Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1914-12-31

brushes once more SEIZED him, and ne
took his place before the easel
Neither he nor Lescott noticed man
who crept down through the timber,
and for time watched them. The
mans face wore a surly, contemptuous
grin. and shortly 1t withdrew.
But, an hour later, while the boy
was still working industriously and
the artist was lying on his back, with
a pipe between his teeth, and his half
closed eyes gazing up contentedly
through the green OF overhead
branches, their peace wss broken by
a guffaw of derisive laughter. They
looked up, to find at their backs a semi
circle of scoffing humanity. Lescott's
impulse was to laugh, for only the
comedy of the situation at the mo-
ment struck him. A stage director,
setting comedy scene with that most
ancient of jests, the gawking of boobs
at some new sight, could hardly have
improved on this tableau. At the front
stood Tamarack Spicer. the returned
wanderer. His lean wrist was stretched
out of ragged sleeve all too short. ana
his tattered Jimmy" was showed back
over face all a-grin. His eyes were
blood-shot with recent drinking, but
his manner was in exaggerated and
cumbersome imitation of rural mas
ter of ceremonies. At his back were
the raw-boned men and women ana
children of the hills, to the number OF
dozen.
Ladies and gentlemen" announced
Tamarack Spicer, in hiccoughing
voice, Swing yo' partners an sashay
forward. See the only son of the late
Henry South engaged in his mar-ve-
lous an heretofore undiscovered occu-
patton of doin' fancy work. Ladies and
gentlemen, after this here show is
concluded, keep your seats for the con-
cert in the main tent. This here ia
nous performer will favor We with a
little exhibition of plain an fancy
sock-darnin'"
After the first surprise, Samson had
turned his back on the group. He was
mixing paint at the time and he pro.
ceeded to experiment with fieeting
cloud effect. which would not outlast
the moment. He finished that, and,
reaching for the palette-knife, scraped
his fingers and wiped them on his
trousers legs. Then. he deliberately
rose.
without q word he turned. Tama-
rack had begun his harangue afresh.
The boy tossed back the long lock
from his forehead. and then, with
an Unexpectedly swift movement,
crouched and leaped. His right fist
shot forward to Tamarack Spicer's
chattering lips, and they abruptly
ceased to chatter as the teeth were
driven into their flesh. Spicer's head
snapped back, and he staggered against
the onlookers, where he stood rocking
on his unsteady legs. His hand swept
instinctively to the shirt-concealed
holster, but, before it had connected.
both of Samson's fists were playing a
terrific tattoo on his face. The in
glorious master of the show dropped,
and lay groggily trying to rise.
The laughter, died as suddenly as
Tamarack's speech. Samson stepped
back again, and searched the faces of
the group for any lingering sign Of
mirth or criticism. There was none.
Every countenance was sober and ex-
pressionless, but the boy felt a weight
of unuttered disapproval, and he glared
defiance. One of the older onlookers
spoke up reproachfully.
Samson, we hadn't hardly ought ter
a-done that. He was jest a funnin'
with ye."
cit him up on his feet. I've got
somethin' ter say ter him" The boys
voice was dangerously quiet. 1t was
his first word They lifted the fallen
cousin, whose entertainment had gone
astray, and led him forward grumbling,
threatening and sputtering. but evinc.
| ing no immediate desire to renew hos
| tilities.
'Whar hev we been?" demanded
| Samson.
"Thet's nsy business" came the ia
miliar mountain phrase.
"Why wasn't yer hyar when then
dawgs come by? Why was We the
only South tibet ruined away, wher
they was smellin round fer Jesse
! Purvy's assassin"
| Il didn't run away" Tamarack'
blood-shot eyes fared wickedly. 50
knowed tibet eff / stayed round hya
| IA 4ko,,, aar,uad unllroonc cf;nLin
their noses inter our business, I'd hur
somebody. So, went over inter tn,
next county fer a SPELL You Teller
mout be able to take things often tn
Hollmans. but / hain't."
"Thet's a damned lie," said Samson
quietly. "Ye ruined away. an y
ruined In the water so them dawg
couldn't trail ye-ye done hit beeaus
We shot them shoots at Jesse Purv
from the laurel-because ye're truct
Dustin, murderin' bully tibet shoots Of
his face, an is skeered to fight" San
son paused for breath, and went O
with regained calmness. I've knowe
all along we was the man, an I've ker
quiet because ye're my kin. If yer
got anything else ter say. say hit. Blu
eff ever ketches yer talkin' about m,
or talkin' ter Sally, I'm a-goin' ter TAX
We by the scroff of the neck, an dra
We plumb into Hixon, an stick we
the jailhouse. An I'm a-goin' ter tie
the high sheriff that the Souths spit
We outen their mouths. Take hii
away" The crowd turned and lei
the place. When they were gone, San
son seated himself at his easel again
and picked up his palette.