped and stared at Mrs Dale almost defiantly. Her head was high, and her hands were clasped in her lap so hard that they trembled.
 "I think you have made a mountain out of molehill, my dear" the older woman said gently. What you did was right not wrong; any good woman would have done just what you did, Elizabeth. l am sure"
 Elizabeth Littleford faced Mrs. John k. Dale squarely. There was a strange glow in her eyes.
 But I haven't told you everything" she murmured-"I took Sam Heck's rifle from him, and killed Adam Ball myself"