Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1915-03-26
ESTABLISHED 1865.
CHAPTER XIII.


industry, but now June was beckon-
ing him to the mountains with vaga-
bond warnings for freedom and lei
sure. Many things had invited his
soul. Almost four years had passed
since Samson had left the mountains
and in four years a woman can change
her mind Sally might, when they
met on the road, greet him once more
as kinsman and agree to forget his
faulty method of courtship. This time
he would be more diplomatic. Yester-
day he had gone to the boss ana
called for his time" Today he was
paid off, and a free lance.
AS he reflected on these matters
fellow -trainman came along the top
TO the car and sat down at TamaracK
side. This brakeman had also been
recruited from the mountains, though
from another section-over toward the
Virginia line.
so yer quittin'?" observed the new
conner.
Spicer nodded.
Coin back thar on Misery?'
Again Tamrack answered with
jerk of his head.
I've been layin' off ter tell We some
thin, Tamarack.
"Cut her loose"
II laid over in Hixon last week, an
some fellers that used ter know my
mothers folks took me down in the
cellar Of Hollman's store, an give me
some licker."
What Of hit?'
They was talkin' bout you.'
What did they say?"
II seen that they was enemies OF
yours, an they wasn't in no good hu-
NOR, so, when they axed me ef 1
knowed we, I lowed I didn't know
nothin' good about ye. / had ter cuss
We out, or git in trouble myself"
Tamarack cursed the whole Holman
tribe, and his companion went on:
Jim Asberry was thar. He lowed
they'd found out tibet you'd done shot
Purvy thet time, an he said'-the
brakeman paused to add emphasis to
his conclusion--'thet the next time ye
come home, he lowed ter git ye plumb
shore"
Tamarack scawled.
Much obleeged," he replied.
At Hixon Tamarack Spicer strolled
along the street toward the court
house. He wished to be seen. So long
as it 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 / mout as well"
Mind eff l ride with ye es fur es
Jesse's place?"
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 VINO
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
we'll and turned in. Tamarack rode 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 delicately attuned ears
caught a sound that made him lie fiat
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 a Winchester rifle
in the hollow Of his arm. Then Tama-
rack knew that Asberry was taking
this cut to head him off and waylay
him in the gorge mile away by road
but a 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
a moment, and then, rising, went or
noiselessly with a snarling grin, stalk
rtn Hi
Asberry found a place at the foot
of a huge pine where the underground
would cloak him. Twenty yards belo"
ran the creek bed road, returning from
it's long horseshoe deviation. When
he had taken his position his faded
butternut clothing matched the earth
as inconspicuously as a quail matches
dead leaves, and he settled himself to
wait Slowly and with infinite eau
ton his intended victim stole down
guarding each step, until he was in
short and certain range, but, instead
of being at the front, he came from
the back He, also lay fiat on his
stomach and raised the already cooked
pistol. He steadied it in two-hande6
grip against a tree trunk and trained
it with deliberate care on point to
the left of the other mans spine just
below the shoulder blades.
Then he pulled the trigger! He die
not go down to inspect his work. II
was not necessary. The instantaneous
fashion with which the head of the
Ambassador settled forward on it:
face told him all he wanted to know
He slipped back to his horse. mounted
and rode fast to the house of Spicel
South. demanding asylum.
The next day came word that il
Tamarack Spicer would surrender ane
stand trial in a court dominated b!
the Hollmans the truce would con-
tinue. Otherwise the war was on.
The Souths flung back the message