The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1915-08-05

months. Just as a newly painted an
renovated house is more conspicuoul
than one that has long been respecta
BILE.
Hollman's Mammoth Department
Store passed into new hands, and traf
licked only in merchandise, and the
town was open to the men and womer
OF Misery as well as those of Cripple
shin.
These things Samson had explained
in his letters to the Lescotts and Hor
ton. Men from down below could still
lind trouble in the wink of an eye, by
seeking it, for under all transformation
the nature c. the individual remained
much the same; but, without seeking
to give offense, they could ride as Sc
curely through the hills as through the
streets of policed city-and meet q
reader hospitality.
And, when these things were dis
cussed and the two men prepared to
cross the Mason-and-Dixon line and
visit the Cumberlands, Adrienre
promptly and definitely announced
that she would accompany her brother
No argument was effective to dissuade
her, and after all, Lescott, who had
been there, saw no good reason why
she should not 60 with him.
At Hixon, they found that receptive
air of serenity which made the history
of less than three months ago seem
paradoxical and Enthusiastically unreal.
where numerous small holes in frame
walls told of fusillades, and in the in
terror of the building itself where the
woodwork was SCARED and torn, and
the plaster freshly patched, did they
find grimly reminiscent evidence.
Samson had not met them at the
town, because he wished their first i'm
pressions of his people to reach them
uninfluenced by his escort. 1t was a
form of the mountain pride-an hon.
est resolve to soften nothing, and make
no apologies. But they found arrange
ments made for horses and saddlebags,
and the girl discovered that for her
had been provided mount as evenly
gated as any in her own stables.
When she and her two companions
came out to the hotel porch to start,
they found guide waiting, who said
he was instructed to take them as far
as the ridge, where the sheriff himself
would be waiting, and the cavalcade
struck into the hills. Men at whose
houses they paused to ask a dipper of
water, or to make an inquiry, gravely
advised that they had better light and
stay all night" In the coloring for
ests, squirrels scampered and scurried
tall slopes they saw shy-looking chill
dren regarding them with inquisitive
eyes.
The guide led them silently, gazing
in frank amazement, though with defer.
entail politeness, at this girl in cord
uroys, who rode cross-saddle, and rode
SO we'll Yet, it was evident that he
would have preferred talking had not
diffidence restrained him. He was a
young man and rather handsome in
shaggy, unkempt way. Across one
cheek ran a long scar still red, and
the girl, looking into his clear, intelli-
gent eyes, wondered what that scar
stood for. Adrienne had the power
of melting masculine diffidence, and
her smile as she rode at his side, and
asked, What is your name?" brought
an answering smile to his grim lips.
"Joe Holman, ma'am," he answered;
and the girl gave an involuntary start.
closed up the gap between the horses,
with suddenly piqued interest.
"Hollman" exclaimed the girl.
Then, you" She stopped and
flushed. Il beg your pardon" she
said, quickly.
That's all right" treasured the
man. Il know what ye're a-thinkin',
but hain't takin' no offense. The high
sheriff sent me over. I'm one of his
deputies"
Were you"-she paused, and added
rather timidly-"were you in the court
nouse?"
He nodded, and with a brown fore
finger traced the scar on his cheek.
Samson South done that thar with
his rifle-gun," he enlightened. He's a
funny sort of Teller, is Samson South"
"How?" she asked.
wall, he licked US, an licked US so
plumb damn hard we was skeered ter |
light ag'in, an then, std of tramplin'
IN us, he turned right round, an
made me a deputy. My brothers a
corporal in this hyar new-fangled mi
ishy. l reckon this time the peace is
5oin' ter last Hits mighty funny
way ter act, but pears like it works all
light"
Then. at the ridge. the girls heart
ave sudden bound, for there at the
highest point, where the road went up
md dipped again, waited the mounted
lgure of Samson South, and, as they
anne into sight, he waved his felt hat
md rode down to meet them.
"Greetings!" he shouted Then, as
le leaned over and took Adrienne's
land, he added: "The Goops send you
heir wolcomoD uio emilia Woo I'M |