Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1915-04-23

riner outen the country with tar an
feathers OF him. Furthermore, I'm in
favor of cleanin' out the Hollmans.
was jest a-sayin ter Bill"
Never mind what ye war jest
a-sayin'," interrupted the boy, flushing
redly to his cheekbones, but con-
trolling his voice. we've done said
enough already. Ye're right old man,
Caleb, an reckon tibet gives ye some
license ter shoot off yore face, but eff
any of them no-'count, shifless boys Of
yores wants ter back up what We says.
I'm ready ter go out thar an make EN-
eat hit. hain't a-goin' ter answer no
more questions"
There was commotion Of argu-
ment, until BLACK Dave" Jasper, a sat
urnine giant, whose hair was no black
er than his expression, rose, and a
semblance of quiet greeted him as he
spoke.
"Mebby, Samson, we've got a right
ter take the studs this away, an ter
refuse ter answer our questions, but
we've got right ter say who kin stay
in this hyar country. Eff We lows ter
quit us, l reckon we kin quit you
and, if we quits ye, we hain't nothin
more ter us then no other boy thet'e
gettin' too big fer his breeches. This
furriner is a visitor here today, an
we don't low ter hurt him-but he's
got ter go. We don't want him round
hyar no longer" He turned to Les
colt. Were a-givin' we fair warnin'
stranger. Ye hain't our breed. After
this, ye stays on Misery at yore owl
risk-an' hits a-goin' ter be plumt
risky. That thars final"
This man." blazed the boy, before
Lescott could speak, "is a-visitin' ms
an Unc' Spicer When ye wants hin
ye kin come up thar an git him. Ever!
damned man of we kin come. hahn
a-sayin' how many Of ye'll go back
He was 'lowin' that he'd leave hyar ter
morrer mornin', but after this In
a-tellin' we he hain't a-soin' ter do hit
He's a-goin' ter stay es long es h
likes, an nobody hain't a-goin' ter rul
him Off" Samson took his stand be
fore the painter, and swept the grouI
with his eyes. AN what's more" n
added, "I'll tell ye another thing.
hadn't plumb made up my mind tie
leave the mountings, but we've don
settled hit fer me. I'n a-goin'."
There was low murmur of anger
and voice cried out from the rear;
Let him go. We hain't got no us
fer damn towards"
Whoever said thet's a liar!" shout
ed the boy Lescott, standing at hi
side, felt that the situation was NOR
than parlous. But, before the storr
could break, some one rushed in, an
whispered to Vile McCager a messag
that caused him to raise both hand
above his head, and thunder for a
tention.
Men," he roared, listen ter me
This here hain't no time fer squat
bin amongst ourselves. We're a
Souths. Tamarack South has don
gone ter Hixon, an got inter trouble
He's locked up in the jailhouse."
Were all hyar," screamed old c:
leb's high, broken voice. Let's go al
take him out"
Samson's anger had died He turne,
and held whispered conversatio
with McCager, and, at its end, the hos
of the day announced briefly:
"Samsons got somethin' ter say te
We. So long as he's willin' ter stan
by us, reckon we're willin' ter liste
ter Henry South's boy"
Il hain't got no use for Tam'rac
Spicer," said the boy, succinctly, "b,
don't low ter let him lay in no jai
house, unlessen he's got right ter
thar. What's he charged with"
But no one knew that. A man su
posedly close to the Hollmans, but
reality an informer for the Souths, ha
seen him led into the jailyard by
posse of a half-dozen men, and ha
seen the iron-barred doors close c
him. That was all, except that tt
Holman forces were gathering
: Hixon, and, if the Souths went thel
en- masse, pitched battle must be Il
inevitable result. The first step We