Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1915-01-07
CHAPTER vi.

several SoDerer men closed around
the boy, and after disarming him. led
him away grumbling and muttering.
while Vile McCager made apologies to
the guest.
"Jimmy's Jest peevish child" he
explained. "A drop or two of ticker
makes him skittish. hopes yen look
over hit" VI s .ss
Jimmy's outbreak was interesting to
Lescott chiefly as an Indication of
what might follow. Unwilling to In.
troduce discord by his presence. and
involve Samson in quarrels on his &C.
count, he suggested riding back to
Misery. but the boys face clouded at
the suggestion.
EFF they KANT be civil ter my
friends" he said. shortly. they've got
ter account ter me. You stay right
hyar. and III 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, eat by its race with its shaft now
idle. It looked to Lescott, as he ap-
preached, like scrap Of landscape
torn from some medieval picture, and
the men about its 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.
Der were gray-haired, but they were 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 We
about this here report tibet yer lowin'
ter leave the mountings?" rs gr.
II What Of hitf" 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" no. ..
Il didn't make this here truce, an I
haint a-goin' ter bust hit" said the
boy, quietly. when the war com.
mences. I'll be hyar. Ef hain't hyar
in the meantime. hit hain't nobody's
business. ! hain't accountable ter NO
man but pap, an I reckon. whar he ia.
be knows whether I'm a-goin' ter keep
my word"
There was o 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
mountingsf' t-
Samson laughed derisively.
who'll git hit fromr' he causti.
cally inquired. "Ef the mountain won't
come ter Mohamet, Mohamets got ter
60 ter the mountain. reckon"
Caleb Wiley rose unsteadily to his
feet. his shaggy beard trembling with
wrath and his voice quayering with
senile indignation.
"Hev We 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 can't keep . civil
tongue in yer head fer yore elders?
I'm in favor Of runnin' this here fur.
finer outen the country with tar an
feathers on him. Furthermore, I'm In
favor Of cleanin' out the Hollmans.
was jest a-sayin' ter Bill" 4
Never mind what ye war Jest
a-sayin,," interrupted the boy, flushing
redly to his cheekbones. but con.
trolling his voice. "Ye've done said
enough already. Ys're q right old man.
Caleb. an 1 reckon thet gives We some
license ter shoot OF yore face. but ef
any Of them no'count, shifless boys Of
yores wants ter back up what ye says.
I'm ready ter 30 out thar an make 'em
BAT hit. hain't a-goin' ter answer no
more questions"
There was a commotion OF argu.
lnent, until BLACK Dave" Jasper. . sat.
urnine giant, whose hair was no black
er than his expression. rose. and .
semblance Of quiet greeted him ~ he
spoke.
"Mebby. Samson. we've got right
ter take the studs this. away, an ter
refuse ter answer our questions, but
we've got right ter say who kin stay
in this hyar country. Ef ye lows ter
quit US, reckon we kin quit you
and, II we quits ye, ye hain't nothin'
more ter Us then no other boy thet's
gettin' too big fer his breaches. This
furriner 10 q visitor here today. an
we don't low ter hurt him-but he's
got ter 60. We don't want him round
hyar no longer" He turned to Les.
cott. Were a-givin' ye fair warnin',
stranger. Ye hain't our breed. After
this. ye. stays ON Misery at yore own
risk-an' hits a-goin' ter be plumb
risky. That thar's final"
This man." blazed the boy. before
Lescott coyld speak, lis a-visitin' me
an Unc' Spicer. When ye wants him
ye kin come up thar an git him. Every
damned man Of We kin come. ] hain't
a-sayin' how many Of yen 80 back
He was lowin' that he'd leave hyar ter
morrer mornin', but after this I'm
a-tellin' ye he hain't a-goin' ter do hit
He's a,goin' ter stay % long 60 he
likes. an nobody hain't a-goin' te,I run
him or" Samson took his sta be.
fore the painter. and swept the toup