The state herald., 1915-06-25


Jest beyond ther ridge, a. l rid over
hyar." volunteered the man, who had
brought the message.
go slow now. Samson. Don't be no
blame fool" dissuaded Vile McCager.
"Hixon's plumb full Of them Hollmans,
an they're likely ter be full Of Ticker
hits Saturday. Hits apt ter be shore
death fer ye ter try ter ride through
Main street-ef ye gifts thet far. Ye
dassent do hit"
Il dast do anythingl" asserted the
boy, with flash of sudden anger.
Some liar lowed awhile ago thet l
was coward. All right. mebby be.
Unc' Vile. keep the boys hyar tell ~
hears from mean keep 'em sober" :"
He turned and made his way to the
fence where his mule stood hitched.
When Samson crossed the ridge and
entered the Holman country. Jim As
berry. watching from hilltop point Of
vantage. rose and mounted the horse
that stood hitched behind nearby
screen OF rhododendron bushes and
young cedars. Sometimes, he rode just
one bend of the road in Samson's rear.
Sometimes. he took short cuts, and
watched his enemy pass. But always
he held him under vigilant eye.
Finally, he reached wayside store
where local telephone gave communi-
cation with Hollman's Mammoth De-
partment store.
"Jedge," he informed. Samson
South's done left the party ct ther
mill, an he's a-ridin' towards town.
Shall | git him?"
"ls he comm by hisself7" inquired
the storekeeper.
Yes"
well, Jest let him come on. We
can tend ter him hyar. eff necessary"
So Jim withheld his hand. and merely
shadowed, sending bulletins. from time
to time.
1t was about three o'clock when Sam
son started. 1t was near six when he
reached the ribbon of road that loops
down into town over the mountain.
His mule was in lather Of sweat. He
knew that he was being spied upon.
and that word Of his coming was trav-
cling ahead of him. What he did not
know was whether or not It suited
Jesse Purvy's purpose that he should
slide from his mule, dead, before he
turned homeward. II Tamarack had
been seized as declaration Of war,
the chief South would certainly not
be allowed to return. II the arrest had
not been for feud reasons, he might
escape. That was the question which
would be answered with his life or
death.
The "jailhouse" was small build
ing OF homemade brick. squatting at
the rear OF the courthouse yard. As
Samson drew near. he saw that some
ten or twelve men, armed with rifles,
separated from groups and disposed
themselves behind the tree trunks and
the stone coping OF the we'll. None Of
them spoke. and Samson pretended
that he had not seen them. He rode
his mule at a walk. knowing that he
was rifie-covered from q halfdosen
windows. At the hitching rack direct
ly beneath the county building. he
nung his reins over a post. and. swing
ing his rife at his side. passed eau
tiously along the brick walk to the
Jail. The men behind the trees edged
around their covers as he went. keep
Ing themselves protected. as squirrels
creep around trunk when a hunter is
lurking below. Samson halted at the
Jail wall. and called the prisoners
name. A tousled head and surly face
appeared at the barred window. and
the boy went over and held converse
from the outside.
How In hell did ye git into town."
demanded the prisoner.
Il rid in.' was the short reply.
How'd ye git In the tailhousef"
The captive was shamefaced.
Il got a leetle too much ticker. an I
was shootin' out the lights last night"
he confessed.
What business did ye have hyar In
Hixon7"
Il Jest slipped in ter see a gal"
Samson leaned closer. and lowered
his voice.
Does they know thet ye shot them
shoots ut Jesse PurvyE
Tamarack turned pale.
NO." he stammered. they believe
you done hit"
Samson laughed. He was thinking
OF the rifies trained on him from .
dozen invisible rests.
How long mir they a'goin ter keep
ye hyar?" he demanded.
Il kin git out tomorrer Of pays the
nne. Hits ten dollars"
And ef yo don't pay the fnef"
Hits n dollar day"
II reckon yc don't low ter pay hit
do YET"
II lowed mebby ye mout pay hit fer
me. Samson"
"ye done lowed plumb wrong.
come hyar ter see ef ye needed help.
but hit pears ter me they're lettin' -
on easy"