The Huttig news., 1915-03-20
outsider from his clothes, one of them commented:

"Ain't this the he'll of a town?"
 It's going to be-" replied Samson, enigmatically, as he went on.
 Still unrecognized, he hired a horse at the livery stable, and for two hours rode in silence, save for the easy creaking of his stirrup feathers and the soft thud of hoofs.
 The silence soothed him. The brood ing hills lulled his spirit as crooning song lulls a fretful child Mile after mile unrolled forgotten vistas Some thing deep in himself murmured:
 "Home!"
 It was late afternoon when he saw ahead of him the orchard of Purvys place, and read on the store wall little more weather stained, but other wise unchanged:
 Jesse Purvy, General Merchandise. ,"
 The porch of the store was empty, and as Samson flung himself from his saddle there was no one to greet him. This was surprising, since, ordinarily, two or three of Purvys personal guardsmen loafed at the front to watch the road. Just now the guard should logically be doubled. Samson still wore his eastern clothes-for he want ed to go through that door unknown As Samson South he could not cross it's threshold either way. But when he stepped up on to the rough porch flooring no one challenged his advance The yard and orchard were quiet from their front fence to the grisly stock ade at the rear, and, wondering at these things, the young man stood for a moment looking about at the after noon peace before he announced him. self
 Yet Samson had not come to the stronghold of his enemy for the pur- pose of assassination There had been mad idea, it is true, yet so bold of conception that it held ghost of promise. He had meant to go into Jesse Purty's store and chat artlessly, like some inquisitive further" He would ask questions which by their
 
 on the score of strangers folly. But, most of all, he wanted to drop the cas- ual information, which he should as- sume to have heard on the train, that Samson south was returning, and to mark, on the assassin leader, the effect of the news. In his new code it was necessary to give at least the rattler's warning before he struck, and he meant to strike. If he were recog nized. well-he shrugged his shoulders
 But as he stood on the outside, wip- ing the precipitation from his forehead, for the ride had been warm, he heard voices within. They were loud and angry voices. It occurred to him that by remaining where he was he might gain more information than by hur. rying in.
 I've done been your executioner for twenty years" complained a voice, which Samson at once recognized as that of Aaron Hollis, the most trusted of Purvys personal guards. T hain't never laid dowa on ye yet Me an Jim Asberry killed old Henry South. We laid fer his boy, an would a got him ef you'd only said ther word. I went inter Hixon an killed Tam rack Spicer. with soldiers all round me. There hain't no other damn fool in these mourtings would a took such a long chance es thet. Pm tired of it. They're a-goin ter git me. an I wants ter leave, an you won't come clean witt. the price of railroad ticket to Oklahoma. Now damn yore stingy soul, 1 gifts that ticket or I gifts you."
 Aaron, you can't scare me into doin nothin' 1 ain't aimin' to do" The old baron of the vendetta spoke in a cold stoicai voice. "I tell ye l ain't quite through with ye yet. In due an proper time I'll see that ye get yer ticket" Then he added, with concluding soft ness: We've been friends a long while. Let's talk this thing over be fore we fall out.''
 Thar hain't nothin' to talk over" stormed Aaron. We're jest tryin ter kill time till the boys gifts hyar and then reckon ye lows ter have me kill like yer've had me kill them others Hit ain't no use. I've done sent 'en away. When they gifts back hyar either you'll be in he'll, or I'll be on m, way outen the mountings"
 Samson stood rigid. Here was tn, confession of one murderer, with nt denial from the other The truce wa off. Why should he wait? Cataracts seemed to thunder in his bran, e- yet he stood there, his hand in his coa pocket. clutching the grip of mag zine pistol Samson South the old, an, samson South the new were writhin% m the life-and.death grapple of tw' codes. Then, before decision came he heard a sharp report inside, ane the heavy fall of a body to the floor
 A wildly excited figure came plunp ing through the door, and Samson's left hand swept out and seized its shoulder in a sudden wise grip.
 Do you know me-" he inquired, as the mountaineer pulled away and crouched back with startled surprise and vicious frenzy.
 "No damn vaf Cit oufop my rOadte