The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1914-12-31
CHAPTER u.


young corn rows. 1t was a field stood
on end. and the hoed ground was un.
even; but with no seeming of weari-
ness her fed dress flashed steadfastly
across the green spears, and her voice
was 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
difadent with the stranger, words now
Came fast and 1uently as she told her
story Of the man who lay hurt at the
foot Of the rock.
Hit hain't long now tell sundown,"
she urged. Hurry. Samson, an git
yore mule. I've done give him my
! promise ter fotch ye right straight
back"
Samson took of his hat. and tossed
the heavy lock upward from his FORE
head. His brow wrinkled with doubts.
"What sort Of lookin' Teller air he?"
While Sally sketched description.
the young mans doubt grew graver.
"This hain't no fit 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 rife leaning near by. and straight
way they filled 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
II truce must end haunted her thoughts.
/ She came close, and her voice sank
with her sinking heart.
H "N. hat air hit?" she tensely demand
\ ed. What air hit, Samson? What
fer hev We fetched yer gun ter the
field?"
The boy laughed. ooh, hit amt
nothin' perticler," he treasured. Hit
Aain't nothin' fer gal ter fret herself
erbout, only kinder suspicious
strangers jest now"
"Air the truce busted?" She put the
question in a tense, deep-breathed
whisper, and the boy replied casually,
almost indifferently.
mo, Sally, hit hain't jest ter say
busted, but pears like hits right
X smart cracked. l reckon, though" he
4 added in half-disgust, "nothin' won't
MI come of hit"
Nj Somewhat treasured, she bethought
herself again of her mission.
III This here furriner hain't got no
harm in him, Samson" she pleaded.
"He pears ter be more like gal than
n La man. He's real puny. He's got
Mawhite skin and bow Of ribbon on
his neck-an' he paints pictchers."
The boys face had been hardening
with contempt as the description ad-
{yanced, but at the last words a glow
came to his eyes. and he demanded
almost breathlessly:
= paints pictchers7 How do ye know
! that?"
Il seen 'em. He was paintin' one
II when he feH often the rock and busted
4 his arm. It's shore es beautiful es-''
she broke off, then added with a sud.
y den peal of laughter-"es er PITCHER
MI The young man slipped down from
Ithe fence, and reached for the rife
The hoe he left where it stood.
'Tll git the nag" he announced
fbriefly, and swung of without further
|parley toward the curling spiral OF
Ismoke that marked a cabin a quarter
$Eof mile below. Ten minutes later
~ bare feet swung against the ribs
A k gray mule and his rife lay bal
IN lQnced across the unsaddled withers
lSally sat mountain fashion behind
Thin, facing straight to the side.
U So they came along the creek bed
land into the sight OF the man who
i istill sat propped against the messy
!rock. As Lescott looked up he closed
1t 1.-THE case of his watch and put it bach
into his pocket with smile.
"Snappy work, that" he called out
Just thirty-three minutes. l didn't
believe it could be DONE
y Samson's face was masklike, but
N lbs he surveyed the foreigner. only the
II ingrained dictates Of the country's
ihospitable code kept out of his eyes
q CLEAN Of scorn for this frail mem
Der of sex which should be stalwart
"Howdy?" he said. Then he added
suspiciously: What mout yer bust
mess be in these parts, Stranger"
Lescott gave the Odyssey of his wan
' behring's. since he had rented a mule
;at Hixon and ridden through the coun
TRY, sketching where the mood prompt
led and sleeping wherever he found {
ihospitable roof at the coming Of thu