Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1915-01-29


Then followed a silence unbrokel
until the mule reached the group, re
yealing that besides the boy anothe
man-and a strange man-had joine'
their number.
"Evenin', stranger" they greeted
him, gravely; then again they fel
silent, and in their silence was evi
dent constraint.
This hyar mans a furriner." an
nounced Samson, briefly. He fel
often a rock an got hurt. I 'lowe'
I'd fotch him home ter stay all night.
The elderly man who had hailed tn
boy nodded, but with an evident an
noyance. 1t seemed that to him tn
others deferred as to a commandtni
officer. The cortege remounted ant
rode slowly toward the house. At las
the elderly man came alongside th'
mule and inquired:
Samson, where was We last night!'
"Thet's my business"
"Mebbe hit amt" The old noun
taineer spoke with no resentment, bu
deep gravity. We've been powerful
oneasy erbout ye. Hev We heered th'
news?"
What news?" The boy put th'
question noncommittally.
Jesse Purvy was shot this morning.
The boy vouchsafed no reply.
n ,,o,l dana told hif
Somebody shot five shoots from th'
laurel Purvey hain't died yit
Some says as how his folk
has sent ter Lexington fer blood
hounds
The boys eyes began to smolde
hatefully.
II reckon" he spoke slowly. "h'
didn't get shot none too soon."
Samson" The old mans voice hat
the ring of determined authority
when dies yell be the head Of th'
Souths, but so long es I'm a-runnin
this hyar family keeps my word tel
friend an foe alike. 1 reckon Jess
Purvy knows who got yore pap, bu
up till now no South hain't never bust
ed no truce"
The boys voice dropped its softnes
and took on a shrill crescendo Of ex
citement as he flashed out his retort
who said a South has done busted
the truce this timer"
Old Spicer South gazed searchingl!
at his nephew.
II hain't a-wantin' ter suspicion ye
Samson, but I know how ye feel
about your pap. I heered thet But
Spicer come by hyar yistiddy plumb
full Of liquor an lowed he'd seel
Jesse an Jim Asberry a-talkin' ter
gether Jest afore yore pap was kilt.
He broke off abruptly, then added
"Ye went away from hyar last night
an didn't git in twell after sunup-
just heered the news, an come te
look fer ye."
Air you-all 'lowin' thet 1 shot then
shoots from the laurel?" inquired
Samson, quietly.
EFF we-all hain't 'lowin' hit, Sam
son. we're plumb shore tibet Jesse Pur
vy's folks will low hit. They're jes
a-holdin' yore life like hostage fe
Purvy's. Eff he dies they'll try ter 81
ye."
The boy flashed a challenge abou
the group, which was now drawing
rein at Spicer South's yard fence. Hi
eyes were sullen, but he made no an
swer.
One of the men who had listened Il
silence now spoke:
I'm the fust place, Samson, we hahn
a -sayin' We done hit. In the mex place
eff ye did do hit we hain't a-blamir
ye-much. But I reckon them dawg
don't lie, an eff they trail in hya
yell need us. Thet's why we've don
come"
The boy slipped down from his mul
and helped Lescott to dismount. H
deliberately unloaded the saddlebag
and kit and aidthem on the top ste
of the stile, and, while he held hi
peace, neither denying nor affirming
mis- kinsmeE sat their horses and waite
Even to Lescott it was palpable tina
some of them believed the young hei
to clan leadership responsible for tn
shooting of Jesse Purvy, and tina
others believed him innocent, yet non
the less in danger of the enemy's ven
geance. But, regardless of divide
opinion, all were alike ready to stan
at his back and all alike awaited hi
utterance.
Then. in the thickening gloom. Sam
son turned at the foot of the stile an
faced the gathering. He stood rigid
and his eyes flashed with deep passion
His hands, hanging at the seams o
his jeans breeches, clinched. and hi
voice came in Il slow utteranc
through which throhbed the tensity O
a soul-absorbing bitterness.
Il knowed all bout Jesse Purvy'
bein' shot When my pap la
a-dyin' over thar at his house l wa
a little shaver ten years old
Jesse Purvy hired somebody ter XII
him an l promised my pa
that I'd find out who thet man was
an thet I'd git 'em both-some day
So help me. God Almighty, I'm a-goir
ter git 'em both-some day." Th
boy paused and lifted one hand a
though taking an oath.
I'm a-tellin' you-all the truth
But l didn't shoot them shoots thi
mornin'. / hain't no truce buster.
gives we my hand on hit. E
them dawgs come hyar they'll find m
hyar, an eff they hain't liars they
go right by hyar. l don't low ter ru
away an don't low ter hide out 1'r
a-goin' ter stay right hyar. Thet's a
I've got ter say ter ye."
For moment there was no reply
Then the older man nodded with
gesture Of relieved anxiety.
"Thet's all we wants ter know, Sam
son." he said. slowly. Light. men ar
come in
(To be continued.)