The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1922-02-18

and took one OF her hands; ana ne
didn't take it as Jimmy Fayne had
done-as though he were afraid of 1t.
"Yol know love ysu, don't you
Babe?" ...ss.. .'r... - 800
I've been believin' it, she told him
after a moment Of painful silence She
was a trif1e pale now. But it--Bill
Dale, it somehow don't seem just right
for you TO love me. Because Tn such
pore little nobody. I'm as ignorant
as sin; and hain't-haven't even got
good manners. But-but if you love,
l il you're sure you do, tell me why!
There came another minute Of pain
full silence. - -. z...,.
Because" said Dale, speaking slow
| ~, "y0u have always seemed to be
one of my own kind. You seem real,
to me. was so sick OF artificialities
in women that loved you the moment
I saw you. I know you are primitive,
but I am primitive, too. And you
weren't calling yourself tMa-a-am.lnah.
to a id poodle. y
"Major Bradley" he went on, feels
sure that l will be acquitted. If it
turns out like that, ! want you to
marry me at once. Tell me-wilI you,
Babe?'
How boyishly impatient he was. Was
he afraid he would lose her by walt
ing?
you love me, don't you, Babe?" he
pursued. -
She faced him with the sudden,
queer light Of a tragedy in her eyes.
But she didn't speak He pressed her
hand until it hurt and demanded:
"You do, don't you,. Babe?'
EYES," she told: him. In 4 voice that
he barely heard !: :.
"Thent why won't you marry. meT":.,.
She didn't, answer. She wouldn't
t.. =. - - y" -. =, -
The day OF the trial dawned clear,
| with the snap :: Of autumn in the
air. The courthouse was filed to its
capacity within fifteen minutes. after
the doors were thrown open. Every
- .
man who had a. rife: was forced t.
leave it behind with the sheriff's depu-
ties; a company Of the states militia
was there, and each member Of It had
q hundred rounds Of ball cartridges
In his belt-the authorities were taking
NO chances. ~. - =,
Amid 4 GREATNESS hush, the wheels
Of the law began to move. Caleb More
land quickly told what he had to say,
and backed it up with proof = he
brought out perfect ,alibi. The
Judge and the jury frowned and smiled
in the same instant. >, Dale went for
ward and took his place. He pleaded
':Not Guilty" A little later the. state
introduced its evidence and rested.
The counsel for the defense, patri
clan and soldier-like, immaculate from
his toes to the crown Of his head
went eagerly to his feet. He had fully
prepared himself, and he delivered his
argument with an eloquent and force
full swing. 1t was plain that the jury
was favorably impressed by the words
Of this man who never accepted a. case
unless he was absolutely sure that hi.
client was in the right.
Major Bradley hinged his argument
on the mysterious third shot. If Dale''
bullet had killed Adam Ball, woult
not Adam Ball have been shot squarel]
or at least nearly squarely from tn
front? As it Was, the Goliath had beeI
shot straight through the temples
That third shot had been fred by SOM
hidden friend Of Dale's, the major de
clared, and it had been done for tn
! purpose OF saving DaIe's life. Bal
had been in the act Of playing a COW
ardly trick; he had killed man II
North Carolina by Just such a trick
and he had hoaSted of'it.
The attorney for the state made
rejoinder that almost favored the Dc
fendant. Then the court charged tn
jury, and the twelve good men retirst
The jury was out not more tina
twenty minutes, but to Elizabeth LII
tleford it was an age Of torture.
| The twelve men filed slowly in an
faced the. judge, who turned auster
eyes upon them ann asked: -
! "Gentlemen Of the Jury. have 20
reached a yerdict?' ~.
4 They had. Elizabeth. Ittleford
head swan as she, bent forward
catch the foreman's wot1is- :.
Not guilty" 60
II A wild shout rose from the leather
throat Of the happy BY Heck. = III
: Morelands and the Littlefords cheere
until they were hoarse. Sheriff To-
> Flowers had difficulty in quieting u
tumult. Bill Dale shook hands unit
7 his shoulders ached. The Balls al
. their relatives, bitter with resentme'
+ and hatred, stole out, were given the
l rifles, and went toward the big hill
with the eye Of the militia hard upt
4 them. -. = 49, 49,
Then the Morelands and the Litu
= fords and the Hecks, with Dale n
l his mining man Hayes, came out, az
M they, too, started for the big hills,
Dale had hired q horse and . sit
!. ,.n.,,,,ic. fnr Nan r.,ftinforl'S ClaJ1ghte