The Columbus courier. [volume] (Columbus, Luna County, N.M.) 1911-1920, 1915-03-05
APT VII.

gled out n made the shadows black
along the way. At other times II was
like riding in s. huge caldron of pitch.
When he passed into that stretch OF
country at whose heart Jesse Purvy
dwelt he raised his voice in song. His
singing was very bad, and the ballad
lacked tune, but II served its purpose
Of saving him from the suspicion Of
furtiveness. Though the front Of the
house was black. behind its heavy shut.
tiers he knew that his coming might be
noted, and night-rlding at this par
ticular spot might be misconstrued in
the absence of frank warning.
The correctness Of his inference
brought a brief smile to his lips when
he crossed the creek that skirted the
orchard and heard a stable door creak
softly behind him. He was to be fol-
lowed agaln-and watched, but he did
not look back or pause TO listen for
the h%oofbeats 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.
iii FIVE o'clock In the morning. There
was time in plenty.
II was cold and depressing as he
trudged the empty streets from the
livery stable to the railroad station,
carrying his s%addlebags 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 Swallowed as far as Lexington. and
his movements from that point def
nitely reported. Jim Asberry and Aaron
Hollis we're 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 a black scowl.
when ! gifts back" he promised
himself, you'll be one OF the fust
folks I'll look fer, Jim Asberry, damu
ye! All | hopes is tibet nobody else
done git ye fust. Ye b1ongs 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. lie
engaged every pair with a pair very
clear and steady and u%ndropping. un
III somehow each lip that had started
10 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 thai
he was a scarecrow, and his sensitive
pride made him cut his meals shorl
in the dining car, where he was kept
busy beating down inquisltive eyes
with his defiant gaze. He resolved
after some thought upon n definite pol
icy. II vas a very old policy. but e
him new-and a discovery. lie would
change nothing in himself that Ia
VOWED a surrender OF code or convic
ton. But. wherever II could be done
with honor, he would concede TO Gus
tom.
Il 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. Her,
II WAS impossible to hold his owl
against the unconcealed laughter o
the many, and he stood for an instan.
glaring about like a Gagged tiger, Will,
three currents of humanity separated
and flowed toward the three ferry
exits. Then he saw the smiling face o.
Lescott, and Lescott's extended hand
Even Lescott, Immediately CARRIED anC
f~ur-coated, seemed almost a stranger
and the boys feeling OF intimacy froz,
to inward constraint and dimdence
But Lescott knew nothing Of that
The stole In Samson held true, mask
ing his emotions.
so you came" said the New Yorker
heartily. g%rasping the boys hand
Where's your luggage? Wen JUS.
pick that up and make a dash Cor tn,
ferry"
"Hyar hit IT," replied Samson. VIII,
still carried his saddlebags. Tn,
painters eyes twinkled. but the mlrtl
was 30 frank and friendly that IN,
boy. instead Of glaring In defiance
grinned responsibility
Right, OH" laughed Lescott. "
Thought maybe you'd bring a trunk
hut It's the wise man who travel
light"
He followed Lescott out 70 the foo
OF Twenty-third street. and steppe,
with him into the tonneau OF IN,
painters waiting car. Lescott live,
with his family uptown. for II has
pened that had his canvasos pos
sessed no value whatever, he woul,
still have been in a position 70 drivl
bis motor and follow his impulse
about the world. II he did not TAX.
the boy to his home. II was beoausI