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. ' > * v.""~V " * -i " * 1 . '.li'f,1(1 ; Wl'ilWi j . fcHAPTER XI | By Heck Keeps a Secret. When' Sheriff Torn Flowers and the others had been gone for half an hour, : Elizabeth Llttleford sat up In the si-. lenee. It was a great and heavy silence that hovered there over the north end of David Moreland's mountain. There 'was not even the drumming of a yellowbammer, not even the saucy chattering of a boomer squirrel, not even the twittering of a bird. Not a leaf tiered anywhere. Everything seemed lifeless. It was almost as though she were the sole inhabitant of the world. Then she thought. It was noontime, and the oflleer and his prisoner would doubtless halt at John Moreland's cabin for the noonday meal; and If she hastened she would get to see Bill Dale again. So she ran Like a doe through the .* green woodland, through the tangle of laurel and Ivy and over the mosscovered stones, across a shoulder of David Morelnnd's mountain. She was barefooted, and her dreSs was a simple garment of white-dotted blue calico, and hgr long brown hair flowed behind her like the hair of a young witch?becnuse of the excitement of the morning, she had forgotten to give It its usual dully plaiting. As she drew near to the Morelnnfl lender's home, she saw Bill Dale nnd the sheriff walk out at the gateway and mount their horses. Major Bradley came out, and he. too, mounted his horse; and she was glad that he was going along. There was a great crowd; All the Llttlefords were there, and all the Morelands, and old Granny Ileck. the fortune-teller. On every face Babe saw signs of sympathy and sorrow. Her eyes tilled. She was so glad that they, too. loved him. It was worth going to jail to know that one was loved like I lint! Not that It didn't hurt to see him going to Jail, of course. Jail and horror are words that mean the o?rr.c to the n;o'*n*o,r? dweller. She went on to tell him good by. She knew St would be hard, but she steeled herself; she would be a Littleford. and strong. He saw her'comlng. and he turned his bay horse and rode to meet her. She stopped and clasped her hands, with her arms down full length, nnd tried to smile at him. "You promised me," he said gently, "that you'd go back to Patricia anil finish your education." "1 keep ray promises." was the quick reply. "Jest like every other Llttleford that ever lived kept their promises. I UfAitlti litt* t&'onf honlr V* I o n.rv>.? ! ?' "V? .?IV7. .1114, ef It hudn't ha* been?" And there she broke off abruptly. After a silent moment, she continued aadly. half tearfully: "And yet?and yet?the's not a bit o' use la me e-go'i' v.uck now!" "Why?" Hale was sndl'nc and she was glad to note that be d;d n it r.;e pear to be grieving over Ills nilsfon tune. "'Cause the' ain't," simply. "Hut you'll go?" r "Yes,", she snld, "In the mornln" PU go." He bent toward her and held down his hand. "Good-by, tittle girl. I hope It will couie out all right, and I believe It will." Babe slowJy lifted her hand to .his. Her eyes were downcast, "Good-by," she told hlin brokenly. "And I hope It will come out uli right, too?(Sod knows I do. Bill Pule." Thus they parted. Pale rode back to the sheriff and Major Bradley, and a minute Inter die three of tlietu started for the- lowland and Cartcrsvllle Jail. When a bend In the dusty ox-wagon road had hidden tlietu from view, Elizabeth LlttliU'ord turned homeward. Her mother followed her. The younger woman dropped to the atone step at the vine-hung front poreh with the atr of or > who Is very tired, plucked a full-blown marigold and began absently to tear its petals slowly apart. Mrs Lltlleford looked out across the meadows, sighed, smoothed back her gray hair with both bands, and sat down beside hei daughter. "1 wouldn't worry about It, Babe honey," she finally said Then she too plucked a marigold and began to tear Its petaJs slowly apart. "Ef he killed Adam Hall, it was to save hint self. He's a g> oil man, honey. I think he's about the host man i ever seed Babe." "No, he never killed Adam Hall t< save hlsself even," Babe replied "He's a fighter, but he ain't no killer t lafiiH m/.llmr I# ntioKf ho' Kaon f h L away: "He la ahlnd of a tree, and