The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1915-07-29
why don't they shoot you at once
What are they waiting for?"

| They want to see," Samson assured
him, what tack mean to take. They
want to let the thing play itself out
They're inquisitive-and they're eau
tious, because now they are bucking
the state ano the world
| Samson with his escort rode up to
the courthouse door and dismounted
He was for the moment unarmed and
his men walked on each side of him,
while the unlocking Hollmans stood
back in surly silence to let him pass.
In the office of the county judge Sam.
son said briefly:
Il want to get my deputies sworn
in"
We've got plenty of deputy sher-
| IFS" was the quietly insolent rejoin-
der.
Not now-we haven't any" Sam.
sons voice was sharply incisive. I'll
name my own assistants,
Whats 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 co-operate-or fight?"
Il reckon" drawled the other, that's
a matter well work out as we goes
along. Depends on how obedient We
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 we?" he inquired.
I'm coming back here in a 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 We comes back" suggested
the county judge, I'D advise that we
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 a clear, far
carrying voice, there is no need of an
armed congregation at this court
house ] 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 roar, but
trailed into a chorus of derisive laugh.
ter. v
Samson went to the hotel, accompa.
MED by Callomb. A half-hour later the
two were back at the courthouse with
a half-dozen companions. The yard
was empty. Samson carried his faith.
er's rifle. 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 company-Callomb com
manding.' So that form of law was
met.
The courthouse doors were closed
and its windows barricaded. The place
was no longer judicial building 1t
was a 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.
II demand admission to the court
house to make arrests" shouted the
new sheriff. In answer a scattering OF
rifle reports came from the Jail win.
dows. Two of the Souths fell. At q
word from Samson Callomb left on a
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 un
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 it's tail against the assaults
of the flies. Otherwise, there was no
outward sign of life. Then. Callomb's
newly organized force of ragamuffin sol
diers clattered down the street at
double time. For a moment or two
after they came into sight only the
massed uniforms caught the eyes of
the intrenched Hollmans, and an
alarmed murmur broke from the court
house. They had seen no troops de-
train, or pitch camp. These men had
sprung from the earth as startlingly as
Jason's crop of dragons teeth. But.