The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1915-01-28

hyar," volunteered the man who had
brought the message.
Go slow now, Samson. Don't be no
blame fool" d~issuaded VILE McCager.
"Hixon's plumb full OF them Hollmans.
an they're likely ter be full OF licker--
hits Saturday. Hits apt ter be shore
death fer ye ter try ter ride through
Main street-ef ye gifts thet far. Ys
dassent do hit"
81 dast do anything" asserted tho
boy. with n flash OF sudden anger.
some liar lowed awhile ago thet I
vas a coward. All right. mebby ] be.
inc Vile, keep the boys hyar tell ys
hears from mean keep EN- sober"
lie turned and made his way 10 the
fence where his mule stood hitched.
When Samson crossed the ridge and
entered the HOLMAN country. jim AZ.
berry, watching from n hilltop point OF
vantage. rose and mounted the horse
that stood hitched behind "a nearby
screen of rhododendron bushes n
young cedars. Sometimes, he rode Just
one bend Of the road In Samson's rear.
Sometimes. he took short cuts. and
watched his enemy pass. But always
he held him under a vigilant ego.
Finally. he reached n wayside store
where Il local telephone gave communal
cation with HUllman's Mammoth DE.
yartment store.
"Jedgc," he informed, samson
jouth's done left the party ct Their
,,gII .yH 49,, u.rtItnH tnupur1g tnun
Shall ! git him."
rs he comm by hlsself?" inquired
the stUrekeeper.
Yes"
well. Jest let him come on. We
can tend ter him hyar. ef necessary"
So Jim withheld his hand. and merely
Swallowed. sending bulletins, from time
to time.
II was about three o'clock when Sam.
son started. II was near six when he
reached the ribbon OF road that loops
down into town over the mountain.
His mule was In "A lather OF sweat. He
knew that he was being spied upon.
and that word of his coming was tray'
cling ahead of him. What he did not
know was whether or not II suited
Jesse Purvy's purpose that he should
slide from his mule. dead. before he
turned homeward. II Tamarack had
been seized as a declaration OF war,
the chief South would certainly not
be allowed to return. II the arrest had
not been for feud reasons. he might
escape. That was the question which
would be answered with his life or
death.
The ~"jailhouse" was a small build.
ing OF homemade brick. squatting at
the rear OF the courthouse yard. A
Samson drew near. he saw that some
ten or twelve men. armed with rifles.
J separated from groups and disposed
! themselves behind the tree trunks and
the stone coping of the well. None OF
them spoke. and Samson pretended
that he had not seen them. He rode
his mule at a walk. knowing tina he
was r%ine.covered from a h~alf'dozen
windows. At the hitching rack direct
~ beneath the county building. no
flung his reins over a post, and. swing
ing his rifle at his side, passed eau
tiOusly along the brick walk to tho
Jail. The men behind the trees edged
around their covers ms he went. keep
ing themselves protected, as squirrels
creep around "A trunk when a hunter II
lurking below. Samson halted ut tns
jail wall, and called the prisoners
name. 4 tousled head and surly face
appcared ut the barred window. and
the boy went over and held converse
from the outside.
How In hell did We git into town.
demanded the prisoner.
II rid in," was the short reply.
How'd ye git in the ja~ilhouse?"
The captive was shamefaCed.
Il got n leetle too much Ticker. an |
was shootin' out the lights last night"
he confessed.
What business did ye have hyar In
Hixon?"
Il Jest slipped in ter see a gal"
Samson leaned closer, and lowered
his voice,
Does they know tibet ye shot them
shoots at Jesse Purvy?"
Tamarack turned pale.
NO." he stammered, they believe
you done hit"
Samson laughed, lie was thinking
of the rifles trained on him from a
dozen invisible rests.
How long air they a-goin' ter keep
so hyar?" he demanded.
II kin git out tomorrer IT ] pays tho
/ a,. IIit's ton lpllars"
And eli go don't pay the ine?"
hts a dollar n day
Il reckon ye don't low ter pay hit,
do ye?"
Il lowed mebby ye mout pay hit fer
me, Samson"
"Ye done lowed plumb wrong. |
come hyar ter see ef ye needed help,
but hi pears ter me they're lettin' ye
on easy"
lie turned on his heel, and went
hack TO his mule. The men behind the
trees began c%ircling again. Samson
,ono,ad and with his chin well IN.