Adam Is ahlnd of another tree. Adam shootr at Ilia tint,' and he shoots at Adam's hat?which la the reg'lar way of a two-tnan fight, as you know. Well suddenly Adam he Jumps up like he's been shot, and falJs a-gnoanln' and a-twlstln*. Rill Onle, a-thlnkln' he's killed Adam, comes out from ahlnd of his tree. Flavin' drawed Bill Dale out Into the open by his trick, Adam gits ready to shoot and kill htm. Jest as Adam Is about to shoot, somebody else shoots and kills Adam and saves Rill Dale?mehbe the' ain't time fo' any" thing else. Now don't ye see? And don't It alJ sound natchel, mother?" "1 reckon It does." granted the old . woman. "But who wai H ahot Black AdnraF . "Somebody'who Is a friend o' Bill Dale's," said Babe. "Somebody who wag a-folfofto' BID with . rt>? Idea o' - * ----- ? V > " ? ' '( fap^^^Liebe i IQitfifaitons by by Doufaladay , foT "him to go off by hlsself In the woods that away. I've got It reasoned out Jest like this. ... And whoever It wns 'at was friend enough to Bill Dale to kill a man to>snve him will he friend enough to own up when the proper time comes and keep BUI Dole from a-heln* hung. Whoever It was 'at done It Is skeered bad now, but Inter on he'll shore tell It. ef It'lt save BUI. You Jest wait and see, mother. |. i mi in i never logot," Ha Do went I on, after a moment, "about Black ( Adnm Ball a-tellln' me about a-workln' : that same trick on a man over In ' Nawih Ca'llner?nnd he killed the man. The law never found It out. i?nd ye see what Black Adam pot. 'Who lives by the sword shall perish hy the sword.' It's In the Good Book. , mother, honey; nnd everything In the , Good Book Is God A'mlghty's truth, as you know." "Ef I was pinned down to guess who It was 'at done It," drawled Mrs. Lit tleford, "I'd guess It was By Heck. He was a plumb fool about Bill Dale. His maw she says he talks In his sleep about Bill Dale. He was alius a-follerln' him around like a dawg." Bnbe pointed to the meadow. An aped and stooped and witchlike woman was limping slowly through tho clover, coming toward them. "Granny neck," muttered Bnbe. The neighborhood's newshearer and fortune-teller Unified on up to the cabin, nnd dropped to the stone step beside Ben Llttleford's wife nnd daughter. "La. la, la!" she panted, for the days were warm. "And hain't It Jest i turrlble! I wisht 1 may die this min- I ute ef I wouldn't mlgh't nigh as soon see my own son go to Jail! But 'en j It'll all come out right ylt. Babe. 1 seed It In the cynrds, nnd I seed It In the cup.. Babe, honeydumplln", he never no more killed Adam 'an 1 killed 1 him myself. I tell ye, the's been some awful ungodly work done, somehow. I know Bill Dale, and the' shore hain't nary durned drnp o' killer blood In him." Babe spoke suddenly to her mother: i *c in kv uuu wiiwi iiiiu iron my new white dress. A cause?because I'm a-goln' hack to Mrs. McLnurin, like 1 promised I'd go. I'm a-goln' In the mornln', on the fust train. Ye might as well inform pap to hatch up my railroad money, mother." Just then By Heck stopped before j the gate. "Do ye want to go home along as I go, maw?" he asked. The three women turned their eyes toward the lanky moonshiner. He was standing straighter than they had ever seen him standing before, and he hold his repeater across one of his thin shoulders In n manner that was almost soldierly. It was as though he had Just discovered a htflierto unknown depth to himself. The truth was that he was carrytag a secret 'that was great, and almost too much for him. His aged mother rose with a rheumatic gr >an. "Looky here. By," she ' demanded, "what on earth's the mat- , t*r of ye7 ila* ye done went aod ( fwnllercd a rifle's ramrod, or a ttshlti' ! Dole tiliit ve ivniti an nnaaa,! uirolnVit and look like a plumb dadblamed fool r | "No, maw," grinned her son, "NotJiln* like It. I'm Jest hongry, .that's all. My gosh, ef I don't feel hongry enough to eat a whole raw yaller dawg! And top It off with a couple o' baked house- , cats. Durn my eyes and blast my for- I rard. I wlsht ye'd come and go home i along as 1 go, maw, and git me some dinner." "All right. By, alJ rlghty." To Mrs. Llttleford. "Oome down and bring 1 "No, Maw," Grinned Her Son. yore knlttln', and apend the day wl* me. Good luck to ye, Babe, when ye go back to the city!" When they were within a hundred yarda of their cabin home beside the river, -Granny ileck aald to her son, whoae mind seemed inordinately busy; "Who d'jre reckonv killed Black i_5_-* ' . .?? ....r.., .