Mexico Missouri message., 1914-12-31

81 seed Jim Asberry loann' rouno
lest beyond Their ridge. as l rid over
hyar." volunteered the man who had
brought the message.
go slow now, Samson. Don't be no
blame fool" dissuaded VILE McCager.
"Hixon's plumb full of them Hollmans.
an they're likely ter be full OF Ticker
hits Saturday Hits apt ter be shore
death fer we ter try ter ride through
Main street--ef We gifts tibet far. re
dassent do hit"
81 dast do anything" asserted the
boy, with q flash of sudden anger.
Some liar lowed awhile ago tibet l
was a coward. All right, mebby / be.
Unc' vile, keep the boys hyar tell ye
hears from mean keep 'em sober.
He turned and made his way to the
fence where his mule stood hitched.
When Samson crossed the ridge and
entered the Holman country. Jim As
berry, watching from hilltop point OF
vantage, rose and mounted the horse
that stood hitched behind a nearby
screen OF rhododendron bushes and
young cedars. Sometimes. he rode just
one bend Of the road in Samson's rear.
Sometimes. he took short cuts, and
watched his enemy pass. But always
he held him under a vigilant eye.
Finally, he reached wayeide store
where a local telephone gave communi-
cation with Hollman's Mammoth De-
partment store.
"Jedge," he informed, samson
South's done left the party ct Their
mill. an he's a-ridin' towards town.
Shall / git him?"
rs he comm by hisself?" inquired
the storekeeper.
yes"
well. Jest let him come on. We
can tend ter him hyar, eff necessary"
So Jim withheld his hand, and merely
Swallowed, sending bulletins, from time
to time.
1t was about three o'clock when Sam
son started. II was near six when he
reached the ribbon Of road that loops
down into town over the mountain.
knew that he was being spied upon,
and that word. of his coming was trav-
cling ahead of him. What he did not
know was whether or not 1t suited
Jesse Purvys purpose that he should
slide from his mule. dead, before he
turned homeward. If Tamarack had
been seized as a declaration OF war.
the chief South would certainly not
be allowed to return. II the arrest had
not been for feud reasons, he might
escape. That was the question which
would be answered with his life or
death.
The "jailhouse" was a small build
ing of homemade brick. souatting at
the rear OF the courthouse yard. AS
Samson drew near, he saw that some
ten or twelve men, armed with rifles,
separated from groups and disposed
themselves behind the tree trunks and
the stone coping of the well. None of
them spoke, and Samson pretended
that he had not seen them. He rode
his mule at walk, knowing that he
was rifle-covered from q half-dozen
windows. At the hitching rack direct
ly beneath the county building. he
flung his reins over post. and, swing
ing his rifle at his side, passed eau
tiously along the brick walk to the
Jail. The men behind the trees edged
around their covers as he went. keep
ing themselves protected, as squirrels
creep around trunk when hunter ia
lurking below. Samson halted at the
Jail wall, and called the prisoners
name A tousled head and surly face
appeared at the barred window. ami
the boy went over and held converse
from the outside.
How in hell did ye git into town."
demanded the prisoner.
81 rid in" was the short reply.
How'd we git in the jailhouse?"
The captive was shamefaced.
Il got q leetle too much ticker, an
was shootin' out the lights last night"
he confessed.
What business did we have hyar In
Hixon?"
81 Jest slipped in ter see a gal"
Samson leaned closer. and lowered
his voice.
Does they know tibet ye shot them
shoots at Jesse Purvy?"
Tamarack turned pale.
NO" he stammered. they believe
you done hit"
Samson laughed. He was thinking
of the rifles trained on him from q
dozen invisible rests.
How long air they a-goin' ter keep
We hyar?" he demanded.
81 kin git out tomorrer eff pays the
fine. Hits ten dollars"
And eff 20 don't pay the fine?"
Hits a dollar day."
81 reckon ye don't low ter pay hit.
do ye?"
81 lowed mebby ye mout pay hit fer
me, Samson"
"Ye done lowed plumb wrong.
come hyar ter see eff ye needed help.
but hit pears ter me they're lettin' ye