The vidette., 1915-12-09
WeCALLqffhe
CUN\BERLANDS
Ru CHARLES NEVILLE BUCK
WITH ILLUSTRATIONS FROM PHOTOGRAPHS
OF SCENES IN THE PLAY 2IE2nnrs sagnsyr

want you, and this is most important
| Of all, to leave these mountains"
Her hands tightened on his shoulder
Not that, Samson" she pleaded;
mot these mountains where we've
been together"
you promised. I want you to go to
the Lescotts in New York. In a year.
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 Callombs 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"
What's the matter with these
boys?" The county judge waved his
hand toward two hold.over deputies.
They're fired"
The country judge laughed.
We'll, reckon l 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 fight?"
Il reckon" drawled the other, that's
matter we'll work out as we goes
along. Depends on how obedient ye
air"
I'm responsible for the peace and
quiet of this county" continued Sam
son. We're going to have peace and
quiet"
The iudge looked about him. The In
dications did not appear to MIN moIca-
tive of peace and quiet.
Air we?" he inquired.
"Im coming back here in a half
hour" said the new sheriff This is
an unlawful and armed assembly.
When / get back | want to find the
courthouse occupied only by unarmed
citizens who have business here"
when ye comes back, suggested
the county judge, "Td advise that ye
resigns yore job. A half-hour is about
es long as ye ought ter try ter hold
hit"
Samson turned and walked through
the scowling crowd to the courthouse
steps
Gentlemen" he said, in clear, far
carrying voice. there is no need of an
armed congregation at this court
house. call on you in the name Of
the law to lay aside your arms or scat
ter"
There was murmur which for an in
stant threatened to become roar, but
trailed into chorus of derisive laugh
ter.
Samson went to the hotel, accompa-
MED by Callomb. A half-hour later the
two were back at the courthouse with
half-dozen companions. The yard
was empty. Samson carried his faith
er's rife. In that half-hour a telegram,
prepared in advance, had flashed to
Frankfort
Mob holds courthouse need
troops"
Ito be Continued.)
For Lease.
100 acres of land for a term of