Sioux County pioneer. (Fort Yates, Sioux County, N.D.) 1914-1929, 1915-03-05

II seed Jim Asberry loniin rouna
Jest beyond Their ridge. as l rid over
hyar," volunteered the man who had
brought the message.
go slow now, Samson. Don't be no
blame fool" dissuaded Vile McCager.
"HiXon's plumb full Of them Hollmans.
an they're likely ter be full Of licker--
hits Saturday. Hits apt ter be shore
death fer We ter try ter ride through
Main street--ef We gifts tibet far. Ye
dassent do hit"
Il dast do anything!" asserted the
boy. with flash Of sudden anger.
Some liar lowed awhile ago tibet
was a coward. All right, mebby be.
Unc' Vile. keep the boys hyar tell ye
hears from mean keep 'em sober"
He turned and made his way to the
fence where his mule stood hitched.
When Samson crossed the ridge and
entered the HOLMAN country, Jim AS
berry, watching from hilltop point Of
vantage, rose and mounted the horse
that stood hitched behind nearby
screen of rhododendron bushes and
young cedars. Sometimes, he rode just
one bend of the road in Samson's rear.
Sometimes, he took short cuts. and
watched his enemy pass. But always
he held him under vigilant eye.
Finally, he reached wayside store
where local telephone gave communi.
cation with Hollman's Mammoth De-
partment store.
"Jedgc," he informed. Samson
South's done left the party ct Their
mill. an he's a-ridin' towards town.
Shall git him."
us he comm by hisself?" inquired
the storekeeper.
Yes"
well, jest let him come on. We
can tend ter him hyar. ef necessary"
So Jim withheld his hand. and merely
Swallowed, sending bulletins, from time
to time.
1t was about three o'clock when Sam
son started. 1t was near six when he
reached the ribbon of road that loops
down into town over the mountain.
His mule was in lather of sweat. He
knew that he was being spied upon,
and that word of his coming was trav'
cling ahead of him. What he did not
know was whether or not it suited
Jesse Purvys purpose that he should
slide from his mule, dead, before he
turned homeward. If Tamarack had
been seized as a declaration of war,
the chief South would certainly not
be allowed to return. If the arrest had
not been for feud reasons, he might
escape. That was the question which
would be answered with his life OF
death.
The "jailhouse" was small build
ing of home made brick, squatting at
the rear of the courthouse yard. AZ
Samson drew near, he saw that some
ten or twelve men, armed with rifles,
separated from groups and disposed
themselves behind the tree trunks and
the stone coping of the we'll. None Of
them spoke, and Samson pretended
that he had not seen them. He rode
his mule at walk, knowing that he
was ri1e-covered from halfdozen
windows. At the hitching rack direct
ly beneath the county building, he
flung his reins over a post, and, swing.
ing his rifle at his side, passed eau
tiously along the brick walk to the
Jail. The men behind the trees edged
around their covers as he went, keep
ing themselves protected, as squirrels
creep around a trunk when hunter is
lurking below. Samson halted at the
Jail wall, and called the prisoners
name. A tousled head and surly face
appeared at the barred window, and
the boy went over and held converse
from the outside.
"How in hell did we git into town."
demanded the prisoner.
II rid in," was the short reply
How'd We git in the jailhouse?"
The captive was shamefaced.
II got leetle too much Ticker, an }
| was shootin' out the lights last night
he confessed.
What business did We have hyar In
Hixon?"
Il Jest slipped in ter see GAL"
0v