Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1915-04-16
CHAPTER XVII.

autumnal usefulness, Samson South
wrote to Wilford Horton that If he
still meant to come to the hills for his
inspection Of coal and timber the time
was ripe. Soon men would appear
bearing transit and chain, drawing
line which a 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
fingers were itching to be out In the
hills with palette and sheaf or
brushes in the society Of George Les
colt.
For a while after the battle at Hixon
the county had lain in torpid paraly-
sis Of dread. Many illiterate feudlsts
on each side remembered the directing
and exposed figure Of Samson South
seen through eddies Of gun smoke, ana
believed him immune from death.
With Purvy dead and Holman the VIC
tim of his own hand, the backbone OF
the murder syndicate was broken. It's
heart had ceased to beat. Those Holi-
man survivors who bore tue potentlall-
ties for leadership had not only signed
pledges Of peace, but were afraid to
break them; and the triumphant
Souths, instead Of vaunting 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 or
course, these things changed gradual
ly, but the beginning Of them were
most noticeable in the first few
months, just as a newly painted and
renovated house is more conspicuous
than one that has long been respect
able.
Hollman's Mammoth Department
Store passed into new hands, and traf-
icked only in merchandise, and the
town was open to the men and women
of Misery as we'll 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 it, for under all transforma-
ton the nature Of the individual re-
NAMED much the same; but without
seeking to give offense, they could
ride as securely through the hills as
through the streets Of policed city
and meet a 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, Adrienne
promptly and definitely announced
that she would accompany her broth
er. No argument was effective to dis
suade her, and after all, Lescott, who
had been there, saw no good reason
why she should not go with him.
At Hixon. they found that receptive
air of serenity which made the history
of less than three months ago seem
paradoxical and fantastically unreal.
only duOul lllC SOui IhoooS SHeeAN
where numerous small holes in frame
walls told of fusillades, and in the in
>>terior of the building itself where the
woodwork was SCARED and torn, and
the plaster freshly patched, did they
find grimly reminiscent evidence.
Samson had not met them at the
town, because he wished their first inn
pressions of his people to reach them
uninfiuenced by his escort 1t was q
form of the mountain pride-an hon
est resolve to soften nothing, and
make no apologies. But they found ar
rangements made for horses and sad
dlebags, and the girl discovered that
for her had been provided a mount as
evenly gated as any in her own
stables.
When she and her two companions
came out to the hotel porch to start,
they found a guide waiting, who said
he was instructed to take them as far
as the ridge. where the sheriff himself
would be waiting, and the cavalcade
struck into the hills Men at whose
houses they paused to ask dipper of
water, or to make an inquiry, gravely
advised that they had better light and
stay all night" In the coloring forests,
squirrels scampered and scurried out
of sight, and here and there on the
tall slopes they saw shy-looking chill
dren regarding them with inquisitive
eyes.
The guide led them silently, gazing
in frank amaZement, though with
defenential politness, at this girl in
corduroys, who rode cross saddle, and
rode so well. Yet, it was evident that
he would have preferred talking had
not diffidence restrained him. He was
a young man and rather handsome in
a shaggy, unkempt way. Across one
cheek ran a long scar still red, and
the girl, looking into his clear, intelli-
gent eyes, wondered what that scar
stood for Adrienne had the power OF
melting masculine diffidence, and her
smile as she rode at his side. and ask
ed, What is your name?" brought an
answering smile to his grim lips.
Joe Holman, ma'am," he answer
ed: and the girl gave an involuntary
start. The two men who caught the
name closed up the gap between the
horses. with suddeny piqued interest.
"Hollman" exclaimed the girl.
"Then, you" She stopped and
flushed. Il beg your pardon, she
said. quickly.
That's all right" reassured the
man. II know what ye're a-thinkin
but | hain't takin' no offense. The high
sheriff sent me over. I'm one of his
deputies
Were you'-she paused, and added
rather timidly-''were you in the
courthouse"
He nodded. and with brown fore
finger traced the scar on his cheek.
Samson South done that thar with
his rifle-gun," he enlightened. Hes a
80 eolIar 10, Go Spnth "