The Huttig news., 1914-12-12


 Souths, but so long es I'm a-runnin' this hyar family I keeps my word ter friend an foe alike. l reckon Jesse Purvy knows who got yore pap, but up till now no South hain't never busted no truce"
 The boys voice dropped it's soctnoss and took on a shrill crescendo of ex- citement as he flashed out his retort.
 Who said South has done busted the truce this time?"
 Old Spicer South gazed searchsngly at his nephew
 q haint a-wantin' ter suspicion ye, Samson. but 1 know how ye feels about yore pap. ! heered thet Bud Spicer come by hyar yistiddy plumb full of liquor an lowed he'd seen Jesse an Jim Asberry a-talkin' ter gether jest afore yore pap was kilt" /" lie broke eff abruptly. then added : "Ye went away from hyar last night, an didn't git in twell alter sunup-I inst heered the news, an come ter look fer ye
 Air You-aIl lowln thet I shot them shoots from The laurel?, inquired Sam son quietly.
 'Ef we-ali hain't lowin' hit, Sam son were plumb shore thet Jesse PurYys folks will low hit. They're jest a-holdin yore fife like hostage fer Pugyys, anyhow Ef he dies they'll trv ter git ye
 The boy fe shed a challenge about the group, which was now drawing rein at spicer Souths yard fence. His eyes were sullen, but he made no an. swer.
 One Of the men who had listened in silence now spoke:
 "ln the fust place Samson. we tain't a-sayin ye done hit In the nex' place, ef ye cid do hit we hain't a.blamin ye-maeh Eut reckon them daWgs don't lie, an ef they trails in hYar yell need US. Thets why we've done come.
 The boy slipped down from his mule and helped Leseott to dismount He deliberately unloaded the saddlebags and kit and laid them on the top step Of the stile, and, while he held his peace. neither denying nor affirming, his kinsnen sat their horses and waited
 Even to Leseott it was palpable that some of them believed the young beir to clan leadership responsible for the shooting of Jesse Purvy, and that others believed him innocent, yet none l the less in danger of the enemy's ven geance. But, regardless Of divided opinion. all were alike ready to stand at his back and all alike awaited his final utteranee.
 Then, in tha thickening gloom, Sam. son turned at the feot Of the stile and faced the gathering He stoo6 rigid, and his eyes flashed with dc passion. His hands, hanging at tht seams of his jeans brooches, clinehad and his voice came in slow utter ance through which throbbed the ten. sity of a soul-absorbing bitterness.
 T knowed all bout Jesse Purvy's bein' shot. When my pap lay a-dyin' over thar al his house I was a little shaver ten years old Jesse Purvy hired somebody ter kill him an l promised my pap that I'd find out who thet man was. an thet I'd git 'em both-some day. So help me, God Almighty, I'm a-goin ter git 'em hoih-some day!" The boy paused and lifted one hand as though taking an oath.
 I'm a-tellin' you-aH the truth But didn't shoot them shoots this mornin. l haint no truce buster. gives ye my hand on hit. Ef them dawgs come hyar they'll find me hyar. an eff they hain't liars they Il go right by hyar. 1 don't low ter run away an don't low ter hida out I'm a-goin ter stay right hyar. Thets all I've got ter say ter ye."
 For moment there was no reply. Then the older man nodded with a gesture of relieved anxiety
 "Thet's all we wants ter know, Sam son, he said, slowly Light, men an come in."