The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1915-05-20


IFS" was the quietly insolent rejoin
der.
mot now-we haven't any" Sam
sons voice was sharply incisive. "Tl
name my own assistants"
What's the matter with these
boys?" The county judge waved his
hand toward two hold-over deputies.
They're fired"
The country Judge laughed.
well, reckon can't attend to that
right now"
Then you refuse?"
''Mebby you might call it that"
Sampson leaned on the judges table
and raped sharply with his knuckles.
/ His handful of men stood close and
Callomb caught his breath in the
heavy air of storm-freighted suspense.
The HOLMAN partisans filled the room
and others were crowding to the doors.
I'm high sheriff of this county now, !"
said Samson, sharply. You are coun-
ty judge. Do we eo-operate-or fight?'
/ Il reckon" drawled the other, that's
/ a matter Wen work out as we goes
along Depends on how obedient ye
air."
I'm responsible for the peace and
quiet of this county," continued Sam
son. Were going to have peace and
quiet"
The Judge looked about him. The in
dications did not appear to him indica-
tive Of peace and quiet.
"Air WEI" he inquired.
"I'm coming back here in half
hour said the new sheriff. This is
an unlawful and armed assembly.
When l get back want to find the
courthouse occupied only by unarmed
citizens who have business here"
when ye comes back" suggested
the county judge, I'D advise that ye
resigns yore Job. A half-hour is about
es long as ye ought ter try ter hold
hit"
Samson turned and walked through
the scowling crowd to the courthouse
steps.
Gentlemen" he said, in clear, far
carrying voice, there is no need of an
armed congregation at this court
house. l call on you in the name of
the law to lay aside your arms or scat
ter"
There was murmur which for an in
slant threatened to become a roar, but
trailed into a chorus of derisive laugh
ter
Samson went to the hotel, accompa-
MED by Callomb. A half-hour later the
two were back at the courthouse with
halfdoZen companions. The yard
was empty. Samson carried his faith
er's rife. In that half-hour telegram,
prepared In advance, had flashed to
Frankfort.
mob holds courthouse - need
troops"
And a reply had flashed back:
use local ompany-Callomb COM
manding." So that form of law was
met.
The courthouse doors were closed |
and its windows barricaded. The place |
was no longer a judicial building. 1t |
was fortress. AS Samsons party
paused at the gate a warning voice |
called:
Don't come no nigher!"
The body-guard began dropping
back to shelter,
81 demand admission to the court
house to make arrests" shouted the
new sheriff. In answer scattering of
rifle reports came from the Jail win
dows. Two Of the Souths fell. At a
word from Samson Callomb left on
run for the hotel. The sheriff himself
took his position in small store
across the street, which he reached un-
hurt under a desultory fire.
Then, again, silence settled on the
town, to remain for five minutes I'M
broken. The sun glared mercilessly on
clay streets, now as empty as a Gem
etery A single horse incautiously
hitched at the side of the courthouse
switched its tail against the assaults
Of the flies. Otherwise, there was no
outward sign of life. Then, Callomb's
lewly organized force of ragamuffin sol
iiers clattered down the street at
double time. For moment or two
after they came into sight only the
nassed uniforms caught the eyes of
he intrenched Hollmans, and an
alarmed murmur broke from the court
house. They had seen no troops de-
rain, or pitch camp These men had
sprung from the earth as startlingly as
Tason's crop of dragons teeth But,
when the command rounded the shout
Ter of a protecting wall to await fur
her orders, the ragged stride Of their
marching and the all-too-obvious bear
ng Of the mountaineer proclaimed
hem native amateurs. The murmur
urned to howl of derision and chal-
enge. They were nothing more nor {
ess than Souths, masquerading in the
of soldiers.
'What orders?" inquired Callomb {
riefly, joining Samson in the store
Demand surrender once more-then
AXE the courthouse and jail" was the .
hort reply. {
Callomb himself went forward with q
be flag Of truce. He shouted his mes
age and a bearded man came to the Z
courthouse door. I
"TeiI 'em." he said without redlln.