The vidette. (Iuka, Tishomingo County, Miss.) 1912-1967, 1915-09-02

and his eyes narrow with CLINT of
tense hate. Yet. moment later, with
. nod to follow, the boy unexpectedly
rose into view and his features we're
absolutely expressionless.
''Mornin'. Jim," he called.
The sinking stranger whirled with
q start and an instructive motion as
though to bring his rife to his shout
der. But, seeing Samson's peaceable
manner. he smiled and his own de-
meanor became friendly.
"Mornin', Samson"
Kinder stranger In this country.
hain't We, Jim?" drawled the boy who
lived there, and the question brought
. sullen flush to the others cheek
bones.
"Jest a-passin' through" he vouch-
safed.
II reckon ye'd find the wagon road
more handy" suggested Samson.
.Some folks might 'epicion We fer
stealth long through the timber"
The skulking traveller decided to lie
plausibly. He laughed mendaciously.
"That's the reason, Samson. / was
kinder skeered ter go through this
country in the OPEN"
Samson met his eye steadily and
said slowly:
81 reckon, Jim, hit mought be half
es risky fer ye ter walk upstandin'
along Misery es ter go a-crouchin'.
Ye thinks we've been a-shadderin' me.
! knows Jest whar we've been all the
time. Ye lies when ye talks bout
passin' through. Ye've done been spy
in hyar, ever since Jesse Purvy got
shot, an all tibet time we've done been
watched yerself. / reckon hit1l be
healthier fer We ter do yore spyin' from
t'other side of the ridge. ! reckon yer
allowin' ter git me eff Purvy dies. but
we're watchin' ye."
Jim Asberry's face darkened, but he
said nothing. There was nothing to
say. He was discovered In the enc
my's country and must accept the
enemy's terms.
This hyar time let's ye go back, !"
said Samson, FER the reason tibet I'm
tryin' like all hi ter keep this truce.
But ye must stay on yore side or
else ride the roads open How is
Purvy terday?"
Hes mighty porely," replied the
other, in a sullen voice.
All right. Thet's another reason
why hit hain't healthy fer ye over
hyar."
The spy turned and made his way
over the mountain.
Oh him!" muttered Samson,
his face twitching. as the other was
lost In the underground. Some day
I'm a-goin' ter git him."
Tamarack Spicer did not at once
reappear, and when one of the Souths
met another in the road the customary
dialogue would be: "Heered anything
OF Tamarack?" mo, hev your
mo, nary word"
As Lescott wandered through the
hills, his unhurt right hand began cry
ing out for action and brush ia
nurse. AS he watched, day after day
the unwilling of the monumental hille
and the transitions from hazy, wrath
like whispers of hues to strong, fiaring
riot of color, this fret Of restlessness
became actual pain. He was wasting
wonderful opportunity and the crea
tive instinct in him was clamoring.
One morning. when he came out just
~%ta~ o,,urfca En- tho ffr, Oh haatu
ut the well, the desire to paint was or
him with compelling force. The hills
ended near their bases like things bit
ten of. Beyond lay limitless stream
ers OF mist, but, while he stood at gaze
the filmy veil began to lift and float
higher. Trees and mountains grew
taller. The sun, which showed first
as a ghost-like disk of polished alumni
mum, struggled through orange and
vermilion into a sphere Of living
fame. Lescctt heard voice at his
side
when does ye low ter commence
paintin'?"
1t was Samson. For answer the
artist, with his unhurt hand, impa
tiently tapped his bandaged wrist.
Eye still got yore right hand, hain't
yer" demanded the boy. The Other
laughed. 1t was a typical question. Sc
long as one had the trigger finger left
one should not admit disqualification
"You see, Samson" he explained
''this isn't precisely like handling 6
gun. One must hold the palette; mi1
the colors; wipe the brushes and d.
half dozen equally necessary things
1t requires at least two perfectly goot
hands. Many people don't find tive
enough"
But hit only takes one ter do tn,
paintin'. don't hit?"
yes"
"Well''-the boy spoke difiidentl.
but with nthusiasm-"between tn,
two of us we've got three hands.
reckon ye kin larn me how ter d.
them other things fer ye."
Lescott's surprise showed in hi
face and the lad swept eagerly on.
"Mebby lift hain't none of my busi
ness. but, all day yestiddy an tn
day befo', was studyin' bout thi
here thing. an ! hustled up an go
thet corn weeded an now I'm through
Ef kin help ye out / thought meh
by" lie paused and looked appeal
sngly at the artist
Lescott whistled and then his fac
lighted into contentment
To-day, Samson" lie announced
'Lescott, South and Company ge
busy"