The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1915-01-14

ing themselves protected, as squirrels
creep around trunk when a hunter Is
lurking below. Samson halted at the
Jail wall. and called the prisoners
name. A tousled head and surly face
appeared at the barred window, and
the boy went over and held converse
from the outside.
How in hell did We git into town."
demanded the prisoner.
Il rid in" was the short reply.
How'd We git in the jailhouse?"
The captive was shamefaced.
Il got leetle too much ticker, an l
was shootin' out the lights last night"
he confessed.
What business did We have hyar in
Hixon?"
Il jest slipped in ter see a gal"
Samson leaned closer, and lowered
his voice.
Does they know tibet ye shot them
shoots at Jesse Purvy?"
Tamarack turned pale.
NO" he stammered, they believe
you done hit"
Samson laughed. He was thinking
Of the rifles trained on him from a
dozen invisible rests
How long air they a-goin' ter keep
We hyar?" he demanded.
Il kin git out tomorrer eff pays the
fine. Hits ten dollars"
and ef 20 don't pay the fne?"
Hits dollar day."
Il reckon We don't low ter pay hit,
do YET"
II lowed mebby ye mout pay hit fer
me. Samson"
EYE done lowed plumb wrong. I
come hyar ter see eff We needed help,
but hit pears ter me they're lettin' ye
off easy"
He turned on his heel, and went
back to his mule. The men behind the
trees began circling again. Samson
mounted, and, with his chin we'll up,
trotted back along the main street. 1t
was over. The question was answered.
The Hollmans regarded the truce as
still effective. The fact that they were
permitting him to ride out alive was
a wordless assurance of that. Incl.
dentally, he stood INDICATED in the
eyes of his own people.
Lescott stayed on a week after that
simply in Difference to Samson's insist
ence. To leave at once might SAVIOR OF
flight under fire, but when the week
was out the painter turned his horses
head toward town, and his train swept
him back to the Bluegrass and the
East.
A quiet of unbroken and deadly
routine settled down on Misery The
conduct of the Souths in keeping hands
off, and acknowledging the justice OF
Tamarack Spicer's Jail sentence, had
been their answer to the declaration
of the Hollmans in letting Samson ride
into and out of Hixon. The truce was
established When, a short time later,
Tamarack left the country to become
| railroad brakeman, Jesse Purvy
passed the word that his men must,
until further ORDERS. desist from vio-
lence. The word had crept about that
Samson, too, was going away, and, II
this were true, Jesse felt that his fu-
ture would be more secure than his
past. Purvy believed Samson guilty,
despite the exoneration of the hounds.
Lescott had sent box of books, and
Samson had taken a team over to
Hixon, and brought them back.
He devoured them all from title
page to fms line, and many of them
he went back to. and digested again.
He wrestled long and gently with
his uncle. struggling to win the old
mans consent to his departure. But
6picer South's brain was no longer
plastic. What had been good enough
for the past was good enough for the
future. Nevertheless, he arranged at
fairs so that his nephew should be
able to meet financial needs, and to go
where he chose in a fashion BETTING
q South.
November came in bleakly, with a
raw and devastating breath Of fatality.
The smile died from horizon to hori-
zon, and for days cold rains beat and
dashed the forests. And, toward the
end Of the month, came the day which
Samson had set for his departure.
At the threshold, with the saddle
bags over his left forearm and the rife
in his hand, he paused. His uncle stood
at his elbow and the boy put out his
hand.
"Good-by, Unc' Spicer." was all he
said. The old man, who had been his
second father, shook hands. His face.
too, was expressionless. but he felt
that he was saying farewell to SOL
der Of genius who was abandoning tho
| field. And he loved the boy with all
the centered power Of an isolated
heart.
A half-mile along the road. Samson
halted and dismounted. There, in q
small cove, surrounded by a tangle Of
briers and blackberry bushes, stood q
small and dilapidated meeting house"
and churchyard, which he must visit.
He made his way through the rough
underground to the unkempt halfacre,
and halted before the leaning head.
stones which marked two graves. With