Cheyenne Wells record., 1922-01-19
cHAersa x,x-cee.lnu.d.


ed 10 hear the taan whom he knew As
John x. Carlyle say that which he had
just said. It had never entered his
mind that Jo,,n X. Carlyle could be
sorry.
Then the great and bitter desire for
revenge rushed Into his brain again,
and his head went down. and his keen
right eye locked along the sights and
to the kneeliug mans breast. His tris-
ger finger began slowly to crook
Uutii this instant Elizabeth Little
ford had been as one frozen. had been
as a figure carved In stone. Now she
Moreland aud his ancient enemy.
.Put at gun tlown-wait 0ntei tell
re. John Moreiand. what I've got to tell
ye!' she cried tensely, lapsing into the
old dialect tn her excitement. While
hIOreiand stared. she went on:
"It wasn't Newton Wheatley mt put
up the money to start yore coal mine
h-goin'; 1t was this man here And the
Alexander Crayfeld Coal corp'ration-
which has been a-payin' you two prices
TO. yore ,coal-that was this man here
bfr. Hayes was his-liis ally through 1t
all. And he's sorry. John -Moreland,
this man is-so sorry that he wants to
die; and caln't ye see 1t, John More
iand7" ..s5.l.f
|. She caught her breath again and
continued tearfu'ly: "Oh, he don't
dcsarve to be killed, and ef he did
you're too good man to Kill him.
He's done. paid-y0u don't know, like
7 DO. how he's paid. You mustn't
Bill Dale. his son. Put down that gun,
John MOreiandl Yore people Is saved,
trs David wanted 'em saved. Now
.d.d-don't 80 and s-s-spoil 1t all, fo'
Gods sake." -
& The big n,ountaineer's eyes were
wide with aaiaze,aent. for Elizabeth
I.!ttieford's every word had borne the
ring Of truth. He was too daxed to
understand her alluslon to BIZ Dnle
as his old enemy.s sou. The rife came
back from across the pallngs, and its
,Steel -sl,od, butt found place In the
ssnow beside JOHN Noreland's foot.
{, Slowly John X. Dale arose and
drew Close to him. and then from
John K. Daie's soul came pouring the
J'ent.up anguish Of remorse that had
e.ared It through the years. The tor
rent Of words flowed on, while the
5mountaineer stood rigidly regarding
him with a strange light in his pierre
ting eyes.
> ~ can't ask you to forgive me-"
Dale finished brokenly. II don't e1-
I,ect forgiveness: my crime was too
great. But can't you. for the sake of
the boy. aes me keep on trying to
atone for NJ sinr' -.....-----.-
John ksoreiand looked long and
sesrcAiasdy into the face Of the plead
log mss before him. The bitter
steuggts that was going on within him
wns Hlrrored on his rugged coun.
se0snee. But gradually the bitterness
FADED; his huge frame trembled: he
put hand slowly down on the others
shoulder.
s'The boy" he muttered-"Ril, Dale:
10 he yore boy1 Yore name was Car.
lyle then"
MY boy. yes-,ny boy. Bill Dale.
Carlyle Ia an old family name. Ny
,fsther was at the head of q big coal
concern: he sent me down hers In
,cognito to get q. line on the Nsreland
vein. Maybe he thought use price
would. be high II It were k1own that
~ wanted It: don't knoH. IL can't
remember" -..-.
Ben Iittieford's daughter was
watching closely. hoping against hope,
praying to heaven with all her heart; ;;
and then she saw John X. Dale put
his right hand up to John Morelnnd's
hand. take It and press it-and she
saw John Ncreland. his bearded
mouth Jerking. give the answering
squeeze that meant something very
akia to forgiveness.
She ran out at the gate. ran up to
ehe giant htilman and put her arms
around his neck: she drew his great
brown heed down and kissed him on
the cheek. And John Aoreland let
his rifle fal unnotieed to the snow.
put his arms around her shoulders AZ
though she were his own daughter.
'howed his head and sobbed out
Isw words she did not understand.
.
!. Night had fallen when they reached
men Idttlefofd's cabin home. The girl
vss wsResusA with much JOY; old
Dale MAS received with almost ai1ec-
donate cordiality. A roaring nre was
seen goaag Ia the best room, and old
Dale WAS given the coslest Of the
shespekin-lined rockers. Ben Little
ford, washsd scrupulousiy clean Of
csa, smut, eat near the guest Of honor.
Jca.a Aoeelaud. vbs was, % Thought
fal that he seemed to hear and see
ooti,ing. sat close to BeN Iattieford.
suddealy Dale looked toward his
nest and asked: where q my sonT
z At that mosnsnt Dale the younger,
n boots and corduroys, appeared In
Ahe outer doorway and answered Tor
himself: -.
.Hses he 70. father. Are you well!
~sA~~ and thDfF