The Delta independent., 1915-06-25
CHAPTER VII.

Several soberer men closed around
the boy, and after disarming him, led
him away grumbling and muttering,
while Vile McCager made apologies to
the guest.
"Jimmy's jest a peevish child" he
explained. "a drop or two of ticker
makes him skittish. hopes yell look
over hit"
Jimmy's outbreak was interesting to
Lescott chiefly as an indication Of
what might follow. Unwilling to in
troduce discord by his presence, and
involve Samson in quarrels on his ac-
count, he suggested riding back to
Misery, but the boys face clouded a.
the suggestion.
| EFF they KANT be civil ter m,
friends" he said, shortly, they've go
ter account ter me. You stay righ'
hyar, and III stay clost to you. dont
come hyar today ter tell 'em that the!
mustn't meddle in my business"
A short while later, Vile McCagel
invited Samson to come out to the
mill, and the boy nodded to Lescot
an invitation to accompany him.
The mill, dating back to pioneer
days, sat by its race with its shaft now
idle 1t looked to Lescott, as he ap
preached, like scrap of landscape
torn from some medieval picture, an6
the men about its door seemed medic
val, too; bearded and gaunt, hard
thewed and sullen.
All of them who stood waiting were
men of middle age, or beyond. A mum
ber were gray-haired, but they were all
of cadet branches. Many of them, like
Vile McCager himself, did not bear
the name of South, and Samson was
the eldest son of the eldest son.
Samson" began old Vile McCager
clearing his throat and taking up his
duty as spokesman, we're all your
kinfolks here, an we aimed ter ask ye
about this here report thet yer lowin'
ter leave the mountings?"
"What of hit?" countered the boy.
"Hit looks mighty like the wars
a-goin' ter be on ag'in pretty soon. Air
ye a-goin' ter quit, or air ye a-goin' ter
stick? Thet's what we wants ter
Know"
II didn't make this here truce, an ]
hain't a-goin' ster bust hit" said the
boy, quietly. when the war com.
mences, I'll be hyar. Eff hain't hyar
in the meantime, hit hain't nobody's
business. / hain't accountable ter no
man but pap, an reckon, whar he is,
he knows whether I'm a-goin' ter keep
my word"
There was moments silence, then
Vile McCager put another question:
EFF ye're plumb sot on gettin' larnin'
why don't ye git hit right hyar in these
Samson laughed derisively.
Who'll l git hit from?" he caueti.
cally inquired. EFF the mountain won't
come ter Mohamet, Mohamet's got ter
go ter the mountain, / reckon"
Caleb Wiley rose unsteadily to his
feet, his shaggy beard trembling with
wrath and his voice quavering with
senile Indignation.
"Hev ye done got too damned good
fer yore kinfolks, Samson South?" he
shrilly demanded. "Hev ye done been
follerin' after this here puny witch
doctor twell ye can't keep a civil
tongue in yer head fer yore elders?
I'm in favor of runnin' this here fur
riner outen the country with tar an
feathers on him. Furthermore, I'm In
favor of cleanin' out the Hollmans.
was jest a-sayin' ter Bill"
Never mind what ye war Jest
A-sayin'," interrupted the boy. flushing
redly to his cheekbones. but con-
his voice. "Ye've done said
enough Already. Ye're a right old man.
Caleb, an reckon thet gives ye some
license ter shoot OF yore face, but ef
any of them no-'count, shif'less boys of
yores wants ter back up what ye says.
I'm ready ter go out thar an make EN-
eat hit. l hain't a-goin' ter answer no
more questions"
There was a commotion Of argu-
ment, until BLACK Dave" Jasper, q sat
urnine giant, whose hair was no black
Or than his expression. rose. and q
Of quiet greeted him as he
spoke.
"Mebby, Samson, ye've got a right
ter take the studs this away, an ter
refuse ter answer our questions, but
we've got right ter say who kin stay
In this hyar country. Eff ye lows ter
quit US, l reckon we kin quit you
and, If we quits ye, ye hain't nothin'
more ter us then no other boy thet's
gettin' too big fer his breeches. This
is visitor here today, an
we don't low ter hurt him-but he's
got ter go. We don't want him round
hyar no longer" He turned to Les
colt. Were a-givin' ye fair warnin'.
stranger. Ye haip't our breed. After
this. ye stays on Misery at yore own
risk-an' hits a-goin' ter be plumb
risky. That thar's final"
This man." blazed the boy, before
Lescott could speak. "is a-visitin' me
an Inc Spicer. When We wants him