The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1915-02-20

ging into view, switching her hy-bitten
tail, and on the mares back, urging
him with long, leafy switch, sat
woman Behind her sagged the two
loaded ends of corn sack She was
1.-THE and slim, and her violet eyes
were profoundly serious, and her lips
were as resOlutely set as Joan Of Arcs
might have been, for Sally Miller had
come only ostensibly to have her corn
ground to meal She had really come
to speak for the absent chief, and she
knew that she would be met with deri-
sion. The years had sobered the girl,
but her beauty had increased, though
it was now a chastened type. which
gave her a strange and rather exalted
refinement of expression.
Vile McCager came TO the mill door
as she rode up and lifted the sack
from her horse.
"Howdy, Sally?' he greeted.
''ToPable, thank ye," said Sally. I'm
goin' ter get on"
AS she entered the great half-lighted
room, where the mill stones creaked
on their cumbersome shafts, the hum
of discussion sank to silence. The
girl nodded to the mountaineers gath
cred in conclave, then, turning to the
miller, she announced:
I'm going to send for Samson"
The statement was at first met with
dead silence, then came a rumble Of
indignant dissent, but for that the
girl was prepared, as she was prepared
for the contemptuous laughter which
followed.
81 reckon if Samson was here" she
said, dryly, you all wouldn't think it
was quite so funny"
Old Caleb Wiley spat through his
bristling beard, and his voice was a
Quavering rumble.
What we wants is a man We hain't
got no use fer no traitors thet's too al
mighty damn busy doin' fancy work
ter stand by their kith an kin"
That's a lfe!" said the girl, scorn-
fully. There's just one man living
that's smart enough to match Jesse
Purvy-an' that one man is Sam
son. Samson's got the right to lead
the Souths, and he's going to do it-ef
he wants to-"
Sally" Vile McCager spoke. sooth-
ingly, don't go gittin' mad. Caleb
talks hasty. We knows ye used ter
be Samson's gal, an we hain't amin
ter hurt yore feelin's. But Samson's
done left the mountings. I reckon
eff he wanted ter come back, he'd
a-come afore now. Let him stay whar
he's at"
''Whar is he at?" demanded old Ca
leb Wiley, in a truculent voice.
That's his business" Sally flashed
back, but know. All want to tell
you is this. Don't you make a move
till 1 have time to get word to him.
tell you, he's got to have his say"
q reckon we hain't a-goin' ter wait, I"
sneered Caleb, FER a Teller tibet won't
let hit be known whar he's a-sojournin
at. Eff ye air so shore of him. why
won't yet tell us whar he is now?"
That's my business, too" SaIIy's
voice was resolute. I've got a letter
here-it'H take two days to get to
Samson. It'll take him two or three
days more to get here. You've got to
wait a week.
Sally" the temporary chieftain
spoke still in patient, humoring sort
of voice, as to a tempestuous child,
thar hain't no place ter mail a letter
higher then Hixon. No South can't
ride inter Hixon, an ride out again.
The mail carrier won't be down this
way fer two days yit."
I'm not askin' any South to ride
into Htxon. I recollect another time
when Samson was the only one that
would do that" she answered, still
scornfully 81 didn't come here to ask
favors. come to give orders-for
him. A train leaves soon in the morn
ing. My letters goin' on that train -
who's gOin' ter take hit ter town
fer ye'?"
Pm goin' to take it for myself. %
Her reply was, given as a matter Of
course.
THAT wouldn't hardly be safe, Sal
ly,' the miller demurred; this hain't
no time fer a gal ter be gaIavantin'
Hits a-comin up ter storm, an we've
got thirty miles ter ride, an thirty-f1ve
back ter yore house"
I'm not scared" she replied. I'm
goin' an Pm warnin' you now, if you
do anything that Samson don't like,
you'll have to answer to him, when he
comes She turned, walking very
erect and dauntless to her sorreI mare,
and disappeared at a gallop.
81 reckon" said Vile McCager,
breaking silence at last, 'hit don't
make no great dif'rence. He won't
hardly come, nohow." Then, he added:
''But tibet boy is smart
Samson's return from Europe, after
| a years study, was in the nature of
/ a moderate triumph. With the art
| sponsorship of George Lescott and the
social sponsorship of Adrienne, he
found that orders for portraits, from
those who could pay munifcently,
seemed to seek him. He was tasting
| the novelty of being honized.
That summer Mrs. Lescott opened
| her house on Long Island early, and
the life there was full OF the sort OF
| gayety that comes to pleasant places
when young men in fannels and girls
in soft summary gowns and tanned