The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1915-02-11

Holman's path, became victims Of the
laurel ambuscRde The theory Of CO.
incidence was strained. Slowly the
rumor grew and persistently spread,
though no man would admit having
fathered it, that before each of these
executions star-chamber conferences
had been held in the rooms above
Micah Hollman's Mammoth Depart
ment Store" 1t was said that these
exclusive sessions were attended by
Judge Holman, Sheriff Purvy and GER
tain other gentlemen selected by rea-
son of their craftsmanship. When
one of these victims fell john South
had just returned from a law school
down below" wearing "fotched-on"
clothing and thinking "fotched-on"
thoughts. He had amazed the COM
munity by demanding the right to as
sist in probing and prosecuting the
affair He had then shocked the COM
munity into complete paralysis by re-
questing the grand jury to indict not
alone the alleged assassin, but also
his employers, whom he named as
Judge Holman and Sheriff Purvy.
Then he, too, fell under a bolt from
the laurel
That was the first public accusation
against the bland capitalist, and it car
ried it's own prompt warning against
repetition. The judged high sheriff
and chief ally retired from office and
went abroad only with bodyguard.
Jesse Purvy had built his store at
crossroads rs miles from the rail-
road. Like Holman, he had won a
reputation for open-handed charity,
was liked-and hated. His friends
were legion. His enemies we're so nu-
merous that he apprehended violence
not only from the SOuths but also
from others who nursed grudges in
no way related to the line of feud
cleavage. The Hollman-Purvy comb1-
nation had retained enough Of its old
power to escape the laws retributton
and to hold it's dictatorship, but the
efforts of John South had not been
altogether bootless. He had ripped
away two masks, and their erstwhile
wearers could no longer hold their old
semblance of law-abiding philanthro-
pists. Jesse Purvy's home was the
show place of the countryside. Com
modious verandas looked out over
pleasant orchards, and in the same
Enclosure stood the two frame build
ings of his store-for he, too, COM
Wi
powers. But back of the place rose
the mountain side, on which Purvy
never looked without dread. Twice
it's impenetrable thickets had spat at
him. Twice he had recovered from
wounds that would have taken less
charmed life. And in grisly reminder
of the terror which clouded the peace
of his days stood the etght-foot log
stockade at the rear of the place,
which the proprietor had built to
shield his daily journeys between
house and store. But Jesse Purvy was
not deluded by his escapes. He knew
that he was marked down"
The years of strain were telling on
him. The robust, full-blooded face
was showing deep lines; his flesh was
growing f1accid; his glance tinged
with quick apprehension. He told his
intimates that he realized they'd get
him." yet he sought to prolong his
term of escape.
Yesterday morning Jesse Purvy had
risen early as usual, and, after sat
isfying breakfast, had gone to his
store to arrange for the days bust
ness. One or two Of his henchmen,
seeming loafers, but in reality body
guard, were lounging within call. A
married daughter was chatting with
her father while her young baby
played among the barrels and cracker
boxes.
The daughter went to rear win
dow and gazed up at the mountain.
The cloudless skies were still in hid
ing behind a curtain of mist. The
woman was idly watching the vanish