The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-09-09

ing rifles, galloped up Their horses were
covered with sweat and showed other evil
| dences of rapid riding
80. Clay, honey. yo're safe air yo' ~
! gasped Miriam, rs she slid from her saddle
! into Pollock's arms and kissed him convul-
| sively. Il WIZ powerfully skeered about
yo Big jim Hoskins an his hull gang went
by the house this mornin' goin' this way.
| They WIZ ull o OF Soils likker, hoflerln' fur
jeff Davis cussin' we'uns fur traitors, all
sayin' they'u wuz a-gwine t hang 20. |
blowed the horn fur the boys, all mounted
an cut acrost every way we knowed t Slt
heah ahead O they 'uns.'
Bless your dear heart" said Pollock,
smoothing her hair which had blown into
utter confusion, I'm awful glad t. see 20,
no matter when or why yo' come But
haint seed nothin vito Big Jim. | jest done
stood off Sam Griggs and his posse with the
| broadax. Hit wnz funny. | sassed Sam till
got him rilin'; he wanted t Jump me- but
his lver's too white He started t. make a
motion tod his revolver, but then he looked
at the broadax, an his gorge riz agin bein'
sliced in two. He didn't want that nice new
uniform kunnel Rhea gin lin spilled.
After Pollock and Miriam had Gained down
somewhat the ever-absorbing theme of their
home asserted itself Miriam was delighted
with tire amount of work Pollock had done
since her last visit She knew every loo that
he had hewn for the walls. every stone that
he had laid for the foundations. She exam
ined each critically, and found so much to
praise that Pollock s heart was filled with as
| nigh and pure a JOY rs can come to the soul
of man-that OF appreciation of the labor he
does for the comfort and happiness of the
woman he loves.
Hand IN hand they walk about, planning
over again where they would put the stable,
the smoke-house, the kitchen, the mill-house,
the cribs, the weaving shed, and the other
accessories Of their homestead. They stood on
the TO ndation walls, and admired the view
v hich would be theirs through all the years
which they would spend together in the
house, and again they went over every detail
OF the construction.
They were interrupted l,v Reuben deserving
Big Jim Hoskins and his men coming down
the hill. Pollock walked over to the tree against
which he had set his rifle, with the bullet
pouch and powder-horn hanging on it.
i won't have a particle o. need fur hit, "
he said as he came back; "but havn' hit in
hand viii save a sight of time an taikin."
He was right Big Jim and his crowd set
up yell as they came in sight fondly hoping
the woods Bat the yell died ont as they saw
Pollock with the other three calmly seated on
the halfhewed log, with their rifles in their
hands, apparently enjoying the brightness of
the day and the sweet songs of the birds.
Big Jim tried to maintain a defiant even
menacIng, air as he passed. but he was careful
not TO carry this too far, and the Others
slouclied along with downcast eyes, as was
their custom
They disappeared over the rising ground,
and Pol!0ck's and Miriam thoughts reverted
20 their future home, Bildad to the condi-
ton OF his mettlesome young horse, and Reu-
bens to a frolic with his dog after ground
squirrel, which they had about as much
chance of catching as they did OF finding the
pot Of gold at the end OF rainbow.
Capt. Sam Griggs had reached Col. Rhea
and reported 10 him his Tenconter with Pol
lock The Colonel's face grew very black.
Why didn't you bring HIM along?" he
asked s,ernly.
- ! couldn't without fout," said Criggs
alphabetically. Il know Clay Pollock an
yo know him, Kunnel. He'll fout every
time, an fout 10 Kill. He WAS standn' on
his own ground, an hadn't done notlin' but
sass me an tie Southern Coniede:8cy !
hadn't no warrant nor orders agiu him. an
didn't want { take the responsibility % kill
in him, IN hayin' someone else killed with
out beH' sartain that had the law behind me-"
. This is a state Of war, said tie Colonel
" War actually exists 1t was begun when
our people 1irel ON Fort Sumter We must
not allow ourselves to BE- deled by open
traitors among our own people. Henry Clay
Pollock is a dangerous man. He is an ex-
ample and an encouragement to other men TO
and the Confederate States OF America We
must make an example OF him to discourage
others who think and act IKE him III give
you written order to appIehcnd him and
bring i'm into camp dead or alive Take
as many men as you need, but bring him in.
90 ii once"
Gricgss face did not show unqualified
pleasure ut receiving this assignment OF duty.
lie was torn between conflicting emotions
lie was ashamed TO take with him a large
squad merely 10 arrest one man, and yet he
was sure that he could only get Pollock by
means of an oyerpowering force.
He turned over iii his mind several men in
his company who had a reputation for &C.
casional acts Of hot-headed reckIessness.
Could they be stirred up TO rush upon Pol
lock and grapple with him regardless OF conse-
Guences to themselves? The invoice was not
satisfactory.
:. Buck Canton" he said to himself is
pizen TO cut an Shoot when he's dancin'
drunk an 'mong a Sang-digger crowd, but
he'd wilt when he's sober and in front o. sich
a man rs Clay Pollock. Same with Pate
Claybauk. He's a fghtin' cock among
dominiclls but doninicls among real fightin'
cocks Wash higgins Is another domInick
jeff Wilson's a bull headed fighter, but some
body got to 20 ahead and lead him Hits
50 ali through. They're all dominicl,s, but
they're all I've got, an | must do the best
! Kin with 'em. I'll mount 10 or - o. 'em
crijteT-back, have em take their guns, an
wei manage TO git Pollock somehow. but
he's likely t. be much more dead than alive"
II WAS the sight OF this cayalcade which
again interrupted Poilocl,'s and Miriam's
planning for the future They at once com
pretended that Gfigg5 returned with more
determined intent than before and that this
time the matter was likely to pass beyond
vaponng and threatening.
Git on 20 mare, honey" said Pollock to
Miriam, an ride up to that shoulder o. the
hill thar Yo kin see all that's gwine on
jest well, an be entirely safe"