The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1914-12-12


climbed the rock and halted before
the sketch with a face that slowly
softened to an expression of amazed
admiration Finally he took up the
square of academy board with ten
der care Of which his rough hands
would have seemed incapable and
stood stock still. presenting an anoma-
lous figure in his rough clothes as his
eyes grew almost idolatrOus- Then
he brought the landscape over TO it's
creator, and, though no word was
spoken, there flashed between the eyes
Of the artist, whose signature gave to
a canvas the value OF a precious stone,
and the jeans-clad boy whose destiny
was that of the vendetta, q subtle,
wordless message. It was the coun-
tersign of brothers-in-blood who rec
Ognize in each other the bond of
mutual passion.
The boy and the girl, under Lescott's
direction, packed the outfit and stored
the canvas in the protecting top Of the
! box Then, while Sally turned and
strobe down creek in search of Les
colts lost mount. the two men rode
upstream in silence. Finally Samson
spoke slowly and difidently.
Stranger" he ventured, "ef hit
hain't askin' too much, will We let me
see We paint one of them things?"
Gladly" was the prompt reply.
Then the boy added covertly:
Don't say nothin' erbOut hit ter
none of these folks. They'd devil me-"
The dusk was falling now, and the
/ hollows choking with murk-
: We're nigh home now" said Sam
son at the end of some minutes silent
plodding. Hits right beyond thet
! thar bend"
Then they rounded a point Of tim
/ Der and came upon a small party Of
men whose attitudes even IN the dim
ming light conveyed q subtle sugges-
/ ton of portent.
Tibet you, Samson?" called an old
mans voice, which was still very deep
and powerful
Hello. Unc' Spencer" replied the
boy.
Then followed a silence unbroken
until the mule reached the group, re-
vealing that besides the boy another
! man-and a strange man-had Joined
| their number.
"Evenin', stranger" they greeted
him, gravely; then again they fell
| silent, and in. their siience was evil
! dent constraint.
This hyar mans a furTiner," an
nounced Samson, briefly. He fell
often a rock an got hurt. 1 lowed
! I'd fotch him home ter stay all night. ="
The elderly man who had hailed the
boy nodded, but with an evident an
noyance. It seemed that to him the
others deferred as to a commanding
officer. The cortege remounted and
rode slowly toward the house. At last
the elderly man came alongside the
mule and inquired:
Samson, where was ye last night ?'
''Thet's my business"
"Mebbe hit amt The old noun
taineer spoke with no resentment, but
I deep gravity We've been powerful
Uneasy erbout We. HeY ye heered the
news?"
What news?" The boy put the
question noncommittally.
Jesse Purvy was shot this morn
ing"
The boy vouchsafed no reply.
THE mail rider done told hit .
Somebody shot five shoots from the
laurel. PurYy hain't died yit
. Some says as how his folks
has sent ter Lexington fer blood
hounds"
The boys eyes began to smoIder
hatefully.
'I reckon" he spoke slowly, he
didn't git shot none too soon"
"Sameoni" The old mans voice had
the ring of determined authority
| when dies yell be the head Of the
Souths, but so long es I'm a-runnin'
this hyar family I keeps my word ter
friend an foe alike. 1 reckon Jesse
Purvy knows who got yore pap, but
up till now no South hain't never
busted no truce"
The boys voice dropped its softness
and took on a shrill crescendo Of ex-
element as he flashed out his retort
"Who said a South has done busted
the truce this timer"
Old Spicer South gazed searchingly
at his nephew
CTO BE CONTINUED
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