The Columbus courier. [volume] (Columbus, Luna County, N.M.) 1911-1920, 1915-02-19

nous performer will favor ye with a
little exhibition Of plain an fancy
sock-darnin'."
After the FIRST surprise, Samson had
turned his back on the group. He was
mixing paint at the time and he pro-
ceeded to experiment with a fleeting
cloud effect, which would not outlast
the moment. He finished that, and,
reaching for the ~palette-knife. scraped
his fingers and wiped them on his
trousers legs. Then, he deliberately
rose.
Without a word hS turned. Tama-
rack had begun his harangue afresh.
The boy tossed back the long lock
from his forehead, and then, with
an Unexpectedly swift movement,
crouched and leaped. His right 49,.
shot forward to Tamarack Spicer's
chattering lips, and they abruptly
ceased to chatter as the teeth we're
driven into their flesh. Spicer's head
snapped back, and he staggered against
the o~nlookers, where he stood rocking
on his unsteady legs. His hand swept
instlnctively to the shirt-coneealsd
holster. but, before 1t had connected.
both Of Samson's fists were playing u
terrific tattoo on his face. The In.
glorious master Of the show dropped,
and lay groggily trying to rise.
The laughter died as suddenly as
TamRrack's speech. Samson stepped
back again, and searched the faces OF
the group for any lingering sign OF
mirth or criticism. There was
Every c-ountenance was sober and ex-
presslonless. but the boy felt a weight
Of unuttered disapproyal. and he glared
defiance. One Of the older o~nlOokers
spoke up reproachfully.
Samson, ye hadn't hardly ought ter
a-done that He was jest a funnin'
with ye."
"Git him up on his feet. I've got
somethin' ter say ter him" The boys
voice was dangerously quiet. Il was
his FIRST word. They lifted the fallen
cousin, whose entertainment had gone
astray, and led him forward g~rumbling,
threatening and sputtering. but evinc-
Ing no immediate desire to renew hos
t%ilities.
"whar hev ye beenT" demanded
Samson.
"Thet's my business" came the IA.
miliar mountain phrase.
why wasn't yer hyar when them
dawgs come by7 Why was ye the
only South tact ruined away, when
they was smellln' round fer Jesse
Purvy's assassin
II didn't run away" Tamarack's
blood-shot eyes Jared wickedly. II
knoWed thet Of / stayed round hyar
with them damned Hoilmans stickin'
their noses inter our business, I'd hurt
somebody. So, l went over inter the
next county fer a spell. You fellers
mout be able TO take things often the
| Hollmans, but ! hain't."
"Thet's a damned lie" said Samson.
quietly. "Ys ruined away, an ye
ruined in the water 80 them dawgs
couldn't trail ye--ye done hit because
ye shot them shoots at Jesse Purvy
from the laurel-because ye'rs q truce.
Dustin, m%urderin' bully tibet shoots on
his face. an is skeered to Tight" Sam.
son paui,ed for breath, and west on
with regained calmness. I've knowsd
all along ye was the man. an I've kept
quiet because ye're my kin. II ye'ro
got anything else ter say, say hit. But.
ef / eyer ketches yer talkin' about me,
or talkin' ter Sally. I'm a-goin' ter take
20 by the scroa Of the neck, an drag
ye plumb into Hixon, an stick ye 10
the iailh0use, An I'm a-Eoin' ter tell
the high sheriff that the Sogths splits
ye outen their mouths. Take him
away" The crowd turned and left