The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1915-01-14
Misery, but the boys face clouded at

"Ef they KANT be civil ter my
friends" he said, shortly, they've got
ter account ter me. You stay right
hyar, and I'll stay clost to you. done
come hyar today ter tell 'em that they
mustn't NEEDLE in my business"
A short while later, Vile McCager
invited Samson to come out to the
mill, and the boy nodded to Lescott
an invitation to accompany him.
The mill, dating back to pioneer
lays. sat by its race with it's shaft now
idle. 1t looked to Lescott, as he ap-
preached, like scrap of landscape
.orn from some medieval picture, and
he men about its door seemed medic
val, too; bearded and gaunt, hard
thewed and sullen.
All of them who stood waiting were
men of middle age. or beyond. A num-
Der were gray-haired, but they were all
Of cadet branches. Many of them. like
Vile McCager himself, did not bear
the name of South, and Samson was
the eldest son of the eldest son.
Samson" began old Vile McCager,
clearing his throat and taking up his
duty as spokesman, we're all your
Ainfclks here, an we aimed ter ask We
about this here report tibet yer lowin'
ter leave the mountings?"
What of hit" countered the boy.
Hit looks mighty like the wars
a-goin' ter be on ag'in pretty soon Air
re a-goin' ter quit, or air We a-goin' ter
rfinG9 That's hot - -
Know"
Il didn't make this here truce, an
hain't a-goin' ter bust HIT" said the
boy, quietly. when the war COM
mences, I'll be hyar. Eff hain't hyar
n the meantime. hit hain't nobody's
business. hain't accountable ter no
man but pap, an reckon, whar he is,
he knows whether I'm a-goin' ter keep
my word"
There was a moments silence, then
Vile McCager put another question:
"Ef ye're plumb sot on gettin' larnin'
why don't We git hit right hyar in these
nouhtings?"
Samson laughed derisively
Who'll l git hit FROM" he causti-
cally inquired. EFF the mountain won't
come ter Mohamet, Mohamet's got ter
go ter the mountain, reckon"
Caleb Wiley rose unsteadily to his
feet, his shaggy beard trembling with
wrath and his voice quavering with
senile indignation.
"Hev We done got too damned good
fer yore kinfolks, Samson South?" he
shrilly demanded. "Hev We done been
'ollerin' after this here puny witch
doctor twell We can't keep a civil
ongue in yer head fer yore elders?
m in favor of runnin' this here fur
riner outen the country with tar an
feathers on him. Furthermore, I'm in
favor of cleanin' out the Hollmans. l
was jest a-sayin' ter Bill"
Never mind what We war jest
a-sayin'," interrupted the boy, flushing
redly to his cheekbones, but con-
trolling his voice. "Ye've done said
enough already. Yere a right old man,
Caleb, an reckon tibet gives We some
license ter shoot off yore face, but eff
any of them no-'count, shifless boys of
yores wants ter back up what We says,
I'm ready ter go out thar an make 'em
eat hit. hain't a-goin' ter answer no
more questions"
There was a cOmmOtion of argu-
ment, until BLACK Dave" Jasper, sat-
urnine giant, whose hair was no black
sr than his expression, rose, and a
semblance Of quiet greeted him as he
spoke.
"Mebby, Samson, we've got a right
ter take the studs this away, an ter
refuse ter answer our questions, but
we've got right ter say who kin stay
in this hyar country. Eff ye lows ter
quit US, reckon we kin quit you
and. If we quits We. ye haint nothin'
more ter us then no other boy thets
gettin' too big fer his breaches. This
furriner is visitor here today, an
we don't low ter hurt him-but he's
got ter 60. We don't want him round
hyar no longer" He turned to Les
colt. Were a-givin' ye fair warnin',
stranger. Ye hain't our breed. After
this. We stays on Misery at yore own
risk-an' hits a-goin' ter be plumb
risky. That thar's final"
This man." blazed the boy, before
Lescott could speak, lis a-visitin' me
an Unc' Spicer. When We wants him
We kin come up thar an git him. Every
damned man of We kin come. hain't
a-sayin' how many of yell go back.
He was 'lowin' that he'd leave hyar ter
morrer mornin', but after this I'm
a-tellin' ye he hain't a-goin' ter do hit.
He's a-goin' ter stay es long es he
likes, an nobody hain't a-goin' ter run
him off," Samson took his stand be.
fore the painter, and swept the group
with his eyes. AN what's more" he
added. "I'll tell We another thing. l.
hadn't plumb made up my mind ter
leave the mountings, but we've done
settled hit fer me. I'm a-goin'."
There was low murmur of anger.
and voice cried out from the rear:
LET him go. We hain't got no use
fer damn cowards."
Whoever said thet's a iar!" shout
ed the boy. Lescott, standing at his