Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-01-11

'"The Hon. Asa smithers.
rSir: arrived in this county yes
terday, and am prepared. II called a.
. witness. to give to the grand jury
full and true particulars Of the murder
Of Jesse Purvy and the killing OF Aaron
Hollis. am willing to come under the
escort of my own kinsmen. or the milf
tamen, as the court may advise.
"The requirement of any bodyguard
/ deplore, but In meeting my legal OBJ.
legations. I do not regard 1t az neces.
sary or proper to walk into trap.
Respectfully,
SAMSON SOUTH"
smithers looked perplexedly at
Judge Holman.
"shall I have him Gomez" he in
Quired.
HOLMAN threw the letter down on
his desk with q burst Of blasphemy:
"Have him Gomez" he echoed. Hell
and damnation, no! What do we want
him to come here and spill the milk
for? When we get ready. we'll indict
him. Then, let your damned soldiers
go after him-as criminal, not
witness. After that, we'll continue this
case until these outsiders go away.
and we can operate to suit ourselves.
We don't fall for Samson South's
tricks. No. sir; you never got that
letter! It miscarried. Do you hear!
You never got it."
Smithers nodded grudging acqui.
essence. Most men would rather be
Independent officials than collar-wear.
ers.
Out on Misery Samson South had
gladdened the soul of his uncle with
his return. The old man was mending,
and, for q long time. the two had
talked. The falling head of the clan
looked vainly for signs of degeneration
in his nephew. and. failing to find
them, was happy.
"Hev We decided, Samson" he in.
CURED, "thet ye was right in yer no.
ton, bout soin' away?
Samson sat reflectively for while,
then replied:
I'VE we're both right, Uncle spicer-
and both wrong. This Is my place.
but II I'm to take up the leadership 1t
must be in different fashion. Changes
are coming. We can't any longer stand
STILL"
spicer South lighted his pipe. He,
too. in these last years, had seen IN
the distance the crest Of the oncomin9
wave.
II reckon there's right smart truth
to that" he acknowledged. 1--WE been
studyin' bout hit considerable myself Of
late. Thar's been sev'ral fellers
through the. country talkin' coal an
timber an railroads-an' SIGH like"
Sally went to mill that Saturday.
and with her rode Samson. There. be-
sides Vile McCager. he met Caleb
Wiley and several others. At first.
they received him skeptically. but they
knew of the visit to Purvy's store. and
they were willing to admit that in part
at least he had erased the blot from
his escutcheon. Then, too. except for
cropped hair and white skin. he had
come back as he had gone. in home
spun and hickory. There was nothing
highfalutin in his manners. In short,
the impression was good.
II reckon now that ye're back.
Samson" suggested McCager. AN see
in how yere Uncle Spicer is gettin'
along all right. I'll jest let the two OF
We run things. I've done had enough"
Il was . simple fashion Of resigning
q regency. but effectual.
Old Caleb. however, still insurgent
and unconvinced, brought In a minor
ity report.
1--WE wants fghtin' men," he grum.
bled, with the senile reiteration of his
age, as he spat tobacco and beat . rat.
tat on the mill floor with his long
hickory stan. I'VE don't want no de-
,serters."
{ Samson amt deserter," defended
Sally. There isn't one Of you At to
tie his shoes" Sally and old spicer
South alone knew nj her lovers letter
to the circuit judge. and they were
pledged to secrecy.
Never mind. sally!"N Il was Sam.
son himself who answered her. II
didn't come back because care what
men like old Caleb think. came back
because they needed me. The proof of
h nghting man * his lighting. l reckon.
I'm willing to let 'em Judge me by
what I'm going to do.
So, Samson slipped back. tentative
:ly. at least, into his place as clan head,
though for . time he found it q post
w.tnout action. After the fierce out.
| burst Of bloodshed, squiet had settled.
i and 1t was tacitly understood that. un.
less the HOLMAN forces had some coup
!. in mind which they were secreting.
this peace would last until the soldiers
were withdrawn.
r when the worlds a-lookin'." com.
msntsd Judge Holman. hits right
good idea to crawl under . logan
lay STILL"
Purvy had been too famous feud-
list to pass unsung Reporters came %
far az H!xcn,. gathered there such
news al the Hollmans chose to give
them, and went back to write lurid
stories and description, from hear
say, Of the stocksded seat Of tragedy.
Nor did they overlook the dramatic
coincidence Of the return Of wildcat"
Samson South from civilization to sav.
agery. They made no accusation. but
L