Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1915-03-26
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AZ CHARLES NEVILLE BUC1N<S S,,o
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Come and get him.
But Holman and Purvy, hypocriti'
cally clamoring for the sanctity OF the
law, made no effort to come and "gi'
him" They knew that Spicer Souths
house was now a fortress, prepared foI
siege. They knew that every tran
thither was picketed. Also, they kne"
a better way. This time they had the
color of the law on their side. The
circuit Judge, through the sheriff
asked for troops and troops came
Their tents dotted the river bank be-
low the Hixon bridge. A detail un-
der a white flag went out after Tama-
rack Spicer. The militia captain In
command, who feared neither feudls'
nor death, was courteously received
He had brains, and he assured them
that he acted under orders which
could not be disobeyed. Unless they
surrendered the prisoner, gatling guns
would follow. If necessary they would
be dragged behind OK teams. Many
militiamen might be killed, but Tor
each of them the state had another
If Spicer would surrender, the officer
would guarantee him personal protec-
ton, and, If it seemed necessary a
change of venue would secure him
trial in another circuit. For hours the
clan deliberated. For the soldiers they
felt no enmity. For the young cap
tain they felt an instructive liking.
He was a man.
Old Spicer South, restored to an
echo Of his former robustness by the
call of action, gave the clans verdict.
Hit hain't the cote we're skeered
of. Eff this boy goes ter town he
won't never git into no cote. He'll be
murdered"
The officer held out his hand.
"As man to man." he said, Il pledge
you my word that no one shall take
him except by process Of law. I'm not
working for the Hollmans or the Pur-
vys. I know the breed"
For a space old South looked into
the soldiers eyes, and the soldier
looked back.
I'll take yore handshake on tibet
bargain" said the mountaineer, grave
ly. "Tam'rack." he added, in voice
Of finality, we've got ter CO."
The officer had meant what he said
He marched his prisoner into Hixon
at the center of a hollow square, with
muskets at the ready. And yet, as the
boy passed into the courthouse yard,
with a soldier rubbing elbows on each
side, a cleanly aimed shot sounded
from somewhere. The smoakless pow
der told no tale, and with blue shirts
and army hats circling him, Tamarack
fell and died.
That afternoon one of Hollman's
henchmen was found lying in the road
with his lifeless face in the water OF
the creek The next day, as old Spicer
South stood at the door Of his cabin,
q rifle barked from the hillside. and he
fell, shot through the left shoulder by
a bullet intended for his heart. All
this while the troops were helplessly
camped at Hixon. They had power
and inclination to go out and get men,
but there was no man to get.
The Hollmans had used the soldiers
as far as they wished; they had made
them pull the chestnuts out Of the
fire and Tamarack Spicer out Of his
stronghold. They now refused to
swear out additional warrants.
A detail had rushed into Hollman's
store an instant after the shot which
killed Tamarack was fired. Except for
a woman buying a card Of buttons and
a fair-haired clerk waiting on her
they found the building empty.
Back beyond, the hills were impene-
trable, and answered no questions.
Old Spicer South would ten years
ago have put a handage on his wound
and gone about his business, but now
he tossed under his patchwork quilt
and Brother Spicer expressed grave
doubts for his recovery With his
counsel unavailable Vile McCager, by
common consent, assumed something
like the powers Of a regent and took
upon himself the duties to which Sam
son should have succeeded.
That a Holman should have beer
able to elude the pickets and penetrate
the heart of South territory to Spicel
South's cabin was both astounding ant
question now. and there must be coun.
Gil. Vile McCager had sent out a sum
mons for the family heads to mee
that afternoon at his mill. 1t was Sat-
urday-"mill day"-and in accordance
with the ancient custom the lane:
would be more travelled than usual.
Those men who came by the wagor
| road afforded no unusual spectacle
for behind each saddle sagged sacl
Of grain. Their faces bore no STAMP
of unwonted excitement, but ever!
man balanced a rifle across his pom
mel. None the less, their purpose wa:
grim, and their talk when they hat
gathered was to the point.
Old McCager, himself sorely per
picked, voiced the sentiment that th'
others had been too courteous to ex
press. With. Spicer South bed-riddeI
and Samson a renegade, they had M
adequate leader. McCager was solit
man of intrepid courage and honesty
but grinding grist was his vocation
not strategy and tactics. The enem!
had such masters of intrigue as Purv!
and Judge Holman.
Then a lean sorrel mare came jog
ging into view, switching her fiy-bit
ten tail, and on the mares back, urg
ing him with long, leafy switch, sa
a woman. Behind her sagged the tw'
loaded ends of corn sack. She wa
1.-the and slim. and her violet eye'
were profoundly serious, and her lip
were as resolutely set as Joan of Arc!
might have been, for Sally Miller hat
come only ostensibly to have her corr
ground to meal She had really com'
to speak for the absent chief, and sh'
knew that she would be met with deri
sion. The years had sobered the girl
but her beauty had increased, though