Mexico Missouri message., 1914-12-31

riner outen the country with tar an
feathers on him. Furthermore. I'm in
favor of cleanin' out the Hollmans.
was Jest a-sayin' ter Bill"
Never mind what ye war Jest
a-sayin," interrupted the boy, flushing
redly to his cheekbones, but con-
trolling his voice. we've done said
enough Already. Ye're a right old man,
Caleb, an l reckon tibet gives we some
license ter shoot off yore face, but ef
any of them no-'count, shif'less boys OF
yores wants ter back up what We says.
I'm ready ter go out thar an make 'em
eat hit. hain't a-goin' ter answer no
more questions"
There was commotioh Of argu-
ment, until BLACK Dave" Jasper. a sat
urnine giant, whose hair was no black
er than his expression. rose, and a
semblance of quiet greeted him as he
spoke.
"Mebby, Samson, we've got a right
ter take the studs this away, an ter
refuse ter answer our questions. but
we've got right ter say who kin stay
in this hyar country. Eff ye lows ter
quit us, reckon we kin quit you
and. If we quits ye, we hain't nothin'
more ter us then no other boy thet'e
lgettin' too big fer his breeches. This
furriner is a visitor here today, an
we don't low ter hurt him-but he's
got ter go. We don't want him round
colt. Were a-givin' ye fair warnin'
stranger. Ye hain't our breed. After
this, we stays on Misery at yore own
risk-an' hits a-goin' ter be plumb
risky. That thar's final"
This man." blazed the boy, before
Leecott could speak, lis a.visitin' me
an Unc' Spicer. When We wants him
we kin come up thar an git him. Every
damned man of we kin come. hain't
a-sayin' how many of yen go back.
He was 'lowin' that he'd leave hyar ter
morrer mornin', but after this I'm
a-tellin' ye he hain't a-goin' ter do hit.
He's a-goin' ter stay es long es he
likes, an nobody hain't a-goin' ter run
him off," Samson took his stand be-
fore the painter, and swept the group
with his eyes. AN what's MORE" he
added, "Ill tell We another thing.
hadn't plumb made up my mind ter
leave the mountings, but we've done
settled hit fer me. I'm a-goin'."
There was a low murmur of anger
and voice cried out from the rear:
Let him go. We hain't got no use
fer damn towards"
Whoever said thet's a liar!" shout
ed the boy. Lescott, standing at his
side, felt that the situation was more
than parlous. But, before the storm
could break, some one rushed in, and
whispered to Vile McCager a message
that caused him to raise both hands
above his head, and thunder for at
tention.
Men," he roared, listen ter me!
This here hain't no time fer SQUAD
bin amongst ourselves. We're all
Souths. Tamarack South has done
gone ter Hixon. an got inter trouble.
He's locked up in the jailhouse."
We're all hyar," screamed old Ca
leb's high, broken voice. Lets 60 an
take him out"
Samson's anger had died. He turned.
and held whispered conversation
with McCager, and. at its end, the host
Of the day announced briefly: -
"Samson's got somethin' ter say ter
we. So long as he's willin' ter stand
by us, I reckon we're willin' ter listen
ter Henry South's boy"
Il hain't got no use for Tam'rack
Spicer," said the boy, succinctly, but
l don't low ter let him lay in no jail
house, unlessen he's got right ter be
thar What's he charged with?"
But no one knew that. A man sup
posedly close to the Hollmans, but in
reality an informer for the Souths, had
seen him led into the jailyard by a
posse of half-dozen men. and had
seen the iron-barred doors close on
him. That was all, except that the
Holman forces were gathering In
Hixon. and. II the Souths went there
en- masse. a pitched battle must be the
inevitable result. The first step was