The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1915-01-16
CHAPTER vII-contlnued.

CHAPTER VII-contlnued.
Lescott stayed on a week after that
simply In Difference to Samson's insist
Ience. To leave at once might SAVIOR Of
hight under FIRE, but when the week
twas out the painter turned his horses
head toward town, and his train swept
him back to the Bluegrass and the
East.
A quiet of unbroken and deadly
Routine settled down on Misery. The
conduct OF the Souths in keeping hands
on. and acknowledging the justice of
ITamarack Spicer's Jail sentence, had
been their answer to the declaration
OF the Hollmans in letting Samson ride
into and out of HixOn. The truce was
established. When, short time later,
Tamarack left the country to become
b railroad brakeman, Jesse PurTy
passed the word that his men must,
until further orders, desist from vio-
Hence. The word had crept about that
lSamsOn, too, was going away, and, IL
this were true, Jesse felt that his fu-
ture would be more secure than his
past. Purvy believed Samson guilty,
despite the exoneration Of the hounds.
Lescott had sent box Of books, and
Samson had taken a team over to
IHixon, and brought them back
He devoured them all from title
page to fms line, and many Of them
The went back to. and digested again.
He wrestled long and gently with
his uncle, struggling to win the old
mans consent to his departure. But
l6picer South's brain was no longer
PLASTIC. What had been good enough
flor the past was good enough for the
future. Nevertheless, he arranged af-
fairs so that his nephew should be
liable to meet financial needs, and to go
where he chose in fashion BETTING
a South.
November came in bleakly, with a
raw and devastating breath of fatality.
THE smile died from horizon to hori-
zon, and for days cold rains beat and
flashed the forests. And, toward the
end OF the month, came the day which
Samson had set for his departure.
At the threshold, with the saddle
bags over his left forearm and the rife
in his hand, he paused. His uncle stood
at his elbow and the boy put out his
hand.
'Good-by, Unc' Spicer," was all he
said. The old man, who had been his
second father, shook hands. His face
too, was expressionless, but he felt
that he was saying farewell to a sol
ldier of genius who was abandoning the
field And he loved the boy with al
the centered power Of an isolated
heart.
A half-mi1e along the road, Samson
halted and dismounted. There, in {
small cove, surrounded by tangle .
triers and blackberry bushes, stood
small and dilapidated meeting house
and churchyard, which he must visit
He made his way through the rough
underground to the unkempt half-acre
and halted before the leaning head
Estones which marked two graves. Witt
sudden emotion, he swept the bacl
of his hand across his eyes. He di
mot remove his hat, but he stood in tn
IdrizzIe of cold rain for moment o
silence. and then he said:
Pap, 1 hain't fergot. 1 don't wan
iye ter think thet I've forgot"
Before he arrived at the Widow Mi
her's, the rain had stopped and tn
clouds had broken.
Sally opened the door, and smiles
She had spent the day nerving herse
for this farewell, and at least unit
the moment Of leaVe-taking she woul
he safe from tears. The Widow Mi
Ter and her son soon left them alon,
and the boy and girl sat before th
blazing logs.
For time, an awkward silence fe
between them. At last, the boy ros,
and went over to the corner where b
had placed his gun. He took it up an
laid It on the hearth between them.
Sally" he said, Il wants ter tell J
some things thet I hain't never sal
ter nobody else. In the fust place,
wants ye ter keep this hyar gun IL
me-"
The girls eyes widened with su
prise.
"Hain't ye a-goin' ter take hit wit
ye, Samson?"
'eHe shook his head.
81 hain't a-goin' ter need hit dow
below. Nobody don't use 'em dow
thar. I've got my pistol. an reckc
thet will be enough"
"Pll take good keer OF hit" ST
promised
The boy took out of his pockets
box of cartridges and small packaS
tied in greasy rag.
Hits loaded. Sally. an hits cleans
an hits creased. Hits ready fer use
Again. she nodded in silent asseE
and the boy began speaking in a sior
careful voice, Shieh gradually noun
led into tense emotion
Eaily. thet thar gun was my pap
When he lay s-dyin'. he gave hit {
me. an be gave me Job ter do wi
hit. When ] was little Teller. uel
ter set up most All day. poltahin' ID