The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1915-06-03

cIlmDG0 the rock anu nnItSu DCIOEo
the sketch with q face that slowly
softened to an expression Of amazee
admiration. Finally he took up tbs
square OF academy board with ten
der care Of which his rousn hands
would have seemed incapable and
stood stock still, presenting an ancma.
lous figure in his rough clothes as his
eyes grey almost idolatrous. Then
he brought the landscape over to it's
! creator. and, though no word was
spoken. there flashed between the eyes
OF the artist. whose signature gave to
| a canvas the value OF precious stone,
and the jeans-clad boy whose destiny
was that Of the vendetta, subtle,
wordless message. 1t was the coun.
tersign Of brothers-in-blood who rec
ognize In each other the bond Of a
mutual passion.
The boy and the girl, under Lescott's
direction, packed the outfit and stored
the canvas In the protecting top Of the
box. Then, while Sally turned and
strobe down creek In search Of Les
colts lost mount. the two men rode
upstream In silence. Finally Samson
spoke slowly and difiidently.
stranger" he ventured. "ef hit
hain't askin' 200 much, will ye let me
see We paint one of them thingsr
GLADLY" was the prompt reply.
Then the boy added covertly:
Don't say nothin' erbout hit ter
none OF these folks. They'd devil me-"
The dusk was falling now. and the
hollows choking with murk.
"We're nigh home now" said Sam
son at the end OF some minutes silent
Flooding. Hits right beyond tibet
thar bend"
Then they rounded a point Of tim
Der and came upon a small party OF
men whose attitudes even In the dim.
ming light conveyed subtle suggesr
ton OF portent
"Thet you, Samson!" called an old
mans voice, which wss still very deep
and powerful.
"IIello. Unc' Spencer!" replied ths
boy.
Then followed q silence unbroken
until tho mule reached the group. rer
veallng that besides the boy another
! man--and a strange man-had Joined
their plumber.
"Evenin'. stranger" they greeted
him, gravely; then again they feal
silent, and In their silence was evt
dent constraint.
"This hyar mans a eurEiner." an.
nounced Samson, briefly. "He fell
! offen a rock an got hurt I lowed
I'd fotch him home ter stay all night"
The elderly man who had hailed the
boy nodded. but with an evident an
noyance. It seemed that to him the
others deferred as to commanding
officer. The cOrtege remounted and
rode slowly toward the house. At last
the elderly man came alongside the
mule and inquired:
Samson. where was ye last uightp
"Thet's my business"
"Mebbe hit amt" The old noun
| taineer spoke with no resentment, but
deep gravity. We've been powerful
Uneasy erbout ye. Hev ye heered the
newsr
What newBi" The boy put the
question noncomuittally.
Jesse Purvy was shot this morn.
ing"
Tho boy vouchsafed no reply.
1.-THE mail rider done told hit.
Somebody shot GTe shoots from the
laurel Purvy hain't died yit
|. Some says as how his folks
has cent ter Lexington fer blood
hounds"
The boys eyes began to smolder
hatefully.
II reckon" he spoke slowly, che
didn't git shot none too soon."
"Samson!" The old mans voice had
the ring of determined authority.
when / dies ye'll be tho head OF the
Souths, but so long es I'm a-runnin'
this hyar family keeps my word ter
friend an foe alike. I reckon Jesse
Purvy knows who got yore pap, but
up till now no South hain't never
busted no truce"
The boys voice dropped It's softness
and took on a skrill crescendo Of ex,
element as he flashed out his retort.
"Who said South has done busted
the truce this timer"
Old Spicer South ga2ed searchingly
at his nephew.
CTO BE CoNTINUED.)