* ?*. "VJ r * ^ QE|^If. 50good cigarettes for 10c from nno carl n4 W?vi GENUINE "BULL" DURHAM i TOBACCO , quietly said By Heck. "1 axed you, souny boy," the wltchllke old woman went on, "who did you reckon killed Black Adam?" "The's rain In the air," as though he had not heard. "Ef It don't rain today, It'll shore rain tonight." "Now iQoky here I" snapped Granny Hock. "I said who did you think killed Adam Ball?" By Ileck did not smile, nor did he frown. "Ef It don't rain today nor tonight," he drawled, "It'll shore rain toiuorrer. I tell ye, mother, the's rain In the nlr." "By! By I Ye dadhlnmed Idjlt!" p; otested the old woman vehemently. "Now you answer me whut It was I a:.ed ye!" Said Samuel Heck, unperturbed: "Grnndpnp Moreland still has to tnke his old gray cat down oft o' the front po'ch roof every mornin' of his life. Jim Llttleford's wife's son's grandpa's son-in-law Is named Jim L'ttleford. Abner Moreland's got a old speckled oxen 'at ain't got but one gt.od eye. Isaac Llttleford talks through his nose. Little Tom Moreland's pap's old 'coon dnwg ketched a big, pore 'possum last night with one foot gone whar It had been gnawed olT In a trap. Babe Llttleford's got to be the hell-roarln'ost, purtlest gyurl In the world. Bill Dnle he said a man who'd say 'eyther* and 'neytlier' In place o' 'eether' and 'neether* would part his hair In the middle and wear a bow on the hack o' his hat and ribbon in his onderclo'es. Maw?" "NVhut 1" "Le' me ax ye a question," with a mock solemnity that was ultra-ridiculous. "Please don't try to Joke wl' nie, yore pore hongry che-lld. Maw, hnwni?si to Broadness. will ve tell me the truth?" Hopeful, she bent toward him. "O'j course, honey boy, I'll tell ye the truth.. What It is, darlln'?" J He whispered It: "Maw, don't de-, celve me. What was my maiden name?" Granny Heck became so angry that she trembled. To her, baffled curiosity was but little better than torture. "I wish 1 may drap dead right here In my tracks," she declured shrilly, "ef I git you a dadslatted bite to eat ontel you gl' me a sensible answer I Who, I said, dang It alT, did you think It was killed Black Adam, the hound dawg o' puggatory?" "Don't talk so Infernal loud, mother," and By Heck smiled a pale smile. "I don't think who killed Black Adam: I know who killed BJnck Adam. But, Igod, It needn't to worry Bill Dale none 1 Git this here, mother dear? whoever It was done It shore ain't a-goin' to let nary hnir in Bill Dale's head suffer fo' It!" One of old Granny Heck's bony fingers shot out toward her son like a weapon. "It was you, By 1" she accused. "It was you killed Black Adam Ball ! Now own up to me, son, and I'll bake ye some cawnbroad with algs and bawgrenderln's In It Wasn't It von th?>+ done It?" By Heck looked toward some fleecy white clouds that were sailing slowly, like ships of silver and penrl In a sunny cerulean sea, over the rugged crest of the majestic Big pine. "The's sain In the air," he drawled. "Kf It don't rain today, it'll rain tonight ; and cf it don't mIn tonight. It'll rain tomorrer. Yeuh; the's mil In the air, mother, as shore as duu? inlt." CHAPTER XII. Jailed. Cartersvllle nestles close between the 'points of two outlying foothills, and it Is a delightfully lazy and oldfashioned town. For the most part it Is made up of gabled old hrtck houses, which have pretty settings of green lawn, roses, honeysuckles and trees. Bven In the small business district, the streets are lined with trees. They have electric lights there, aiul water mains, a common school and a high school, a courthouse, a Jail and a theater. It was a little after nightfall when Dale and the other two men rode through the shaded streets. Dale noted that the people they met under the swinging lights spoke cordially and with marked'courtesy to his companions. It was very evident that the officer and Major Bradley were iu high standing In their home town. Sheriff Torn Flowers drew In before n