The state herald., 1915-09-03
CHAPTER XVII.


Before the mountain roads were
mired with the coming of the rains
and while the air held It's sparkle OF
autumnal usefulness, Samson South
wrote to Wilford Horton that II he
still meant to come to the hills for his
inspection of coal nd timber the time
was ripe. Soon men would appear
bearing transit and chain, drawing a
line which railroad was to follow to
Misery and across 1t to the heart OF
untouched forests and coal-fields. With
that wave Of innovation would come
the spectators. Besides, Samson's 8
fingers were itching to be out in the
hills with palette and sheaf Of
brushes in the society of George Les.
colt
For while after the battle at Hixon
the county had laiJ In torpid paraly-
sis of dread. Many illiterate feudists
on each side remembered the directing
and exposed figure Of Samson South
seen through eddies of gun smoke. and
believed him immune from death.
With Purvy Cead and Holman the vic
tim Of his own hand, the backbone of
the murder syndicate was broken. Irs
heart had ceased to beat Those Holl-
man survivors who bore the potentiali-
ties for leadership had not only signed
pledges Of peace. but were afraid to
break them: and the triumphant
Souths, instead of vaunt,ng their VIC
tory. had subscribed to the doctrine of
order and declared the war over.
Souths who broke the law were as
speedily arrested as Hollmans. Their
boys were drilling as militiamen and
wonder Of Understanding the
sons OF the enemy to Join them. OF
course. these things changed gradual
ly. but the beginnings Of them were
most noticeable In the first few
months, Just as newly painted and
renovated house is more conspicuous
than one that has long been respecta-
BE.
Hollman's Mammoth Department
Store passed into new hands, and traf-
ficked only in merchandise. and the
town was open to the men and women
Of Misery as well As those Of Cripple
shin.
These things Samson had explained
in his letters to the Lescotts and Hor-
ton. Men from down below could still
find trouble In the wink OF an eye. by
seeking II. for under all transformation
the nature g the individual remained
/ sh hp uifh n 70
to give oHense. they could ride as re-
curely through the hills as through the
streets OF a policed clty-and meet n
reader hospitality.
And. when these things were dis
cussed and the two men prepared to
cross the Mason.and.Dixon line and
visit the cumberlands. Adrient
promptly and definitely announced
that she would accompany her brother.
No aredmsnt was effective 20 dissuade
mer. and after all. Leseott, Who had
been there, saw no good reason Why
she should not go With him.
Al Hison. they found that receptive
air OF serenity which made the history
OF less than three moaths ago seem
parsdoxieal and fsntastically unreal.
Only about the courthouse square
where numsrous small holes In frame
walls told OF fusillades, and In the In
terror OF the building itself where the
woodwork was SCARED and torn. and
the plaster freshly patched. did they
ind grimly reminiscent evidence.
Samson had not met them at ,ae
town, because he wished their frst i'm
pressions OF his people to reach them
uninfiuenced BY his escort. II aas a
form OF the mountain pride-an hon.
est resolve to soften nothing. and make
no apologies. Bet they found arrange
ments made for horses aud saddiebags
and the girl discovered that for her
had been provided n mount as evenly
gaited as any In her own stables.
when she and her two companions
came out TO the hotel porch TO start,
they found guide waiting. who said
he was Instructed TO take them M fat
an the ridge. where the Hhcrifr himself
would be waiting, and the cayalcads
struck into the hills. Men at whose
houses they paused 10 ask a dipper oI
water. or to make an inquiry. gravel,
advised that they had better light ant
stay all night" In the colorins for
ests. squirrels scampered and scurriet
, out OF sight. and here and there on the
tall slopes they saw hhy.looklng chill
drcn r.ss fdlnE them with inquisitiy'
eyes.
The guide led them silently. gain,
: In frank amarement. though with defer
entini politeneas. at this Girl In cord
b uroys. who rode cross saddle. and rod'
: 40 well. Yet. II was evident that h
!. would hay. preferred talking had no
difideneo restrained him. He was
young man and rather handsome In
= shaggy. unkcmpt way. Across on
0 cheek ran long scar utili red. AM
Z tho girl. looking into his clear. iu,eliI
; gent eyes. wondered what that soa
. stood for. Adrisnne had tho powa
!. Of melting masculine din,dcnoe, an