The state herald., 1915-08-06

brakeman paused to add emphasis to
his onclusion-''thet the next time ye
come home. he lowed ter git ye plumb
shore"
Tamaraek scowled.
Much obleeged." he replied.
At Hixon Tamarack Spicer strolled
along the street toward the court
house. He wished to be seen. So long
a. 1t was broad daylight and he dis
played no hostility, he knew he was
safe-and he had plans.
Standing before the HOLMAN store
were Jim Asberry and several COM
panions. They greeted Tamarack af.
fably and he paused to talk.
"Ridin' over ter Misery?" inquired
Asberry.
Lowed I mout as we'll"
Mind ef ! rides with ye es fur es
Jesse's placer"
Plumb glad ter have company"
drawled Tamarack.
They chatted OF many things. and
travelled slowly, but, when they came
to those narrows where they could not
ride stirrup to stirrup each jockeyed
for the rear position. and the man who
found himself forced into the lead
turned In his saddle and talked back
over his shoulder, with wary. though
seemingly careless, eyes. Each knew
the other was bent on his murder.
At Purvy's gate Asberry waved fare
nd tsvap al In av,,a -nr lr a
on, but shortly he hitched his horse
in the concealment of hollow, walled
with huge rocks, and disappeared into
the laurel
He began climbing. in a crouched
position, bringing each foot down
noiselessly and pausing often to listen.
Jim Asberry had not been outwardly
armed when he left Spicer. But. soon.
the brakeman's dellcately attuned ears
caught a sound that made him lie nat
in the lee Of great log. where he was
masked In clumps Of Towering rho
dodendron. Presently Asberry passed
him. also walking cautiously. but hur-
riedly. and cradling Winchester rife
in the hollow of his arm. Then lTama-
rack knew that Asberry was taking
this cut to head him off and waylay
him In the gorge mile away by road
but short distance only over the hill.
Spicer held his heavy revolver cooked
In his hand. but It was too near the
Purvy house to risk a shot. He waited
moment, and then, rising. went on
noiselessly with a snarling grin, stalk
Ing the man who was stalking him.
Asberry found a place AT the foot
of huge pine where the undergrowth
would cloak him. Twenty yards below
ran the creek-bed road, returning from
its long horseshoe deviation. When
he had taken his position his faded
butternut clothing matched the earth
as inconspicuously as quail matches
dead leaves. and he settled himself to
wait. Slowly and with innnite eau.
ton his intended victim stole down,
guarding each step, until no was in
short and certain range. but instead
OF being at the front. he came from
the back. He. also. lay fat on his
stomach and raised the ALREADY cooked
pistol He steadied It In a two-handed
grip against tree trunk and trained
II with deliberate care on point to
the left OF the other mans spine Just
below the shoulder blades.
Then he pulled the trigger! He did
not go down to inspect his work. It
was not necessary. The instantaneous
fashion with which the head OF the
Ambassador settled forward on its
face told him all he wanted to know.
He slipped back to his horse. mounted
and rode fast to the house OF Spicer
South. demanding asylum.
The next day came word that II
Tamarack Spicer would surrender and
stand trial In court dominated by
the Hollmans the truce would con.
tinue. Otherwise the war was on"
ThesSouths flung back this message:
Come and git him"
But HOLMAN and Purvy. hypocriti.
caliy clamoring for the sanctity OF the
law, made no effort to come and git
him." They knew that Spicer South's
house was now fortress. prepared for
siege. They knew that every trail
thither was picketed. Also. they knew
n better way. This time they had the
color OF the law on their side. The
circuit Judge. through the sheriff.
asked for troops and troops came.
Their tents dotted the river bank be.
low the Hixon bridge. A detail un.
der n white nag went out after Tama-
rack spicer The militia captain In
command. who feared neither feudist
nor death. was courteously received
He had bruins. and he assured them
that he acted under orders which
could not be disobeyed. Unless they
surrendered the prisoner. gatling guns
would follow. II necessary they would
be dragged behind OK teams Many
miiitiamen might be killed, but for
each OF them the state had another
II Spiecr would surrender. the officer
would guarantee him personal protec.
tion. and. II II seemed necessary. a
| ehnnpe of wanna would secure him