nitcning-racic thnt stood In front of the courthouse, a ((rent old wooden building with a clock In Its tower. "We'll dismount here," said he. They did. The major took the rein of Dale's horse. "I'll see that the animal Is well cared for, sir," he said to Dale. "And as soon as 1 have seen to oui horses, I'll he with yon. I wish to talk matters over with you. Suppose I bring supper for us both, eh?" Dale thanked Bradley, and turned away with the officer. They walked a short block and entered a low, square building of brick and stone of which the windows were small and high and barred with Iron. Dale knew that It wa*.th? Csrtersvllie Jail, and his heart -*- . ,i "~"r .r Win, so also was this" entirely new tt hint. ' - ' - Flowers took n ring of heavy keys Worn the hand of the Juller, suit led the way down- n whitewashed corridor. It was not yet hedtlme, and the other prisoners Were still up: some of them Wore rending newspapers, others were trying to mend their clothing, still others were doing nothing. A few of them called out boldly and bade the new prisoner welcome?and each of these teeelved a gruff order from the sheriff 10 keep quiet. Dale paid no attention whatever to his - would-be tormentors.. At an Iron door at the end of the corridor, the officer halted and faced about. ti ui?re rvuiu oe sucn a tiling as a comfortable cell here," be said In low and kindly tones, "It's this one." He went on earnestly: "Now I want you to believe ihe when I tell*you that It Is with real regret that 1 put you behind a door of lk>n.' But If I didn't do It, somebody dlse would do It; and It's possible that I can be a ifttle more decent about It *than another officer would be." "I 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 tha door aod went away. Dale began to Inspect his quarters. To all appearance*'they were at least clean. There was a narrow bed covered with a pair of gray blankets, a I stool and a soapbofr," And nothing more. The light In the corridor behind him made snaky black Hrtes of bar-shadows on the brick partition walls and the outer wall of stone. Dale shuddered In spite of himself/. lie put up one hand and turned*-on a small ltjcht. | which dissipated the uncanny shadows?and showed him a line from Dante's "Inferno" that to him seemed very miserable; some' former oeeupnnt of that cell hnd written It with charcoal on the whitewashed outer wall. Then Dale sat wearily down on the narrow bed, leaned-tits head upon his , hands, and began to 'think. He had always wanted difficulties to overcome, barrier#'to surmount, a work to do, n fight til fight for hlm' self. In full measurt*. he had found them every on. He did not doubt his I ability to overcome tK# difficulties, suri mount the barriers, do' his work well and fight his fight *9 a good man flglrts, and win -If it Were not for the | charge of having shof fcnd killed Black Adam Ball 1 It seerrflM to him now thnt*th?t must end all that was worth while for him. Foi* that was more than a difficulty, more than a barrier. He flm y believed 'that It had been ! his bulle' that hail flniah*?<i existence of the giant hlllman. True, it had been an accident But nosv was he to convince a jury fruit it had been un 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?hut he ! could not reasonably expect deliverance from tlint source. If only he had j held down his abominable, savage temper; If only he had? Major Bradley interrupted his unpleasant train of thought. "No brooding there, my boyl" Dale looked up. The old attorney, as neat In appearance as though he had not even seen a saddle that day, was standing Just outside the hateful door of bars. Beside him stood a whlteclad negro boy with a big tray of steaming food on one hand and a pot of steaming coffee In the other. The Jailer came and unlocked the door; nlso he very considerately brought another stool and fresh water. The major entered the cell, and the ne?rofollow?di__i__^ amum Money b?ck without question /I If HUNT S OUAKANTKF.D ih\ 8KIN DISK ASK RKMEDIKS /T. 1^1 (Hunt's Salve nnd So;ip>,(ai1 Inf?? I the treatment of Itch, Kcienm, J I Rlnirworm.Tetterorotherlt'-h- f jM! /I Inf akin diaenaea. Try thic * " ' treatment at our riak. f D. H. LANEY, DKifgial R. L. McMANUS" Dentift ? ? -f Chcraw. S. C..' Beginning June 1st, 1921, I will practice at Chesterfield Mondays and on Wednesday evenings; at Pageland Tuesday, at Mt. Croghan, Wednesday morning of each week. At Cheraw 'Ihut.