The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1915-07-01

standing the demorxiiZing report thAt
Samson South, their logical leader.
meant tD abandon them, at a crisis
when war-clouds were thickening-
The painter had finally resolved to
cut the Gordian knot, and leave the
mountains. He had trained on SAM
son to the last piece all his artillery OF
argument. The case was now submit
ted with the suggestion that the boy
take three months to consider, and
that, If he decided affirmatively, ne
should notify Lescott in advance Of his
coming. He proposed sending Samson
a small library of carefully picked
books. which the mountaineer eagerly
agreed to devour in the interval.
Lescott consented, however, to re-
main over Saturday, and go to the
dance, since he was curious to observe
what pressure was brought to bear on
the boy, and to have himself final
word Of argument after kinsmen had
spoken.
Saturday morning came after night
OF torrential rain, which had left the
mountains steaming under a reek of
fog and pitching clouds.
But, as the morning wore on, the
sun fought its way to view in scrap
of overhead blue. From log cabins
and plank houses up and down Misery
and its tributaries, men and women be-
gan their hegira toward the mill. Les
colt rode in the wake OF Samson, who
had Sally on a pillow at his back. They
came before noon to the mouth of Dry
hole creek, and the house of Vile Me-
eager Already, the picket fence was
lined with tethered horses and mules.
From the interior Of the house came
the sounds of fddling. though these
strains OF Turkey in the Straw" were
only by way of prelude. Lescott felt.
though he could not say just what con-
crete thing told him. that under the
shallow note of merry-making brooded
the major theme of troublesome
problem. The seriousness was below
the surface, but insistently depressing.
He saw, too. that he himself was mixed
up with 1t in fashion, which might
become dangerous, when few jugs
OF white liquor had been emptied.
While the young persons danced
and "sparked" within. and the more
truculent lads escaped to the road to
pass the jug, and forecast with youth
full war-fever "cleanin' out the Hoil-
mans" the elders were deep in ways
and means. II the truce could be pre-
served for its unexpired period of
three years. 1t was, of course, best In
that event, crops could be cultivated.
and lives saved. But. If Jesse Purvy
chose to regard his shooting as a
breach of terms, and struck. he would
strike hard. and, In that event, best
defense lay In striking first. Samson
would soon be twenty-one. That he
would take his place as head Of the
clan had until now never been ques-
Homeland he was talking of deser-
ton. For that, a pink-skinned for
eigner, who wore q woman's bow OF
ribbon at his collar, was to blame
The question Of loyalty must be square
" nut UP to Samson. and it must be
done today. His answer must be def
mite and unequivocal. As q guest Of
Spicer South, Lescott was entitled ia
that consideration which 10 accorded
ambassadors.
None the less, the vital affair OF the
clan could not be baked by considera
ton for a stranger, who. In the opin
ion of the majority, should be driven
from the country as an insidious mis-