The Huttig news., 1914-12-19
CHAPTER V.

From time to time that day, neigh bors had ridden up to Spicer South's stile, and drawn rein for gossip. These men brought bulletins as to the prog ress of the hounds, and near sundown, as postscript to their information a volley of gunshot signals sounded from a mountain top. No word was spoken, but i'll common accord the kinsmen rose from their chairs. and drifted to- ward their leaning rifles.
 They're a-comin' hyar." said the. head of the house, curtly. Samson ought ter be home. Whars Tam'rack?'
 No one had noticed his absence un- til that moment, nor was he to be found. A few minutes later. Samson's figure swung into sight, and his uncle met him at the fence.
 Samson, I've done asked ye all the questions I'm a-goin' ter ask ye," he said, but them dawgs Is maxim fer this house. They've jest been sighted a mile below"
 Samson nodded.
 "Now"-Spicer South's face hard. ened--"I owns down thar ter the road No man kin cross that fence withouten I choose ter give him leave. Elf ye wants ter go indoors an stay thar. ye kin do hit--an' no dawg ner no man hain't a-goin' ter ask ye no questions. But, eff ye sees fit ter face hit out, I'd love ter prove ter these hyar men thet us Souths don't break our word. We done agreed ter this truce. I'd like ter invite 'em in, an let them damn dawgs sniff round the feet Of every man i'm my house-an' then. when they're, plumb teetotally damn satisfied, I'd like ter tell 'em all ter go ter he'll Thet's the way feels. but I'm a-goin' ter do jest what ye says"
 Lescott did not overhear the con. versation in full, but he saw the old mans face work with suppressed pas sion, and he caught Samson's louder reply.
 When them folks gets hyar, Unclss Spicer, I'm a-goin' ter be a-settsns right out thar in front I'm plumb, willin' ter invite 'em in" Then, the two men turned toward the house.
 Already the other clansmen had dis ,.ppeared noiselessly through the door or around the angles of the walls.
 Fifteen minutes later, Lescott, stand ing at the fence, saw strange caval- eade round the bend of the road Sev- eral travelstained men were leading mules, and holding two tawny and i'm. patient dogs in leash. In their num-. Der, the artist recognized his host of, two nights ago.
 They halted at distance, and fh heir faces the artist read dismay for. while the dogs were yelping confident ly and tugging at their cords. young Samson South--who should, by their prejudiced convictions. be hiding out in some secret stronghold-sat at the top step of the stile, smoking his pipe. and regarded them with a lacklust ar. absence of interest. Such a calm re-. ception was uncanny. After whis-- pered conference. the Lexington man came forward alone. Old Spicer South had been looking on from the door, and was now strolling out to meet the envoy, unarmed
 And the envoy, as he came, held his hands unnecessarily far away from his sides, and walked with an ostentatious show of peace.
 "Evenin, stranger" hailed the oldi man. Come right in" ],
 "Mr. South." began the dog-ewuer, with some embarrassment, T havs been employed to furnish a pair of bloodhounds to the family of Jesse Purvy, who has been shot"
 ''I heerd tell thet Purvy was shot" said the head of the Souths in an af- fable tone, which betrayed no deeper note of interest than neighborhood gossip might have elicited.