-day, Friday and Saturday. 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T-v.~ f.. ? / - .-v.- ? 'U]| V- * ?" ' I,, ,v. ,i, r. . .'-An amrsed twinkle appeared tn Dale*" a* Bradley put the tray down 4>u tlta soapbox t ' There was enough for Ave thresblng-niuclilx.t hands! The hlnCk hoy was gent to the front door to wait. "I thought you'd be m hungry as I am, and I'm as hungry as poor old By Heelt ever was I" laughed the major, as he sat down and began to pour the coffee. "Riding always made me us hungry as a bear in April. Light right Into It, Dale. There's nothlDg 1 like a good steak, for any meal, when I a fellow is half starved; eh, Dale? I Try that one, won't you? I told Mnssen' gale I'd cause his beheadment if these I steaks weren't perfect. Massetigale," he 1 added, "runs the hotel here, the Eureka Funeral Parlors, and the OnePrice Clothing Emporium." "I wonder," settled BUI Dale, "what he does with his spare time?" I Bradley' laughed, his eyes twinkling j merrily. Dale found that he too was hungry, now that suvory odors had invaded his nostrils. A minute later, and he had pronounced his steak delicious. "Masseinrn 1p Rhnii r?r?? ?... 0?? uvi. ouiioi ur* heudiuent," said the major; and he 1 began to carve his own steak. It was an excellent meal, the grlni surroundings notwithstanding. When I It was over, the negro boy came and ' took away the dishes, and received with a gladsome grin the two silver coins that were given him. Then Bradley produced a handful of cigars, and two of them were promptly lighted. "Now, sir," said the old lawyer, "1 feel like talking, l^et's see, you gave your man Hayes orders to carry the work right aloug as though nothing had happened, didn't you? And the sheriff Is to go hack the day alter tomorrow to arrest two or three Balls and two or three Torreys, to see what he can tind out concerning the dynamiting of the two buildings and tlie , trestle?today was not n good time to make tiie arrests. Am I correct?" "Correct," nodded Dale. Bradley regarded his cigar thoughtI fully. "Now," he suld In a low tone, suddenly lifting his gaze to the other's face, "tell me about the thing that brought you hei-e. Don't omit even the slightest detail. Nobody can overhear you If you will hold your voice down. These walls are very thick, you see. Well, you may begin." In carefully guarded tones,. BUI Dale gave a straightforward account of the whole unfortunate occurrence. The major listened Intently to every word of it, so Intently that he allowed his cigar to go out. Often he stopped his client and asked him to repeat certain portions of the story In order that he might be doubly sure of s point. As Major Bradley rose to ask the jailer to come and let htm out. Dale muttered downheartedly: i "Tell me, major: what do you think of my case? It looks rather had. uoesu'i iii" | "Not bad enough to warrant your feeling blue over it, my hoy l" said Bradley, showing his polished white teeth in a smile that was meant to be reassuring. "I think we'll get you out v. >w mjjrtvnjr, uuui worry tlbuui It Worry will kill a cat, they say! Yon didn't kill Adam Ball. John Moreland had tangbt you how to shoot pretty well; and If you took even half as careful an aim as you think you did, you couldn't have missed Ball's hat by so much. M1 have an Idea, Dale," he resumed, "that If we knew who fired that third I shot we'd know who did for BalL It might have been done In order to savs you. Ball was noted, I understand, as an unfulr and tricky fighter. lie inlght have been trying to trick you when ' ?f Webster's i New International i : DICTIONARIES are in use by busi\ ness men, engineers, bankers, : judges, architects, physicians, : farmers, teachers, librarians, cler- ' gym en, by successful men and ' \ woman the world over. Are You Equipped to WinJ . : The New International provides : the means to success. It is an all- : knowing teacher, a universal ques: tion answerer. 