Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1915-01-07
CHAPTER vII-cOntlnued.

Lescott stayed on a week after that
simply in Difference to Samson's insist
ence. To leave at once might SAVIOR of
Hight under fire, but when the week
was out the painter turned his horses
head toward town, and his train swept
him back to the Bluegrass and the
East.
A quiet of unbroken and deadly
routine settled down on Misery. The
conduct of the Souths in keeping hands
of. and acknowledging the justice of
Tamarack Spicers jail sentence, had
been their answer to the declaration
OF the Hollmans in letting Samson ride
into and out of Hixon. The truce was
established. When, a short time later,
Tamarack left the country to become
q railroad brakeman, Jesse Purvy
passed the word that his men must,
until further orders, desist from vic.
1ence. The word had crept about that
Samson, too, was going away, and, If
this were true, Jesse felt that his fu-
ture would be more secure than his
past. Purvy believed Samson guilty,
despite the exoneration of the hounds.
Lescott had sent box of books, and
Samson had taken team over to
Hixon, and brought them back.
He deyoured them all from title
page to fms line, and many of them
he went back to, and digested again.
He wrestled long and gently with
his uncle, struggling to win the ola
mans consent to his departure. But
Spicer South's brain was no longer
plastic. What had been good enough
for the past was good enough for the
future. Nevertheless, he arranged af-
fairs so that his nephew should be
able to meet financial needs, and to go
where he chose in fashion BETTING
a South.
November came in bleakly, with a
raw and devastating breath OF fatality.
The smile died from horizon to hori-
zon, and for days cold rains beat and
flashed the forests. And, toward the
end of the month, came the day which
Samson had set for his departure.
At the threshold, with the saddle
bags over his left forearm and the rifle
in his hand, he paused. His uncle stood
at his elbow and the boy put out his
hand.
"Good-by, Unc' Spicer." was all he
said. The old man, who had been his
second father, shook hands. His face,
too, was expressionIess, but he felt
that he was saying farewell to a sol,
der of genius who was abandoning the
field And he loved the boy with all
the centered power of an isolated
heart
A half-mile along the road, Samson
halted and dismounted There, in a
small cove, surrounded by tangle Of
briers and blackberry bushes, stood 9
small and dilapidated meeting house
and churchyard, which he must visit
He made his way through the rough
underground to the unkempt half-acre
Gead halted before the leaning head
stones which marked two graves. Witt
sudden emotion, he swept the bach
OF his hand across his eyes. He die
not remove his hat, but he stood in the
drizgle OF cold rain for a moment O
silence. and then he said:
Pap, hain't forgot. / don't wan
ye ter think thet I've forgot"
Before he arrived at the Widow Mil
Icr's. the rain had stopped and thu
clouds had broken
Sally opened the door, and smiled
She had spent the day nerving hersel
Tor this farewell, and at least unit
the moment of leave-taking she woul,
be safe from tears. The Widow Mil
Ter and her son soon left them alone
and the boy aud girl sat before tb,
blazing logs.
For time, an awkward silence fel
between them. At last, the boy rose
and went over to the corner where b,
had placed his gun, He took It up an,
laid It on the hearth between them.
sally he said, q wants ter tell "
some things tibet hain't never sail
ter nobody else. In the fust place,
wants ye ter keep this hyar gun fe
me
Tbe girls eyes widened with sur
prise
IIain't ye a-goin' ter take hit will
ye, sainsong'
eHe shook bis head.
helnf a-goln ter need htt down
beior. Nobody dont use EN- dows