Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1915-02-13
CHAPTER VIZ.


yard Hixon- At times the moon strug-
gled cut and made the shadows black
along the way. AT other times i vas
ike riding IN a huge C1ldr0n Of pitch
When he passed into that stretch OF
country a whose heart Jesse Purvy
dEelt be raised his voice in song His
singing was very bad. and the ballad
lacked tune. hut Il ed its purpose
= saving him from the suspicion OF
furtiveness- Though 1he front Of the
house was black. behind its heavy shut
ters be knew that his coming might be
noted, and night-riding at this par
ficular spot might be misconarued IL
The absence q frank warning
The correctness OF his inference
brought brief smile 10 his lips when
he crossed the creek that ssirted the
orchard and heard a stable door creak
softly behind him He vas TO be fol
lowed again--and watched. bEt he did
not look back or pause 10 listen for
the hoCfbeats Of 1Is unsolicited escort
On the soft mud Of the road he would
hardly have heard them had ne bent
his ear and drawn rein. He rode at a
" ak, for his train would not leave I'm
I'll I've O'Clock in the morning. There
vas time IN plenty.
Il vas cold and depressing as he
trudged the empty streets from the
livery stable 10 the railroad station,
carrying his saddlebags over his arm,
At last he heard the whistle and saw the
blazing headlight, and q minute later
he had pushed his way into the smok-
ing car and dropped his saddlebags
on The seat beside him. Then. for the
first time. be saw and recognized his
watchers. Purvy meant 10 have sam
son Swallowed as far as Lexington. and
his movements from that Joint def
nitely reported. Jim Asberry and Aaron
Hollis were the chosen spies He did
not speak 10 the two enemies who took
seats across the car. but his face
hardened. and his brows came together
in a black scowI
When glts back. he promised
himself. youn be one Of the fast
folks I'll look fer. Jim As5errv. damn
We. All I hopes is tibet nobo3y else
don't gil Sc tust Ye b1ongs ter me.
The steering car TO which be was
assigned after leaving Lexington was
almost empty. but he felt upon aim the
interested gaze Of those few eyes that
we're turned toward his entrance. He
engaged every pair with . pair very
clear and steady and undropping. TN
til somehow each lip that had started
10 twist in amusement Strengthened.
and the twinkle that rose at first
glance scbered at second. Yet. for
al his sbecious seeming OF unc0ncern.
Samson vas waking to the fact that
be was 2 scarecrow, and his sensitive
pride made hsm cut his meals short
In the dining car where he vas kept
busy beating down lnqulsitiYe eyes
with his defiant gaze. He resolved
after some thought upon q definite pol
ley 1t vas q very old policy. but 10
him new-and a discovery. lie would
change nothing in himself that il
VOWED a surrender Of code or conyic-
ton. But. wherever it could be done
with honor he would concede to Gus
tom.
II vas late In the second afternoon
when he stepped from the train at Jer-
sey City. to be engulfed in an I'M
imagined roar and congestion. Here
it was impossible to hold his own
against the unconeealed laughter OF
the many. and he stood for an instant
glariug about Ike a Gagged tiger. while
three currents of humanity separated
and flowed toward the three ferry
exits. Then he saw the smiling face Of
Lescott. and Lescott's extended hand
Even Lescott. Immediately CARRIED AMI
fur-l dated. seemed almost a stranger.
and tie boys feeling OF intimacy froze
TO inward constraint and diaidence.
But Lescott knew nothing of that
The stole In Samson held true. mask
ing his emotions.
SO you came" said the New Yorker
heartily. grasping the boys hand
where's your luggage? Wen just
pick that up and make dash for the
ferry
"Hyar hit is. replied Samson, who
still carried his saddlebags. The
painters eyes twlnkled. but the mirth
was so frank and friendly that the
boy. instead Of glaring IN defiance.
grinned respOnsively,
Right. OH" laughed Lescott FL
thought maybe you'd bring a trunk.
but it's the wise man who travels
light"
lie followed Lescott out 10 the foot
OF Twenty-third street. and stepped
with him into the tonneau OF the
painters waiting car. Lescott lived
with his family uptown, for. 1t hap
pc ed that, had his canvases pos
sessed no value whatever. he would
still have been IN a position to drive
bis motor and follow bis impulses
ABOUT the world. Il he did not take
he boy to his home. It was because