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Tqledo, Ohio, Is a constitutional remedy. Is taken internally and acts thru the Blood on the Mucous Surfaces of the System. One Hundred Dollars reward is offered for stay case that Hall's' CpMffffll .Medicine foils to cure. Send for circulars and testimonials. - P..J- CHEN ICY St CO., Toledo, Ohio. ... ^ n : . -r . ._?? ' * f , be rose and fell groaning. Perhaps lie meant to draw you into the open, that ' he might have a clean shot at you. Eh?" Dale shook his head gopmily. "Hardly plausible. major. In that event there was nothing against the man whose oullet finished Ball, because he did It to save me; and he would have owned to It anil prevented my arrest. A man who liked uie well enough to kill Ball to snve m.v life would like me well enough to confess and save me from suffering for It. I ' am sure of that, major." "Ah. my boy," smiled the older of the two,, "you don't yet know the mounI tain heart. Jail Is a terrible thing to the Uberty-lovlng mountaineer. But 1 love of you, and love of fulr-denling, j will soon overcome the fear of Jail, and you will be freed?If what I strongly suspect proves to he well founded. I'll leave you now, Dale. I'll see you lu the morning, sir. Goodnight I" j When his optimistic attorney had gone, Dale glanced once more at the to him miserable line from Dante's "Inferno," and began to remove h't ' outer clothing preparatory to going to bed. He did not feel anything like so confident concerning the outcome of his trial as Major Bradley evidently felt. TUen he became even more dejected, and be told himself that the major bad spoken so reassuringly merely to help him keep up heart. The night passed, and another bright summer day dawned, and In the Cartersvllle Jail there wns one prisoner who had not slept at all. Each of those long and heavy blnck hours had been an age to this prisoner to whom Jail was so new. ' At noon a furious windstorm, accompanied by much vivid lightning and blinding rain, sprang out of the | west and began to sweep the countryside and out of the lowering wet gloom there came one to deliver Bill Dale, j He was a mountaineer, young and stal| wart and strong, and about him there ! was much of that certain English Hnej ness that was so striking in hlk father. ] He entered the low, square building | of brick and stone and stopped in the | center the corridor, where he stood. I vhlle water ran from his wet clothing ( and gathered In little pools at h * feet, and looked to his right ami to his left, j Dale saw him, and cried out In sur- I prise: -Caleb ln Caleb Moreland walked straight, bis ] head up and tils shoulders back, a splendid picture of virile young man- : hood, to the end of the corridor, lie j gripped two of the door's hated bars, liars that had long been worn smooth by other human hands; he pressed his ; smoothly shaven, sunburned face against the Iron, and smiled. "How are ye a-feelin* by this time, Bill? It's some h?1 of a place, ain't It?" i Dale took a step toward him. "Well, n queen's boudoir Is nicer. What are you doing here, cjaier "I've come to set you free," said Caleb Moreland. Dale stared unbelievingly. "Rut that la Impossible, Cale. How could you set me free?" "Gall Tom Flowers, and I'll sight ye." Dale called, and the officer came immediately. Caleb Moreland turned from the cell door and faced hint. "I've come here to own up to the klllln' o' Rl.ick Adam Ball," began the young hillmun. He swallowed, went a trifle pale under his tan, and continued bravely: "Bill Dale tliar, he never done It I am the one 'at done It. Bill be shot at Adam, but be missed?Adam bad done shot at Bill fust y'onderstand, Tom. We have a high power, fast cutting in use*11 ior sawing loprs to am Lever control starts and stop.i saw. Wamble Hill National Is authorized to take and file Land Bank of Columbia. Rate of interest G per cent. Loan The Federal Land Bank will lo per cent, on insurable iniprovem Filing your application with W Association is the first step tak Federal Land Bank of Columbi The bank will complete all loai make the money available. The bank desires to meet the n< application will insure you to g The Wamble Mill National Fai business in the entire county, a services if loan is made, other w ( cost. Bring your land deed for ii tion. B. J. Douglas Wamble Hill b Office in Rear of Bank < ~Hardv Furni Farming j Going At Greatly But I didn't inles. 