The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1915-02-17

riner outen the country with tar an
feathers on 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. "Ye've done said
enough already. Ye're right old man,
Caleb, an reckon thet gives ye some
license ter shoot off yore face, but OF
any of them no-'count, shif'less boys OF
yores wants ter back up what ye says,
I'm ready ter go out thar an make 'em
eat nit. hain't a-goin' ter answer no
more questions"
There was a commotion OF argu'
ment, until BLACK Dave" Jasper, cat
urnine giant, whose hair waB no black
er than his expression, rose, ahd a
semblance Of quiet greeted him as ne
spoke. 80.
"Mebby, Samson, ye've got 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. Ef ye lows ter
quit US, l reckon we kin quit YOU
and, II we quits ye, ye haint nothin'
more ter us then no other boy thet's
gettin' too big fer his breeches. This
furriner is q 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' ye fair warnin'
stranger. Ye hain't our breed. After
this, ;ye stays on Misery at yore own
risk-an' hits a-goin' ter be plumb
risky. That thar's final"
"This man." blazed the boy, before
Lescott could speak, "is a-visitin' me
an Unc' Spicer. When ye wants him
ye kin come up thar an git him. Every
damned man of ye kin. come. / hatn't
a-sayin' how many OF yell 60 back.
He was rowin' that he'd leave hyar ter
morrer mornin', but after this I'm
a!tellin' ye he hain't a-goin' ter do hit.
He's a-goin' ter stay es long es ne
likes, an nobody hain't a-goin' ter run
him off," Samson took hin stand be-
fore the painter, and swept the group
with his eyes. can what's more" he
added, "I'il tell ye another thing.
hadn't plumb made up my mind ter
leave the mountings, but ye've done
settled hit fer me. I'm a-goin'."
There was low murmur Of anger.
and voice cried out from the rear:
LET him go. We hain't got no use
fer damn towards"
+ whoever said thet's Har!" shout
ed the boy. Lescott, standing at hts
side, felt that the situation was more
than parlous. But, before the storm
could break. some one rushed In, and
whispered to Vile McCager message
that caused him to raise both hands
above his head, and thunder for at
tention. ..."''n
Men," he roared, listen ter me!
This here hain't no time fer squad
blin' amongst ourselves. We're all
Souths. Tamarack South has done
gone ter Hixon, an got inter trouble.
He's locked up In the jailhouse."
We're all hyar." screamed old Ca
leb's high, broken voice. Lets go an
take him out" ...
samson's anger had died. He turned,
and held whispered conversation
with McCager, and, at its end, the host
of the day announced briefly:
"Samson's got somethin' ter say ter
ye. So long as he's willin' ter stand
by US, reckon we're willin' ter listen
ter Henry South's boy"
II hain't got no use for Tam'rack
Spicer," said the boy. succinctly, "but
I don't low ter let him lay, In no Jail.
house, unlessen he's got right ter be
thar. What's he charged with?"
But no one knew that. A man sup
posedly close to the Hollmans, but In
reality an informer for the Souths, had
seen him led into the jailyard by q
posse of half-dozen men, and had
seen the iron.barred doors close on
him. That was ell, except that the
Holman forces we're gathering IN
Hixon, and, If the Souths went there
en- masse, pitched battle must be the
inevitable result. The first step was