Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1915-04-13


his outposts Of power across the wa
ters of Crippleshin, and into the coun-
ty seat. That the present South came
bearing commission as an officer OF
the law only made his effrontery the
more unendurable.
Samson had not called for outside
troops. The drilling and disciplining
of his own company had progressed In
silence along the waters Of Misery.
They were a slouching, unmilitary
band Of uniformed vagabonds, but they
were longing to fight and Callomb had
been with them, tirelessly whipping
them into rudimentary shape. After
all, they were as much partisans as
they had been before they were issued
state rifles. The battle, II 1t came
would be as factional as the fight OF 70
wears ago. when the Hollmans held
the store and the Souths the court
house. But back Of all that lay one es-
sential difference, and 1t was this dir-
ference that had urged the governor
to stretch the forms Of law and put
such dangerous power into the hands
of one man. That difference was the
man himself. He was to take drastic
steps, but he was to take them under
the forms Of law, and the state execu-
tive believed that, having gone through
worse to better, he would maintain the
improved condition.
Early that morning, men began to
assemble along the streets Of Hixon;
and to congregate into sullen clumps
with set faces that denoted q grim,
unsmiling determination. Not only the
Hollmans from the town and immedi-
ate neighborhood were there, but their
shaggier, fiercer brethren from remote
creeks and coves, who came only at
urgent call, and did not come without
intent of vindicating their presence.
Old Jack Holman. from lover yon" on
the headwaters Of Dryhole creek,
brought his son and fourteen year-old
grandson, and all Of them carried Win
chesters. Long before the hour for
the courthouse bell to sound the call
which would bring matters to crisis,
women disappeared from the streets,
and front shutters and doors. closed
themselves. At last, the Souths began
to ride in by half-dozens, and to hitch
their horses at the racks. They also
fell into groups we'll apart. The two
factions eyed each other somberly,
sometimes nodding or exchanging
greetings, for the time had not yet
come to fight. Slowly, however, the
Hollmans began centering about the
courthouse. They swarmed in the
yard, and entered the empty Jail, and
overran the halls and offices Of the
building itself. The Souths. now COM
ing in a solid stream, flowed with
equal unanimity to McEwers hotel
near the square. and disappeared in
side. Besides their rifles, they carried
saddlebags, but not one Of the uni
forms which some Of these bags con-
tanned, nor one Of the cartridge belts,
had yet been exposed to view.
Stores opened, but only for a desul-
tory pretense Of business. Horsemen
led their mounts away from the more
public racks, and tethered them to
back fences and willow branches in
the shelter Of the river banks, where
stray bullets would not find them.
The dawn that morning had still
been gray when Samson South and
Captain Callomb had passed the Mil
Ter cabin. Callomb had ridden slowly
on around the turn Of the road, and
waited a quarter Of a mile away. He
was to command the militia that day,
If the high sheriff should call upon
him. Samson went in and knocked,
and instantly to the cabin door came
Sally's slender, f1uttering figure. She
put both arms about him, and her eyes,
as she looked into his face, were terri
fed, but fearless.
I'm frightened, Samson" she whis-
pered. God knows I'm going to be
praying all this day.
Sally" he said, softly, I'm coming
back to you-but, if don't"-he held
her very close-"Uncle Spicer has my
will. The farm is full of coal. and
days are coming when roads will take
it out, and every ridge will glow with
coke furnaces. That farm will make
you rich, If we win todays fight"
DON'T she cried. with a sudden
gasp. Don't talk like that"
II must" he said, gently. Il want
you to make me promise, Sally"
IT'S made" she declared.
IF by any chance 1 should not come
back, want you to hold Uncle Spicer
and old Vile McCager to their pledge.
They must not privately avenge me.
They must still stand for the law.
want you, and this is most important
of all, to leave these mountains"
Her hands frightened on his shoulder.
Not that, Samson" she pleaded; |;
mot these mountains where we've
been together"
you promised. l want you to go to
the Lescotts in New York. In year,
you can come back-if you want to-;
but you must promise that"
Il promise" she reluctantly yielded.
1t was half past nine o'clock when
Samson South and Sidney Callomb
rode side by side into Hixon from the
east dozen Of the older Souths,
who had not become soldiers met
them there, and. with no word. sepa-
rated to close about them in circle OF
protection. AS Callomb's eyes swept
the almost deserted streets, so silent
that the strident switching Of a freight
train could be heard down at the edge
of town, he shook his head. AS he met
the sullen glances of the gathering in
the courthouse yard. he turned to Sam
son.
They'll fight" he said, briefly.
Samson nodded.
II don't understand the method" de-
INJURED the officer. with perplexity
why don't they shoot you at once
What are they waiting for?"
They want to see" Samson assured
him, what tack I mean to take. They