American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1922-03-10

IL lasted holly for two hours. hut
the casualties were comparatively
rev, because there was so much cover
available. From the beginning the
Balls and the Turner's had the worst
OF 1t, which was due to uphill shoot
ing, white whisky. and lack Of the
IRON that makes real fighting men.
The cartridges Of those below we're
giving out; they had fred too many
shots needlessly.
IT'S about time to rush Them" Dale
said to John Moreland, who had crept
up beside him.
Jest give the word" Moreland
nodded.
A few minutes later, Bill Dale sent
the wings of his line down the noun
tainside, forming a half-circle of his
force once more; then the whole line
rushed, surrounded the enemy and
called for a surrender.
But the Balls and their kinsmen
wouldn't give in yet. They left their
cover and started to rum, found them
selves facing Morelands and Little
fords in every direction, dubbed their
rifles and fought. 1t was not true
courage that prompted them to offer
resistance thus: 1t was utter despera-
ton; they had never been givers Of
mercy, therefore they did not expect
mercy. Dale's men forebore to fire
upon them, which was at Dale's com
mand, and met them with dubbed
rifles. The woodland rang with the
sound of wood and steel crashing
against wood and steel. Everywhere
there were groans and threats and
curses from the losing side, victorious
cries and further demands for a sur.
render from the winners.
Bill Dale, ever a lover of fair COM
bat, threw down his repeater to grap-
pie with a big North Carolinian whose
dubbed weapon had been knocked
from his hands. The two fell and
rolled down the mountainside, locked
In each others arms.
And then n of the Balls struck
Bill Dale cross the head with the butt
of his empty gun, and Bill Dale slack
ened his arms and lay as n dead.
o
He was lying under cover In a hand
carved black walnut fourposter, and
it was night, when he opened his eyes
again. Above him he saw the bearded
faces of Ben Littleford and John
Moreland, and they looked haggard
and anxious in the oil lamps yellow
light. Suddenly Moreland spoke:
"Dead-nothin'p jubilantly. Look,
Ben he's done come tOl Ye couldn't
put him In a cannon and shoot him
ag'inst a cliff and kill him, Benz |
hope ye're a-feelin' all right, Bill,
shore"
Dale realized everything quite clear
~. He put a hand to his head; there
was a wet cloth lying over the swollen
place.
HE shore give We a buster Of a
slick" drawled a voice that Dale in
stantly recognized as that Of his wor-
shipper, By Heck. DANCED eff Gale
Moreland didn't might nigh it beat
him to death, Bill"
Many men crowded to the bedside
and smiled at him, and he smiled back
at them. Soon he asked:
did you capture the outft?"
Every burned one OF 'em," answered
John Moreland. They're all shet up
tight In the downstairs o. the office
buildin'. onder gyard. The amt but
one of 'em plumb teetotally dead, TO-
a wonder; but the's a whole passed. Of
'em hurt. I've done sent Luke to town
on hossback, after a doctor TO- you
and Saul and Little Tom; and he can
tend to them crippled Balls, too, !
reckon. eff you think it's best. What're
we a-goin' to do with them fellers, Bill?"
Were going to take them to the
Gainesville JAIL" Dale answered
promptly.
81 had a different plan AN that
planned out, john" said BY Heck,
winking at Ben Littleford. 81 had 1t
planned III to hang 'em all on a big
green hemlock as a Christmas tree fO'
Bill Some devilish rough Christmas
v ye're a-havin', Bill. old boy, amt
it,"
Rather" smiled Dale. He closed
his eyes. His head ached, and he was
somehow very tired.
Within the hour he went to sleep.
and when he awoke 1t was daylight on
Christmas morning. Ben Littleford,
half dressed, was stirring the Goals
to life in the wide-mouthed stone fire.
place. Dale felt better than he had
expected to feel; 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 a low,
light tapping al the outside door of
Bill Dale's room. Dale arose from
his sheepskln-iined rocker before the
CHEEKY log fire. wen to the door and
opened II. 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 seer the lad before.