Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1915-07-23

that he had done all he could do with
out becoming the aggressor. For the
moment he was beaten. He looked up
and from the road one of the hounds
raised its voice and gave cry. That
baying afforded an excuse for leaving
and Jim HOLMAN seized 1t.
GO on" he growled. Lets see
what them Id ours hes ter say
now"
Mounting, they kicked their mules
into a jog. From the men inside the
fence came no note of derision, no
hint of triumph. They stood looking
out with expressionlees, masklike
faces until their enemies had passed
out of sight around the shoulder of
the mountain. The Souths had met and
fronted an accusation made after the
enemy's own choice and method. A
jury of two hounds had acquitted
them. It was not only because the
dogs had refused to recognize in Sam
son a suspicious character that the
enemy rode on grudgingly convinced,
but. also, because the family, which
had invariably met hostility with hos
tility, had SO willingly courted the acid
test of guilt or innocence.
Days passed uneventfully after that.
The kinsmen dispersed to their scat
tered coves and cabins. Now and
again came a rumor that Jesse Purvy
was dying, but always hard on its
heels came another to the effect that
the .obdurate fighter had rallied,
though the doctors held out small en-
couragement of recovery.
One day Lescott, whose bandaged
arm gave him much pain, but who was
able to get about, was strolling not far
from the house with Samson. They
were following a narrow trail along
the mountain side, and, at a sound no
louder than the falling of a walnut,
the boy halted and laid a silencing
hand on the painters shoulder. Then
followed an unspoken command in his
companions eyes,. Lescott sank down
behind a rock, cloaked with glistening
r~hododendron LEAKAGE, where Samson
had already crouched and become i'm
movable and noiseless. They had
been there only a short time when
they saw another figure slipping quiz
city from tree to tree below them.
For a time the mountain boy
watched the figure and the painter
saw his lips draw In a straight line
and his eyes narrow with a CLINT of
tense hate. Yet, a moment later, with
a nod to follow, the boy Unexpectedly
rose into view and his features were
absolutely expressionless.
"Mornin', JIM" he called.
The sinking stranger whirled with
a start and an instructive motion as
though to bring his rife to his shout
der. But, seeing Samson's ~peaceable
manner, he smiled and his own de
meanor became friendly.
"Mornin', Samson"
kinder stranger in this country,
hain't We, Jim?" drawled the boy who
lived there. and the question brought
a sullen flush to the others cheek
bones.
Jest a-passin' through" he vouch-
safed.
81 reckon ye'd find the wagon road
more handy" suggested Samson.
Some folks might 'spicion we fer
stealth long through the timber"
The skulking traveller decided to lie
plausibly. He laughed m~endaciously.
That's the reason, Samson. l was
kinder skeered ter go through this
country In the OPEN"
Samson met his eye steadily and
said slowly:
II reckon, Jim, hit mought be half
es risky fer We ter walk upstandin'
along Misery es ter go a-crouchin'.
Ye thinks we've been ~a-shadderin' me.
l knows Jest whar we've been all the
time. Ye lies when We talks bout
passin' through. Ye've lone been spy
in hyar, ever since Jesse Purvy got
shot, an all tibet time we've done been
watched yerself. l reckon hit1l be
healthier fer We ter do yore spyin' from
t'other side of the ridge. l reckon yer
allowin' ter git me eff Purvy dies, but
we're watchin' ye."
Jim Asberry's face darkened, but he
said nothing. There was nothing to
say. He was discovered in the enc
my's country and must accept the
enemy's terms.
This hyar time / let's We go back"
said Samson, "fer the reason thet I'm
tryin' like all hi ter keep this truce.
But We must stay on yore side or
else ride the roads open. How is
Purvy terday?"
Hes mighty porely," replied the
other, in a sullen voice.
"All right. Thet's another reason
why hit hain't healthy fer We over
hyar."
The spy turned and made his way
over the mountain.
Oh him!" muttered Samson,
his face twitching, as the other was
lost in tha underproWth "SOme daV