The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1915-02-24

| Singing WAS very Udu, duu tuo ooiiou
lacked tune, but it served its purpose
of saving him from the suspicion OF
furtiveness. Though the front of the
house was HACK, behind its heavy shut
tiers he knew that bis coming might be
noted. and night-riding at this par
ticular spot might be misconstrued IN
the absence OF frank warning.
The correctness Of his inference
brought brief smile to his lips when
he crossed the creek that skirted the
orchard and heard a stable door creaB
softly behind him. He was to be fol
lowed again-and watched, but he die
not look back or pause to listen fol
the hoofbeats of his unsolicited escort
On the soft mud of the road he would
hardly have heard them had he bent
his ear and drawn rein. He rode at a
walk, for his train would not leave un
til five o'clock in the morning. There
was time in plenty. ..- 80.
1t was cold and depressing as he
trudged the empty streets from the
livery stable to the railroad station
carrying his saddlebags over his arm
At last he heard the whistle and saw the
blazing headlight, and a minute later
he had pushed his way into the smok'
ing car and dropped his saddlebags
on the seat beside him. Then, for the
first time, he saw and recognized his
watchers. Purvy meant to have Sam
son shadowed as far as Lexington, and
his movements from that point def
nitely reported. Jim Asberry and Aaron
Hollis were the chosen spies. He did
not speak to the two enemies who took
seats across the car, but his face
hardened, and his brows came together
in black scowl .sH9
when / gifts back" he promised
himself you'll be one Of the fust
folks I'll look fer, Jim Asberry, damn
ye! All hopes is thet nobody else
don't git ye fust. Ye blongs ter me.
The sleeping car to which he was
assigned after leaving Lexington was
almost empty, but he felt upon him the
interested gaze of those few eyes that
were turned toward his entrance. He
engaged every pair with pair very
clear and steady and undropping, un
til somehow each lip that had started
to twist in amusement Strengthened
and the twinkle that rose at first
glance sobered at second. Yet, fol
all his specious seeming of unconcern
Samson was waking to the fact that
he was a scarecrow, and his sensitive
pride made him cut his meals short
in the dining car, where he was kept
busy beating down inquisitive eyes
with his defiant gaze. He resolved
after some thought upon definite pol
ICY. 1t was very old policy, but te
him new-and a discovery. He would
change nothing in himself that in
volved surrender of code or convic
ton. But, wherever 1t could be done
with honor, he would concede to Gus
tom. '=1,. -
tx It was late in the second afternoon
when he stepped from the train at Jer
sey City, to be engulfed in an un
imagined roar and congestion. Here
it was impossible to hold his. OWL
against the unconcealed laughter oi
the many, and he stood for an instant
glaring about like a Gagged tiger, while
three currents of humanity separated
and flowed toward the three ferry
exits. Then he saw the smiling face oi
Lescott, and Lescott's extended hand
Even Lescott, Immediately garbed and
fur-coated, seemed almost a stranger
and the boys feeling of intimacy froze
to inward constraint and difidence
But Lescott knew nothing of that
The stole in Samson held true, mask
ing his emotions.
$50 you came" said the New Yorker
heartily, grasping the boys hand
where's your luggage? Well just
pick that up and make dash for the
ferry" .. .....r 60.
"Hyar hit is," replied Samson. who
still carried his saddlebags. The
painters eyes twinkled, but the mirth
was SO frank and friendly that the
boy, instead of glaring in defiance
grinned responsiyely.
Right, OH" laughed Lescott- 81
thought maybe you'd bring trunk
but it's the wise man who travels
light" "a. .......-..
He followed Lescott out to the foot
of Twenty-third street, and stepped
with him into the tonneau Of the
painters waiting car. Lescott lived
with his family uptown, for 1t hap
pened that, had his canvases pos
sessed no value whatever, he would
still have been in position to drive
t!s motor and follow his impulses
about the world. If he did not take
the boy to his home, 1t was because
he understood that life which must
be not only full of early embarrass
ment. IL but positively revolutionary
should. be approached by easy stages
Consequently the car turned down
Fifth%avenuc, passed under the arch
and drew up before a door just OF
Washington square. where the land
scape painter had studio suit. There
wereS sleeping rooms and such acces
soriesas seemed to the boy unheard-o1
luxury, though Lescott regarded the
p1nce as a makeshift annex to his
Bme esta blishment.
sgYou'd better take your time in Sc
kSStipg permanent quarters" was his
X HGuukoJooe fo chion of ayp1ainjnp To Sam