The Columbus courier. [volume] (Columbus, Luna County, N.M.) 1911-1920, 1915-02-12
CHAPTER W-contnuod.

SFNfeF GH NN-1NNHWANNs
He sanntered down the road. but.
when he had passed out Of vision, he
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 bis bare feet max
ing no sound, be saw Sally sitting
there, with her hands resting on the
moss and her eyes deeply troubled
She vas gazing hxedly ahead and her
lips we're trembling. AZ ono 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-
oealed. Il vas the l~oose-knitted hgure
Of young TamarRck Spicer.
In course" Sp!cer was saying, I'VE
don't low gamson shot Jesse Purvy,
but them Hollmans n 'spicion him. an
heered Just now thet them dawgs
was traekin' straight up hyar from the
mouth Of Misery. They'll sit hyar
against shutdown"
Samson leaped violently forward.
With n hand he roughly seized his
cousins shoulder and wheeled him
about.
'Shet upl" he commanded. What
d--n fool stun hev ye been tellin'
saliyY"
For an instant the two clansmen
stood fronting each other. Samson's
face was set and wrathful. Tamarack's
was surly and snarling. "Hain't ! got
a license ter tell Sally the newsH" he
demanded.
Nobody hain't got no license" re
torted the younger nan In the quiet
OF cold anger. ter tell Sally nothin'
thetu fret her"
She air bound ter know hit all
pretty soon Them dawgs--"
Didn't ! tell ye ter shet upY" Sam
Aon clonched his hsta, and took q step
forward. "Ef ye opens yore mouth
again, I'm a-goin' ter smash biz. Now.
Hft!"
Tamaraek spieer's face blackened,
and his teeth showed. His right hand
GEopt TO bis left arm-pit. outWardly
no seemed Weaponiess. but Samson
knew that concealed beneath the
Aisk8ry shirt was q rUigtef. worn
mountain fashion.
what air ye arreachin' after,
TaIn'rackf" he inquired. his lips twist
ing IN amusement
''Thet'B my business"
Wei. sit lift out-or git out yeself,
afore l throws " ohen 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 the path. SLOWLY
and with lncoherent muttering, splceI
took himself away. Then only did
Sally rise, She came over. and laid q
hand on Samson's shoulder. In bel
blue eyes, the tears we're yelling.
Samson" she whispered, "ef they're
after 20, come ter my house. kin
hide ye out Why didn't ye tell me
Jesse Jurvey'd done been shot?"
"Hit faint nothin' ter fret about
Sally" he assured her. He spoke
aWkwardly, for he had been trained e
regard emotion as unmanly. THAI
haint no danger"
She gased searchingly into his eyes
and then. with a short sob, threw hel
arms around him. and buried her face
on his shoulder.
IF anything happens ter ye. Sam
son." she said. 5rokenly. ''hitIl les
kin me. couldn't live withouten ye
samson. I jest couldn't do hit!"
The boy took her In his arms, ans
pressed her close. His Eyes we're gaa
Ing on owe her bent head. and his lip
twitohed. He drew his features int,
q ncoWs, because that was the only OK
preston with which he souia safe
guard hts feelings. His voice wal
husky.
z reckon. Sally. he said, 4 oouIdn'
live witboutan you, neither"
The party Of mel who had staftes
a. morning from Jesse Purdy's stor,
had spent q hard day. The roada FOL
lowed ereek.beds. crossing and 70
crossing waterways in a fashion tina
save the bloodhoundB a hundred BAT
Ming dl1acuitieE. Often. their noses
Lost the iFnil. which had AZ FIRST beer
"a surely taken. Often, they clrclet
and Whined. and halted IN psrplozity
bat each time they came to a poiE'
where. 81 the end one OF thom asair
raised his muzzlo sky~ard. and Eav'
voice.
Toward evening, they were working
up MIsery nlong . eouTse less brohen
Ihe parry halted for q moments rest
ana - tha holtie was passed. the MAJ
ilum A~eNiagton. who had brought thl
dogs ana stayed 70 conduct the chase
PIT q ageSticn:
rWhaf 40 yoq rail this cresk1"
tuifs niasr4.+