The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1915-02-06


South had spoken pointedly of him,
and advised cautious conduct, in a
fashion calculated to inhame
Samson, it was falsely alleged, had
accused him Of saying derogatory
things in his absence, which he would
hardly venture to repeat in his pres
ence. In short, it was put to Horton
to announce his opinion openly, or eat
the crow of cowardice.
That evening. when Samson went
to his room, Farbish joined him.
I've been greatly annoyed to find"
he said, seating himself on Samson's
bed, that Horton arrived today"
81 reckon that's all right" said Sam
son. He's a member, isn't hep
Farbish appeared dubious.
Il don't want to appear in the guise
of prophet of trouble" he said, but
you are my guest here, and must
warn you. Horton thinks of you as
'gun-ighter' and a dangerous man
He won't takes chances with you
If there is a clash, it will be serious.
He doesn't often drink, but today
he's doing it, and may be ugly. Avoid
an alteration if you can, but if it
comes" He broke on and added seri-
ously: You will have to get him, or
he will get you Are you armed?"
The Kentuckian laughed.
Il reckon / don't need to be armed
amongst gentlemen"
Farbish drew from his pocket a
magazine pistol.
1T won't hurt you to slip that into
your Clothes" he insisted.
For an instant, the mountaineer
stood looking at his host and with eyes
that bored deep, but whatever was in
his mind as he made that scrutiny
he kept to himself. At last he took
the magazine pistol, turned it over in
his hand, and put it into his pocket.
Mr. Farbish,' he said, I've been in
places before now where men were
drinking who had made threats against
me- 1 think you are excited about
this thing. If anything starts. he will
start it"
At the dinner table, Samson South
and Wilfred Horton were introduced,
and acknowledged their introductions
with the briefest and most formal
mods. During the course of the meal,
| though seated side by side, each ig-
nored the presence of the other. Sam
son was, perhaps, no more silent than
usual Always, he was the listener ex-
| cept when a question was put to him
| direct, but the silence which sat upon
Wilfred Horton was a departure from
/ his ordinary custom.
He had discovered IN his college
days that liquor, instead of exhilarat-
ing him, was an influence under which
he grew morose and sullen, and that
discovery had made him almost a total
| abstainer. Tonight, his glass was con-
stantly filed and emptied, and, as he
ate, he gazed ahead, and thought re-
sentfully of the man at his side.
y When the coffee had been brought,
and the cigars lighted, and the serv-
| ants had withdrawn, Horton with the
manner of one who had been awaiting
an opportunity, turned slightly in his
chair, and gazed insolently at the Ken
| tuckian.
Samson South still seemed entirely
unconscious of the others existence
though in reality no detail of the brew
ing storm had escaped him. He was
studying the other faces around the
table, and what he saw in them ap-
peared to occupy him. Wilfred Hor
toms cheeks were burning with a dull
flush, and his eyes were narrowing
with an unveiled dislike. Suddenly
a silence fell on the party, and, as
the men sat putting their cigars, Horton
turned toward the Kentuckian- For q
moment, he glared in silence, then
with an impetuous exclamation of dis
gust he announced:
See here, South, want you to know
that if I'd understood you were to be
here. I wouldn't have come 1t has
pleased me to express my opinion Of
you to a number Of people, and now
mean to express it to you in person
Samson looked around, and his feat
ures indicated neither surprise nor in
terest. He caught Farbish's eye a
the same instant, and, though the plot
ter said nothing, the glance was subtle
and expressive. 1t seemed to promp
and goad him on, as though the maj
had said:
You mustn't stand that Go aftel
him"
81 ACCOMPLISHMENTS voice was +;
pleasant drawI--'it doesn't make an!
particular difference, Mr.. Horton
Even if what 1 said didn't harper
to be particularly commendatOry? in
CURED Horton. his eyes narrowing.
$50 long" replied the Kentuckian
'as what you said was your own opin
ion. don't reckon it would interes
: me much"
, In point of fact"-Horton was gaz
/ ing with steady hostility into Sam
sons eyes-"I prefer to tell you
) have rather generally expressed tn
: belief that you are a damned savage
: unfit for decent society"
? Samson's face grew rigid and trifi
/ pale. His mouth set itself in a straigh
/ line, but, as Wilfred Horton came t
his feet with the last words, the noun
l taineer remained seated.
: And" went on the New Yorker
} nushing with suddenly augmentini
? passion, what said I still believe t
2 modelling. plaster casting, and vas