The Delta independent., 1915-09-10

II the high sheriff should call upon
him. Samson went in and knocked,
and instantly to the cabin door came
Sally's slender, fiuttering figure. She
put both arms about him. and her eyes,
as she looked into his face, were terri.
fed. but fearless.
I'm frightened, Samson" she whis-
pered. God knows I'm going to be
praying all this day"
Sally" he said. softly, "1'm coming
back to you-but, if | don't'-he held
her very close-"Uncle Spicer has my
will. The farm is full of coal. and
days are coming when roads will take
it out, and every ridge will glow with
coke furnaces. That farm will make
you rich, if we win today's fight"
DON'T" she cried. with sudden
gasp. Don't talk like that"
81 must" he. said, gently. II want
you to make me promise. Sally"
Its made" she declared.
"If by any chance should not come
back. l want you to hold Uncle Spicer
and old Vile McCager to their pledge.
They must not privately avenge me.
They must still stand for the law.
want you, and this is most important
Of all, to leave these mountains"
Her hands tightened on his shoulder
mot that, Samson" she pleaded;
mot these mountains where we've
been together"
You promised. want you to go to
~ T. T.
you can come back-if you want to;
but you must promise that"
II PROMISE" she reluctantly yielded
1t was half-past nine o'clock when
Samson South and Sidney Callomb
rode side by side into Hixon from the
east. A dozen of the older Souths,
who had not become soldiers, met
them there, and. with no word, sepa-
rated to close about them in circle OF
protection. AS CaHomb's eyes swept
the almost deserted streets, SO silent
that the strident switching of freight
train could be heard down at the edge
OF town, he shook his head. AS he met
the sullen glances of the gathering in
the courthouse yard, he turned to Sam.
son.
They'll fight" he said. briefly.
Samson nodded.
II don't understand the method" de
murred the officer. with perplexity.
why don't they shoot you at once.
What are they waiting for?"
They want to see," Samson assured
him, what tack mean to take. They
want to let the thing play itself out.
They're inquisitive-and they're eau
tious, because now they are bucking
the state ano the world"
Samson with his escort rode up to
the courthouse door and dismounted.
He was for the moment unarmed and
his men walked on each side of him,
while the unlocking Hollmans stood
back in surly silence to let him pass.
In the Office of the county judge Sam
son said briefly:
Il want to get my deputies sworn
in"
We've got plenty of deputy sher-
IFS" was the quietly insolent rejoin-
der.
Not now-we haven't any" Sam
sons voice was sharply incisive. III
name my own assistants"
Whats the matter with these
boys?" The county Judge waved his
hand toward two hold-over deputies.
They're fred"
The country Judge laughed.
well, reckon can't attend to that
right now"
Then you refuse?"
"Mebby you might call 1t that"
Sampson leaned on the judges table
and raped sharply with his knuckles.
His handful Of men stood close and
Callomb caught his breath in the
heavy air of storm-freighted suspense.
The Holman partisans filled the room
and others were crowding to the doors.
I'm high sheriff of this county now"
said Samson. sharply. You are coun-
ty Judge. Do we co-operate-or fightY"
Il reckon" drawled the other. that's
a matter we'll work out as we goes
along. Depends on how obedient ye
air"
N