The state herald., 1915-06-11
CHAPTER Iv-continued.


turned sharply into the woods. and
began climbing. His steps carried him
to the rift In the ridge where the white
oak stood sentinel over the watch
tower Of rock. As he came over the
edge from one side his bare feet max
ing no sound, he saw Sally sitting
there, with her hands resting on the
moss and her eyes deeply troubled
She was gazing fixedly ahead and her
lips were trembling. At once Sam
sons face grew black. Some one had
been making Sally unhappy. Then he
saw beyond her q standing figure
which the tree trunk had hitherto con-
cealed. It was the loose-knltted figure
Of young Tamarack Spicer.
TN course" Spicer was saying. I'VE
don't low Samson shot Jesse Purvy,
but them Hollmans II 'spicion him. an
heered Just now thet them dawgs
was trackin' straight up hyar from the
mouth of Misery. They'll git hyar
against sundown."
Samson leaped violently forward.
With one hand he roughly seized his
cousins shoulder and wheeled him
about
"Shet up!" he commanded. what
d-n fool stun hev ye been tellin'
sallyf"
For an instant the two clansmen
stood fronting each other. Samson's
face was set and wrathful. Tamarack's
was surly and snarling. "Haint got
license ter tell Sally the news!" he
demanded.
Nobody haint got no license re-
torted the younger man in the quiet
OF cold anger. ''ter tell Sally nothin'
thet1l fret her."
She air bound ter know hit all
pretty soon. Them dawgs-"
Didn't tell ye ter shet up?" Sam
son clenched his fists. and took step
forward. "Ef ye opens yore mouth
again. I'm a-goin' ter smash hit. Now.
Sit!"
Tamarack Spicers face blackened.
and his teeth showed. His right hand
swept to his left arm.pit. Outwardly
he seemed weaponless. but Samson
knew that concealed beneath the
hickory shirt was holster. worn
mountain fashion.
What air ye, a-reachin' after.
Tnm'rack7" he inquired. his lips twist.
ing In amusement.
"Thets my business
well. git hit out--or git out yeself,
afore throws ye ofYen the cliff"
Sally showed no symptoms OF alarm.
Her confidence In her hero was abso.
Lutte. The boy lifted his hand. and
pointed on down tho path. Slowly
and with incohcrent muttering. Spicer
took himself away. Then only did
Sally rise. She came over. and laid a
hand on Samson's shoulder. In her
blue eyes. the tears were weillng.
Samson" she whispered. "ef they're
after ye. come ter my house. kin
hide ye out. Why didn't We tell me
Jesse Jurvey'd done been shot1"
''iiit tain't nothin' ter fret about.
Sally" he assured her. He spoke
awkwardly. for he had been trained TO
regard emotion as unmaniy. Thar
hain't no danger"
She gazcd searchinEiy into his eyes.
and then. with n short sob. threw her
arms around him. and buried her face
on his shoulder
"Ef anything happens ter yc. Sam.
son." she said. brokcnly. "hltll Jest
kill me, couldn't live withou,en ye,
Samson. Jest couldn't do hiti"
Tho boy took her In his arms. aud
pressed her close. His eyes were gnx.
Ing on over her bent head. and his lips
twitchcd. lie drew his features into
. scowl. because that was the only al.
precision with which lie could safe.
guard his feelings, His voice was
husky.
Il reckon. Sally" he said. u couldn't
live withouten you. neither"
Tn. party Of men who had started
at morning from Jesse Purdy'a store
had spcni a hard day. The roads fol.
lowed ore.k.bcda, crossing and r..
crossing waterways In n fashion that
gave the bloodhoundE n hundred baf.
Ming difliouitieu. Often, their noses
lost tho trail. which had nj ffpt been
30 surely taken. Often. they circlcd
aud whinod. and halted In porplcsity.
but each time they came 10 n point
where. nj the end, one OF them again
raised hIn musrle phywsrd. and gave
voice.
Toward evening. they wer. working
up Misery alons course lehs broken.
Tho party halted for . moments rest.
and, aa the bottle wns passed. the man
from Lexington. who had brought the
dogs and stayed TO conduct the chase.
put u question:
what do you oail this ersehf"
@.,..s-