The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1912-12-10

the sketch with a face that slowly
softened to an expression OF amazed
admiration. Finally he took up the
square Of academy board with ten
der care OF which his rough hands
would have seemed incapable and
stood stock still. presenting an anoma-
lous figure In his rough clothes as his
eyes grew almost idolatrous Then
he brought the landscape over to It's
creator, and, though no word was
spoken, there flashed between the eyes
of the artist. whose signature gave to
q canvas the value Of precious stone,
and the jeans-clad boy whose destiny
was that OF the vendetta, subtle.
wordless message. II was the coun-
tersign OF brothers-in-b blood who rec
ognlze in each other the bond Of a
mutual passion.
The boy and the girl, under Lescott's
direction, packed the outfit and stored
the canvas in the protecting top OF the
box. Then, while Sally turned and
strobe down creek in search OF Les
colts lost mount. the two men rode
upstream in silence. Finally Samson
spoke slowly and diffidently.
stranger" he ventured. "ef hit
hain't askin' too much, will ye let me
see ye paint one OF them thingsT
GLADLY" was the prompt reply.
Then the boy added covertly
Don't say nothin' erbout hit ter
none OF these folks. They'd devil me-"
The dusk was falling now, and the
hollows choking with mprk.
Were nigh home now" said Sam
son at the end OF some minutes silent
ploddlng. Hits right beyond thet
thar bend"
Then they rounded point OF tim
Der and came upon n small party OF
men whose attitudes even In the dim.
ming light conveyed a subtle sugges-
tion of portent.
"Thet you, Samson?" called an old
mans voice, which was still very deep
and powerful.
Hello, Unc' Spencer!" replied the
boy.
Then followed q silence unbroken
until the mule reached the group. re-
vealing that besides the boy another
, man-and a strange man-had joined
their number.
"Evenln'. stranger" they greeted
him, gravely; then again they fell
silent, and in their silence was evil
| dent constraint.
This hyar mans a furriner," an.
nounced Samson. briefly. "He fell
] often a rock an got hurt. ] lowed
| I'd fotch him home ter stay all night"
The elderly man who had hailed the
boy nodded, but with an evident an
noyance. II seemed that to him the
others deferred as to a commanding
officer. The cortege remounted and
rode slowly toward the house. At last
the elderly man came alongside the
mule and inquired:
Samson, where was ye last night?"
"Thet's my business"
"Mebbe hit amt" The old noun
taineer spoke with no resentment, but
deep gravity. We've been powerful
Uneasy erbout ye. Hev ye heered the
news?"
what news?" The boy put the
| question noncommittally
Jesse Purvy wac shot this morn.
ing"
The boy vouchsafed no reply.
"The mail rider done told hit.
Somebody shot five shoots from the
laurel. Purvy hain't died yit
Some says as how his folks
has Gent ter Lexington fer blood
hounds"
The boys eyes began to smolder
hatefully.
81 reckon" he spoke slowly. "he
didn't git shot none too soon."
"Samson!" The old mans voice had
the ring OF determined authority
when dies yen be the head OF the
Souths, but so long es I'm a-runnin
this hyar family keeps my word ter
friend an foe alike. reckon Jesse
Purvy knows who got yore pap, but
up till now no South hain't never
busted no truce"
The boys voice dropped its softness
and took on n shrill crescendo of eX
citement as he flashed out his retort
"Who said a South has done busted
the truce this timer"
Old Spicer South gazed searchingly
at his nephew.
GRO BE CoNTINUED)