1 don't never mica. 1 I'm a plumb tombstone shot. 'They J alius rules me out at any shoo tin' ..'3 match. I'd ha' owned up to H yeste'- 1 day, but the thought o' Jail had me skeered bad. I Jost caln't let as good j u inn n as Bill Dule thar suffer fo' a j tiling 1 done myself. So you let htm out, Tom, and put the right man In thar." Flowers had a good heart, and this touched It But he was not very much surprised. "Tell us about It, Caleb," he requested. Caleb looked toward Dale, then he faced the lord of Cnrtorsvllle's little prison again. "Well, shurlff, when I seed Bill Dale go olf toward the trnstle by hlsself and alone, I knowed right then he was In danger o' beln' I ay way ed by some o* them thar lowdown Balls and Cherokee Torreys. So I decides to fuller ntter him and gyurd him, without him a-knowln' anything about It, which same I done. When he met Adam Ball?" He broke off abruptly. "Go on." urged Flowers. "I reckon I won't" smiled Caleb, and his eyes were still twinkling. "I reckon I won't do no more tnlkln' Jest now. Yes, I reckon the proper place fo' me to do my big talkln* Is In the co'tehouse at my trial. Lock me up will ye Tom?" "We'll see," said Flowers. Forthwith he dispatched a deputy for Judge Carter &r,d Major Bradley, who hastened to the Jnll. An hour Inter Caleb Morelnnd was the occupant of the cell nt the en.i the whitewashed corridor, nod Dale whs mounting his bay horse Pox to ride baci* Into the heart of the everlasting hills. He arrived two hours after nightfall. The MoreJnnds were glad to see him, and the Llttlefords were glad to see him. There was rejoicing there In the broad valley that lies between David Morelnnd's mountain and the Big line. Everybody had been expecting him, and many were the pnirs of eyes that had been watching for him. He found himself suddenly wishing, with a tightening at his throat, that his father could know how much bigger and how much better it was to be thus esteemed than to be wealthy. Luke took charge of his tired horse and led it away to the old log barn and to some fifteen ears of yellow corn. Luke's father escorted him proudly, the guest of honor, In to one of Addle Morelnnd's IncompnrahJe oldfashioned suppers, which was none the worse for being late. Several I.lttlefords sat at the long, homemade table. John Morelnnd turned up the light n little, and cracked a worn but timely Joke; '.hen he looked toward one of th? men whom he hod fought throughout many years, and muttered Into his thick brown beard: "Saul, friend, will ye do us the rarer o' ax In' the blessin', ef ye please 7'* "shore, John, u" i-uui w." Saul I.lttleford, the very Illiterate, laced his big tingers together across his plute, bent bis head, and told the good Almighty that they were all very much obliged to IIUii for the flue supper they hud before tliem, for Addle Morcluud who hud cooked It, for peace, and for Bill DaJe. . . . It was almost inlilnlolit tlm visitors left. They liud heeu sitting outside, on the honeysuckle-scented front porch uiul in the cabin yard. At last Itlll Dale and John Mnreluud were left together on the porch. "There's u thing tliut has puzzled nie since the moment I got here this evening." said l?ule. "Why Is It that nobody seems to he grieving over (Continued on Lust Pago) out lit forced feed, a complete power / length. Does the work of si>: to ten men. l.ever control of blade whilc engine is running. Have g good assortment of Gasoline Engine v All equipped with Bosch Magneto and offered at factory prices. COLUMBIA SUPPLY CO. 823 W. Gervais St., Columbia, S. C. Farm Loan Association applications with the Federal s made on improved farm lands, an 50 per cent, on land and 20 icnts. amble Hill National Farm Loan en to secure a loan through the iais as fast as it can sell bonds to >eds of the farmer, and an early et your loan quicker. *m Association is entitled to do nd it charges 1 per cent tor its ise all is refunded except actual nspection when making applicas, Sec. Treas. t. f. a. sf Chesterfield Building rare, ture, ) Tools ! O-J J D?: ' ixeuuceu i rices