Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-12-14
CHAPTER II.

CHAPTER 10.
Sally clambered lightly over the
fence and started on the last etage OF
her journey. the climb across the
young corn rows It was field stood
on end, and the hoed ground was I'm.
even; but with no seeming Of weari.
ness her red dress flashed steadfastly
across the green spears, and her voice
wac raised to shout: Hello. Samson!"
The young man looked up and waved
languid greeting. He did not remove
his hat or descend from his place OF
rest, and Sally. who expected no such
attention. came smilingly on. Samson
was her hero. Slow OF utterance and
difiident with the stranger, words now
came fast and nuently as she told her
story of the man who lay hurt at the
foot OF the rock.
Hit haint long now tell shutdown"
she urged. Hurry. Samson, an git
yore mule. I've done give him my
promise ter fotch We right straight
back"
Samson took OH his hat. and tossed
the heavy lock upward from his fore
head. His brow wrinkled with doubts.
What sort of lookin' feller air he?"
While Sally sketched description.
the young name doubt grew graver.
This hain't no At time ter be takin'
In folks what We hain't acquainted
with" he objected. In the mountains
any time is the time to take in strang-
ers unless there are secrets to be
guarded from outside eyes.
why haint it?" demanded the girl.
Hes hurt. We KANT leave him layin'
thar, kin we?"
Suddenly her eyes caught sight OF
the rifle leaning near by. and straight.
way they nlled with apprehension.
Her militant love would have turned
to hate for Samson, should he have
proved recreant to the mission Of re-
prisal in which he was biding his time.
yet the coming Of the day when the
truce must end haunted her thoughts
She came close. and her voice sank
with her sinking heart.
"y. hat air hit?" she tensely demand
ed. What air hit. Samson? What
fer hev ye fetched yer gun ter the
deld!" ei'F l'i
The boy laughed. "oh. hit sin't
nothin' pertic1er." he treasured. Hit
hain't nothin' fer . gal ter fret herself
erbout. only kinder suspicious
strangers Jest now"
"Air the truce busted?" She put the
preston In . tense. deep-breathed
whisper, and the boy replied casually.
almost indiherently.
mo. Sally. hit hain't Jest ter say
busted, but pears like hits right
smart cracked. reckon, though, he
added In half-disgust. "nothin' won't
come OF hit"
Somewhat treasured, she bethougnt
herself again Of her mission.
This here furriner hain't got no
harm in him, Samson" she pleaded.
"He pears ter be more like gal than
a man. He's real puny. He's got
white skin and = bow Of ribbon on
hts neck-an' he paints pictchers."
The boys face had been hardening
with contempt IS the description ad-
vanced. but 1t the last words glow
came to his eyes, and he demanded
almost brsathlessly:
Paints pictchers? How do ye know
THAR"
II seen EN-. He was painttn' one
when he fey oRsn the rock and busted
his arm. It's shore es beautiful es-"
she broke OF, then added with sud-
den peal OF laughter-"es er FLETCHER"
The young man slipped down from
the fence, and reached for the rife.
The hoe he left where II stood.
'IIl GIT the nag" he announced
briefly, and swung on without further
parley toward the curling spiral OF
smoke that marked q cabin q quarter
| OF q mile below. Ten minutes later
his bare feet swung against the ribs
| of . gray mule and his rife lay bal
| anced across the unsaddled withers.
Sally sat mountain fashion behind
him, facing straight to the side.
So they came along the creek bed
and into the sight Of the man who
still sat propped against the messy
rock. As Lescott looked up he closed
the case Of his watch and put 1t back
into his pocket With smile.
"Snappy work, that" he called out
Just thirty-three minutes. didn't
believe it could be done.
Samsons face was masklike. but
as he surveyed tho foreigner, only the
ingrained dictates Of the countrya
hospitable code kept out OF his eyes
a CLEAN Of scorn for this frail mem
Der Of sex which should be staiwart
Z "Howdy?" he said. Then he added
suspiciously: What mout yer bust
ness be in these parts, stranger"
Lescott gave the Odyssey Of his wan
derings. since he had rented mule
at Hixon and ridden through the coun
try, sketching where the mood prompt
ed and sleeping wherever he fou--d 4
hospitable roof 1t the coming of tn
evening.
I'VE come from over on Cripple
shinr The boy flashed the question
with q sudden hardening Of the voice
and, when he was ahrmatively ans
swered, his eyes contracted and bore'
searchingly into the strangers face
"Whers'd 70 put up last night?"
Red Bill Hollman's house, 1T tn
mouth Of Meeting House fork: do yol
know the placer"
Samson's reply was curt.
II knows hit all right"
There was Q moments pause