The state herald., 1915-08-13
CHAPTER XIV.

Samson stopped at his studio and
threw open an old closet where. from
Uttered pile OF discarded background
draperies. canvases and stretchers, he
hshed out a buried and dust-covered
pair OF saddlebags. They had long
lain there forgotten. but they held the
rusty clothes in which he had left
Misery.
Samson had caught the fastest west.
bound express on the schedule. In
thirty-six hours he would be at Hixon.
There were many things which his
brain must attack and digest in these
hours. He must arrange his plan Of
action 70 its minutest detail, because
he would have as little time for refiec.
ton once he had reached his own
country. as wildcat flung into a pack
OF hounds. --...-----
From the railroad station to his
home he must make his way-most
probably fight his way-through thirty
miles OF hostile territory, where all
the trails were watched. And yet. for
the time. all that seemed too remotely
unreal to hold his thoughts.
He took out Sally's letter. and read
It once more. He read II mechanically
and as a piece OF news that had
brought evil tidings. Then, suddenly.
another aspect OF II struck him-an as.
pect TO which the shock OF its recep.
ton had until this tardy momen,
blinded him. The letter was perfectly
grammatical and penned in a hand OF
copybook roundness and eyenness.
The address. the body of the missive
and the ~ ature were all In one chi.
Biography She would not have intrust.
ed the writing OF this letter to anyone
else.
Sally had learned to write.
Moreover. at the end were the
words. with love" II was all plain
now. Sally had never repudlated him.
She was declaring herself true to her
mission and her love
Good God!" groaned the man. In alb
jcctiy bitter seif.contempt. His hand
went involuntarily to his cropped head
and dropped with a gesture OF self.
doubling. He looked down at his tan
shoes and silk socks. He rolled back
his shirtsleove and contemplated the
forearm that had once been az brown
and tough a. leather. II was now the
arm OF . city man. except for the burn,
ing OF one outdoor week. lie was
rctnrnin. at the eleventh hour
stripped OF the faith OF his kInsm.n.
hAifstrippcd OF his faith In himself.
II he were TO realize the constructive
dreams OF which he had last night 20
confidently prattlod TO Adrionne, he
must lead his people from under the
blighting shadow OF the feud.
Bc must rcappcar before his ginp.
men AZ much as possible the boy who
had left them-not th. fop with new.
tangled affectations. His eyes fell
upon the saddiebags upon the floor OF
the Pullman and he smiled satirically
He would like TO step from the train
nj Hiron and walk brasenly through
the town In those old clothes. ebal,
Ionging every hostil. glance n they
shot him down on the streets. An they
certainly would do. II would end his
questioning and his anguish Of dli.m
ma. He would welcome that. but 1,
would. after all. be nhirking the Issue
Ho must get out OF Hison aud into
nin own country unrocoEnired. The
lean boy OF four years ago was the
somewhat fllled.ou, man now. The one
concession that he had made 10 Paris
life was the wearing Of q oiosei,
cropped mustaohe. That he rtill wore
had worn II chiefly because he liked
70 hear Adrienns's humorous denunoia
Non OF II, He knew that. In hiu pres
On, Iuise aas dress. be had an excel
~ eAAnce Il vsihisk through tbs