The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1915-01-21
CHAPTER v.

From time to time that day, neigh
bors had ridden up to Spicer Souths
stile, and drawn rein for gossip. These
men brought bulletins as to the prog
ress of the hounds, and near shutdown,
as a postscript to their information, a
volley of gunshot signals sounded from
a mountain top. No word was spoken,
but in common accord the kinsmen
rose from their chairs, and drifted to-
ward their leaning rifles.
They're a-comin' hyar," said the
head of the house, CURLY. Samson
ought ter be home. Whar's Tam'rack?"
No one had noticed his absence I'M
til that moment, nor was he to be
found A few minutes later, Samson's
figure swung into sight, and his uncle
met him at the fence.
Samson, I've done asked ye all the
questions I'm a-goin' ter ask ye," he
said, but them dawgs is maxim fer
this house. They've jest been sighted
a mile below"
Samson nodded.
'Now'-Spicer South's face hard
ened-'1 owns down thar ter the road.
No man kin cross that fence withouten
l choose ter give him leave. Eff ye
wants ter go indoors an stay thar, We
kin do hit-an' no dawg ner no man
hain't a-goin' ter ask We no questions.
But, eff We sees fit ter face hit out, I'd
love ter prove ter these hyar men tibet
us Souths don't break our word. We
done agreed ter this truce. I'd like ter
invite 'em in, an let them damn dawgs
sniff round the feet OF every man in
my house-an' then, when they're
plumb teetotally damn satisfied, I'd
like ter tell 'em all ter go ter hell.
Thet's the way l feels, but Pm a-goin'
ter do jest what We says"
Lescott did not overhear the con-
versation in full, but he saw the old
mans face work with suppressed pas
sion, and he caught Samson's louder
reply.
when them folks gets hyar, Uncle
Spicer, I'm a-goin' ter be a-settin'
right out thar in front. I'm plumb
willin' ter invite 'em in" Then, the
two men turned toward the house.
Already the other clansmen had dis
.ppeared noiselessly through the door
or around the angles of the walls.
Fifteen minutes later, Lescott, stand
ing at the fence, saw strange caval-
cade round the bend of the road. Sew
eral travel-stained men we're leading
mules, and holding two tawny and i'm
patient dogs in leash. In their num-
Der. the artist recognized his host of
two nights ago.
They halted at distance, and in
their faces the artist read dismay, for,
while the dogs were yelping confident
ly and Juggling at their cords, young
Samson South-who should, by their
prejudiced convictions, be hiding out |
in some secret stronghold-sa at the |
top step of the stile, smoking his pipe, |
and regarded them with lack-luster |
absence of interest Such a calm re-
ception was uncanny. After whis-
pered conference, the Lexington man |
came forward alone. Old Spicer South
had been looking on from the door, |
and was now strolling out to meet the
envoy, unarmed.
And the envoy, as he came, held his
hands unnecessarily far away from his
sides, and walked with an ostentatious
show of peace.
"Evenin', stranger" hailed the old
man. Come right in"
''Mr. South" began the dog-owner,
with some embarrassment, Il have
been employed to furnish pair Of
to the family of Jesse
Purvy, who has been shot"
81 heerd tell tibet Purvy was shot"
said the head of the Souths in an af-
fable tone, which betrayed no deeper
note of interest than neighborhood
gossip might have elected.
81 have no personal interest in the