The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1915-01-07
CHAPTER VII.

| Wuile WIG mCtdber mduc apOiuBicb W
the guest.
"Jimmy's jest a peeyish child" he
explained. "A drop or two OF Ticker
makes him sklttish. hopes yen look
over hit"
Jimmys outbreak was interesting to
Lescott chiefly as an indication OF
what might follow. Unwilling to In
troduce dlscord by his presence, and
Involve Samson in quarrels on his ac.
count. he suggested ridins back to
Misery, but the boys face clouded at
the suggestion.
"Ef they KANT be civil ter my
friends" he said. shortly, they've got
ter account ter me. You stay right
hyar and I'll stay clost to you. done
come hyar today ter tell 'em that they
mustn't NEEDLE in my business"
A short while later, Vile McCager
invited Samson to come out to the
mill, and the boy nodded to Lescott
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, and
the men about It's 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 we're 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"
81 didn't make this here truce, an
haint a-goin' ter 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 a moments silence, then
Vile McCager put another question:
"Ef ye're plumb sot on gettin' larnin'
why don't ye git hit right hyar In these
mountings?"
Samson laughed derisively.
who'll | git hit from?" he causti.
cally inquired. "Ef 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 cant 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 OF him. Furthermore, I'm in
favor Of cleanin out the Hollmans.
was Jest a-sayin' ter Bill"
Never mind what ye war jes;
a-sayin'," interrupted the boy, flushing
redly to his cheekbones, but con.
trolling his voice. we've done said |
enough already. Ye're a right old man.
Caleb, an | reckon thet gives ye some
license ter shoot off yore face. but ei
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 'em
eat hit. | hain't a-goin' ter answer nc
more questions"
There was commotion OF argu'
nent. until BLACK Dave" Jasper. a sat
lrnine giant, whose hair was no black
er than his expression. rose. and a
semblance Of quiet greeted him as he
spoke.
"Mebby. Samson, ye've got right |
Ter take the studs this away, an ter
refuse ter answer our questions, but |
we've got a right ter say who kin stay
IN this hyar country. Ef ye lows ter |
luit us, | reckon we kin quit you
and, II we quits ye, ye hain't nothin'
more ter us then no other boy thet's |
yettin' too big fer his breeches. This
Iurriner Is visitor here today, an
we don't low ter hurt him-but he's
got Ter go. We don't want him round
1yar no longer" He turned to Les
,ott. Were a-givin' ye fair warnin'.
stranger. Ye halu't our breed. After
his, ye stays on Misery at yore own
-isk-an' hits a.goin' ter be plumb
'isky. That thar's final"
"This man, blazed the boy, before
Lescott could speak. 'is a-visitin' me
IN Unc' Spicer. When ye wants him
'e kin come up thar an git him. Every.
Tanned man of ye kin come. hain't
l-sayin' how many of yell go back
lie was 'lowin' that he'd leave hyar ter
norrer mornin, but after this I'm
l-tellin' ye he hain't a-goin ter do hit
les a-goin' ter stay es long es ne
likes. an nobody haint a.goin ter run
lin Off" Samson took his stand be-
ore the painter. and swept the group