The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1915-05-20

than one that has long been respecta
BILE.
Hollmans Mammoth Department
Store passed into new hands, and trat
licked only in merchandise, and the
town was open to the men and women
Of Misery as well as those of Cripple
shin.
These things Samson had explained
in his letters to the Lescotts and Hor-
ton. Men from down below could still
find trouble in the wink of an eye, by
seeking 1t, for under all transformation
the nature C the individual remained
much the same; but, without seeking
to give offense, they could ride as SCI
curely through the hills as through the
streets Of a policed city-and meet q
reader hospitality.
And. when these things were dis
cussed and the two men prepared to
cross the Mason-and-Dixon line and
visit the Cumberlands, Adrienne
promptly and definitely announced
that she would accompany her brother.
No argument was effective to dissuade
her, and after all, Lescott, who had
been there, saw no good reason why
she should not go with him.
At Hixon, they found that receptive
air Of serenity which made the history
of less than three months ago seem
paradoxical and Enthusiastically unreal.
Only about the courthouse square
where numerous small holes in frame
walls told of fusillades, and in the In
terror of the building itself where the
woodwork was SCARED and torn, ana
the plaster freshly patched, did they
find grimly reminiscent evidence.
Samson had not met them at the
town, because he wished their first Inn
pressions of his people to reach them
uninfluenced by his escort. 1t was
form Of the mountain pride-an hon.
est resolve to soften nothing, and make
no apologies. But they found arrange
ments made for horses and saddlebagsD
and the girl discovered that for hen
had been provided a mount as evenly
gated as any In her own stables.
When she and her two companions
came out to the hotel porch to start
they found a guide waiting, who said
he was instructed to take them as far
as the ridge, where the sheriff himselr
would be waiting, and the cavalcade
struck into the hills. Men at whose
houses they paused to ask dipper OF
water, or to make an inquiry, gravely
advised that they had better light ana
stay all night" In the coloring for.
ests, squirrels scampered and scurried
out of sight, and here and there on the
tall slopes they saw shy-looking chill
dren regarding them with inquisitive
eyes.
The guide led them silently, gazing
In frank amazement, though with defer
entail politeness, at this girl in cord
uroys, who rode cross-saddle, and rode
so we'll. Yet, 1t was evident that he
would have preferred talking had not
diffidence restrained him. He was a
young man and rather handsome In a
shaggy, unkempt way. Across one
cheek ran long scar still red, and
the girl, looking into his clear, intelli-
gent eyes, wondered what that scar
stood for Adrienne had the power
of melting masculine diffldence, and
her smile as she rode at his side, and
asked, What Is your name" brought
an answering smile to his grim lips.
"Joe Holman, maam," he answered;
and the girl gave an involuntary start.
The two men who caught the name
closed up the gap between the horses,
with suddenly piqued interest.
"Hollman!" exclaimed the GRID
"Then, you" She stopped and
flushed. Il beg your pardon" she
said, quickly.
That's all right" treasured the
man. Il know what ye're a-thinkin'.
but hain't takin' no offense. The high
sheriff sent me over. I'm one of his
deputies"
Were you"-she paused, and added
'ather timidly-"were you in the court
louse"
He nodded, and with brown fore@
niger traced the scar on his cheek.
Samson South done that thar with
lis rifie-gun," he enlightened. Hes a
unny sort Of Teller, Is Samson South"
How" she asked.
wall, he licked US, an licked us so
,lumb damn hard we was skeered ter
light ag'in. an then, Std of tramplin'
IN us, he turned right round, an1
made me deputy. My brothers a
orporal in this hyar new-fangled MI
Ishy. reckon this time the peace Ia
DIN ter last. Hits a mighty funny
ray ter act, but pears like 1t works all
light"
Then, at the ridge, the girls heart
ave sudden bound, for there at the
ighest point, where the road went up
nd dipped again, waited the mounted
CURE of Samson South, and, as they
anne into sight, he waved his felt hat
nd rode down to meet them.
"Greetings!" he shouted. Then, as
9 leaned over and took Adrienne's
and, he added: 1.-THE Goops send you
leir welcome" His smile was un-
hanged. but the girl noted that his
air had again grown long.
Finally, as the sun was setting, they
cached "a roadside cabin, and the
said briefly to the other
en-: