Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1915-03-30
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% CHARLES NEVILLE bUCA
WITH LLUSTRAIIQNS FROM MeP11S;SlE Ptt0lGqsRSA1Pn9 sS

passed through the tawdry cars of the
local train near Hixon he saw several
faces which he recognized, but they
either eyed him in inexpensive silence
or gave him the greeting Of the "fur-
riner."
Then the whistle shrieked from the
trestle over the Middle fork, and at
only a short distance rose the cupoia
of the brick courthouse and the scat
tered roofs Of the town. Scattered
over the green slopes by the river
bank lay the white spread Of tented
company street, and, as he looked out,
he saw uniformed figures moving TO
and fro and caught the ring OF bugie
call. So the militia was on deck;
things must be bad, he reflected. He
stood on the platform and looked
down as the engine roared along the
trestle. There were two gatling guns.
One pointed its muzzle toward the
town. and the other scowled up at the
face Of the mountain. Sentries paced
their beats. Men in undershirts lay
doing outside tent flaps. 1t was all
a picture Of disciplined readiness, and
vet Samson knew that soldiers made
of painted tin would be equally effect
i've. These military forces must re-
main subservient to local civil authorl-
ties and the local civil authorities
obeyed the nod Of Judge Holman and
Jesse Purvy.
AS Samson crossed the toll bridge
to the town proper he passed two
browns -shirted militiamen, lounging on
the rail Of the middle span. They
grinned at him, and recognizing the
outsider from his clothes, one Of them
commented.
"Ain't this the hell Of a town.
ITS going to be-" replied Samson,
automatically, as he went on.
Still unrecognized, he hired a horse
at the livery stable, and for two hours
rode in silence, save for the easy
creaking Of his stirrup feathers and
the soft thud of hoofs.
The silence soothed him. The brood
ing hills lulled his spirit as grooming
song lulls fretful child. Mile after
mile unrolled forgotten Wstas. Some
thing deep in himself murmured:
Home"
1t was late afternoon when be saw
ahead Of him the orchard Of Purvy's
place, and read on the store wall,
little more weather stained, but other
wise unchanged:
Jesse Purvy, General Merchandise"
The porch Of the store was empty.
and as Samson flung himself from his
saddle there was no one to greet him.
This was surprising, since, ordinarily,
two or three Of Purvy's personal
guardsmen loafed at the front to watch
the road. Just now the guard should
logically be doubled. Samson still
wore his eastern clothes-for he want
ed to go through that door unknown.
AS Samson South he could not cross
it's threshold either way. But when
he stepped up on to the rough porch
flooring no one challenged his advance.
The yard and orchard were quiet from
their front fence to the grissly stock
ade at the rear, and, wondering at
these things, the young man stood for
a moment looking about at the after
noon place before he announced him.
self
Yet Samson had not come to the
stronghold Of his enemy for the pur-
pose Of assassination. There had been
another object in his mind-an utterly
mad idea, it is true, yet so bold OF
conception that it held a ghost OF
promise. He had meant to go into
Jesse Purvy's store and chat artlessly,
like some inquisitive "furriner" He
would ask questions which by their
very impertinence might be forgiven
upon the score Of strangers folly. But
most Of all, he wanted to drop the cas-
ual information, which he should as
sumo to have heard on the train, that
Samson South was returning, and to
mark, on the assassin leader, the effect
Of the news. In his new code 1t was
necessary to give at least the rattlers
warning before he struck, and he
meant to strike If he were recognized
well-he shrugged his shoulders.
But as he stood on the outside, wip-
ing the perspiration from his forehead
for the ride had been warm, he heard
voices within. They were loud and
70
by remaining where he was he might
gain more information than by hur-
rying in.
I've done been your executioner for
twenty years." complained a voice
which Samson at once recognized as
that of Aaron Hollis. the most trusted
of Purvy's personal guards. Il hain't
never laid down on ye yet. Me an Jim
Asberry killed old Henry South. We
laid fer his boy an would "a got him
eff you'd only said ther word. l went
inter Hixon an killed Tam'rack Spicer
with soldiers all round me. There
hain't no other damn fool in these
mountings would 'a'took such a long
ChanCe eS tnet. i m urea OF II
They're a-goin' ter git me. an wants
ter leave. an you won't come clear
with the price Of railroad ticket tc
Oklahoma. Now, damn your stingy
soul, l gifts that ticket or l gifts you."
Aaron, you can't scare me into doin
nothin' l amt aimin' to do" The ole
baron of the vendetta spoke in colo
stocial voice. Il tell we | amt quite
through with We yet. In due an proper
time I'll see that ye get yer ticket
Then he added, win a cOnciliating soft
ness: We've been friends long
while. Let's talk this thing over be-
fore we fall out
Thar hain't nothin' to talk over.
storned Aron. "Ye're jest tryin' tel
kill time till the boys gifts hyar, anc
then reckon ye lows ter have me Kill
like yer've had me kill them others
Hit amt no use. I'VE done sent EN-
away. When they gifts back hyar
either you'll be in hell or III be on my