The Huttig news., 1915-04-03


 fighting man is his fighting, 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 a post without action. After the fierce out. burst of bloodshed, quiet had settled, and it was tacitly understood that, un- less the Hoffman forces had some coup in mind which they were secreting. this peace would last until the soldiers were withdrawn.
 "When the worlds a-lookin'," com mente1 Judge Holman, hits right good idea to crawl under a logan lay still"
 Puryy had been too famous a feud far as Hixon, gathered there sucn news as the Hollmans chose to give them, and went back to write lurid stories and description, from hear say, of the stockaded seat of tragedy. Nor did they overlook the dramatic
 
 Samson South from civilization to saw agery. They made no accusation, but they pointed an inference and a moral as they thought It was a sermon on the triumph of heredity over the ad- vantages of environment. Adrienne read some of these saffron misrepre- sentations, and they distressed her.
 
 Meanwhile, it came insistently to the ears of Captain Callomb that some plan was on foot, the intricacies of which he could not fathom, to manu- faeture a case against number of the Souths, quite apart from their actual guilt, or likelihood of guilt. Once more, he would be called upon to go out and drag in men too we'll fortified to be taken by the posses and depu- ties of the Holman civil machinery At this news, he ehafed bitterly, and. still ranking with a sense of shame at the loss of his first prisoner, he formed a plan of his own, which he revealed over his pipe to his first lieutenant.
 There's a nigger in the woodpile, Merriweather," he said. We are sim ply being used to do the dirty work Up here, and I'm going to do little probing of my own. 1 guess I'll turn the company over to you for day CT two"
 What idioey are you contemplating now?" inquired the second in com mand
 I'm going to ride over on Misery, and hear what the other side has to say I've usually noticed that one side of any story is pretty good until the others tolda
 You mean you are going to go over there where the Souths are in- trenched where every road is guard ed ?" The lieutenant spoke wrathfully and with violence. Don't be an ass, Gallomb You went over there once before and took man away-and he's dead You owe them life, and they collect their dues. You will be SUD- 1 ported by no warrant of arrest. and can't take a sufficient detail to. pro. l tect you"
 "No,' said Callomb, quietly; T go on my own responsibility and go by myself"
 And" stormed Merriwether, you'll never come back
 q think" smiled Callomb, 'I'll get back. owe an old man over there an apology, and I want to see this des- perado at first hand
 Its sheer madness. I ought to take yon down to this internal crook of a judge and have you committed to a strait-jaeket.'
 If, said Callomb, you are content to play the catspaw to bunch of as- sassins, I'm not The mailrider went out this morning and he carried a let ter to old Spicep South. l told him that I was coming unescorted and unarmed and that my object was to talk with him. I asked him to give me safe conduct, at least, until I reached his house, and stated my case. 1 treated him like an officer and a gentleman, and, unless I'm a poor judge of men, he's going to treat me that way"
 HS ileuteHdIl SOuSHl FdiHly tO dlS- suade Callomb, but the next day the captain rode forth, unaccompanied. Curious stares followed him and Judge Smithers turned narrowing and un- pleasant eyes after him, but at the point where the ridge separated the territory of the Hollmans from that of the Souths he saw waiting in the road a mounted figure, sitting his horse straight, and clad in the rough habili- ments of the mountaineer.
 As Callomb rode up he saluted and the mounted figure with perfect gray ity and correctness returned that salute as one officer to another The captain was surprised. Where had this mountaineer with the steady eyes and the clean-cut jaw learned the nieeties of military etiquette?
 'I am Captain Callomb of 'F' com pany, said the officer. I'm riding over to Spicer South's house, Did you come to meet me-"
 ITO meet and guide you" replied a pleasant voice. My name is Samson South"
 u-t .1..:. ..... .4a~aa rb;. ....r