The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1915-03-05
CHAPTER VIII.

SIlf1E X IA filb
The boy from Misery rode slowly to
ward Hixon At times the moon strug
gled out and made the shadows black
along the way. At other times it was
like riding in a 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 ballaC
lacked tune, but it served it's purpose
Of saving him from the suspicion o.
furtiveness. Though the front of the
house was black, behind its heavy shut
tiers he knew that his coming might be
noted, and night.riding at this par
ticular spot might be misconstrued ii
the absence of frank warning
The correctness of his inference
brought brief smile to his lips wher
he crossed the creek that skirted tn
orchard and heard a stable door Creal
softly behind him. He was to be fol
lowed again-and watched, but he die
not look back or pause to listen foI
the hoofbeats of his unsolicited escort
On the soft mud of the road he woulc
hardly have heard them had he ber
his ear and drawn rein. He rode at ;
walk, for his train would not leave I'm
til five o'clock in the morning. There
was time in plenty.
1t was cold and depressing as ht
trudged the empty streets from The
livery stable to the railroad station
carrying his saddlebags over his arm
At last he heard the whistle and saw tn,
blazing headlight, and a minute latel
he had pushed his way into the smok
ing car and dropped his saddlebag!
on the seat beside him. Then for thu
first time, he saw and recognized hi
watchers. Purvy meant to have Sam
son Swallowed as far as Lexington, anC
his movements from that point def
nitely reported. Jim Asberry and Aaron
Hollis were the chosen spies. He diC
not speak to the two enemies who tool
seats across the car, but his fact
hardened, and his brows came togethe
in black scowl.
When | gifts back" he promised
himself, you'll be one of the fus
folks I'll look fer, Jim Asberry, damn
ye! All l hopes is tibet nobody els,
don't git We fust. Ye b'longs ter me.
The sleeping car to which he wa
assigned after leaving Lexington wa
almost empty, but he felt upon him tn
interested gaze OF those few eyes tina
were turned toward his entrance. HI
engaged every pair with a pair yer,
clear and steady and undropping, un
til somehow each lip that had starteC
to twist in amusement Strengthened
and the twinkle that rose at frs
glance sobered at second. Yet, 70
all his specious seeming of unconcern
Samson was waking to the fact tina
ne was a sCarecroW, and his SENSITIVE
pride made him cut his meals shor
in the dining car, where he was KEEP
busy beating down inquisitive eye
with his defiant gaze. He resolved
after some thought upon definite pol
ICY 1t was very old policy, but t
him new--and discovery. He would
change nothing in himself that in
VOWED surrender of code or conyic
ton. But, wherever it could be don,
with honor, he would conCede to Gus
tom.
1t was late in the second afternoo,
when he stepped from the train at Jer
sey City, to be engulfed in an un
imagined roar and congestion. Herr
it 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 AM
fur-coated, seemed almost a stranger
and the boys feeling of intimacy froze
to inward constraint and dif1dence
But Lescott knew nothing of that
The stole in Samson held true, mash
ing his emotions.
so you came" said the New Yorker
heartily, grasping the BOYS hand
Where's your luggage? Wen jus.
pick that up and make dash for the
ferry"
"Hyar hit is" replied Samson. who
still carried his saddlcbags. The
painters eyes twinkled. but the mirth
was SO frank and friendly that The
boy, instead OF gIaring in defiance
orippoJ ,,-o,,, =.