Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1915-06-18

IL was a simple fashion of resigning
regency, but effectual.
Old Caleb, however, still insurgent
and unconvinced, brought in a minor
ity report.
I'VE wants fightin' men," he grum-
bled, with the senile reiteration of his
age, as he spat tobacco and beat a rat
tat on the mill floor with his long
hickory staff. 1--WE don't want no de-
serters."
Samson amt deserter," defended
Sally. There isn't one of you fit to
tie his shoes" Sally and old Spicer
South alone knew of her lovers letter
to the circuit Judge, and they were
pledged to secrecy.
Never mind, Sally!" 1t was Sam
son himself who answered her. II
didn't come back because l care what
men like old Caleb think. came back
because they needed me. The proof Of
a fighting man is his fighting, reckon.
I'm willing to let 'em judge me by
what I'm going to do"
So, Samson slipped back, tentative
ly, at least, into his place as clan head,
though for time he found it post
without action. After the fierce out
burst of bloodshed, quiet had settled,
and it was tacitly understood that, un-
less the HOLMAN forces had some coup
in mind which they were secreting,
this peace would last until the soldiers
were withdrawn.
When the worlds a-lookin'," COM
mented Judge Holman, hits a right
good idea to crawl under a logan
lay still"
Purvy had been too famous feud-
ist to pass unsung. Reporters came as
far as Hixon, gathered there sucl
news as the Hollmans chose to give
them, and went back to write lurid
stories and description, from hear
say, of the stockaded seat of tragedy.
Nor did they overlook the dramatic
coincidence of the return Of wildcat"
Samson South from civilization to saw
agery. They made no accusation, but
they pointed an inference and moral
as they thought 1t was sermon on
the triumph of heredity over the ad-
vantages of environment. Adrienne
read some of these saffron misrepre-
sensations, and they distressed her.
Meanwhile, it came insistently to the
ears of Captain Callomb that some
plan was on foot, the intricacies of
which he could not fathom, to manu-
facture case against number of the
Souths, quite apart from their actual
guilt, or likelihood of guilt. Once
more, he would be called upon to go
out and drag in men too we'll fortified
to be taken by the posses and depu.
ties of the HOLMAN civil machinery.
At this news, he chafed bitterly, and
still ranking with a sense of shame at
the loss of his first prisoner, he formed
plan of his own, which he revealed
over his pipe to his first lieutenant.
There's niger in the woodpile
Merriweather, he said. eve are sim
ply being used to do the dirty work
up here, and I'm going to do little
probing of my own l guess I'll turn
the company over to you for day OF
two"
What idiocy are you contemplating
now?" inquired the second in com
mand.
I'm going to ride over on Misery
and hear what the other side has tc
say. I've usually noticed that one side
of any story is pretty good until the
others told"
ITS sheer madness. I ought to TAX,
you down to this Internal crook Of
Judge and have you committed to
strait-jacket."
"If," said Callomb. you are conten
to play the catspaw to bunch of as
sassins, I'm not. The mail-rider wen
out this morning and he carried let
ter to old Spicer South. | told him tina
l was coming unescorted and unarmet
and that my object was to talk will
him. asked him to give me a SAT,
conduct, at least, until l reached hi
house, and stated my case. treated
him like an officer and gentleman
and, unless I'm a poor judge of men
he's going to treat me that way"
The lieutenant sought vainly to dis
suade Callomb, but the next day tn,
captain rode forth, unaccOmpanied
Curious stares followed him and Judg,
Smithers turned narrowing and I'm
pleasant eyes after him, but at thu
point where the ridge separated tn,
territory of the Hollmans from that o
the Souths he saw waiting in the roa'
mounted figure, sitting his hors
straight, and clad in the rough habili
ments Of the mountaineer.
AS Callomb rode up he saluted ant
the mounted figure with perfect gray
ity and correctness returned tina
salute as one officer to another. TIL
captain was surprised. Where hal
this mountaineer with the steady eye
and the clean-cut Jaw learned tn
niceties of military etiquette?