The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1915-02-04
VII.

The boy from Misery rode slowly 10.
ward Hixon. Al times the moo strug.
gled out and made the shadows black
along the way. Al other times II was
like riding In n 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 Il served Its purpose
Of saving him from the suspicion OF
furtiveness. Though the front OF the
house was black, behind It's heavy shut.
tiers he knew that his coming might be
noted. and night.riding at this par.
ticular spot might be ~misconstrued In
the absence OF frank warning.
The correctness Of his inference
brought n brief smile TO his lips when
he crossed the creek that sklrted the
orchard and heard a stable door creak
softly behind him. He was to be fol.
lowed again-and watched. but he did
not look back or pause TO listen for
the hoofbeats 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-
I'll Ave o'clock In the morning. There
was time in plenty.
II was cold and depressing rs he
trudged the empty streets from tho
livery stable to the railroad station.
carrying his s~addlebags over his arm.
Al 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 lean to have Sam.
son Swallowed as far az 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 GRO the car. but his face
hardened. and his brows came together
In a black scowl.
When gifts back" he promised
himself. you'll be n Of the fust
folks I'll look fer. Jim Asberry. damn
20! All l hopes Is tibet nobody else
don't git ye fust. Ye b'longs ter me"
The sleeping a to which he wal
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 q pair very
clear and steady and %undropping. un,
I'll somehow each lip that had started
to twist In amusement straightened
and the twinkle that rose at firs,
glance sobered at second. Yet, for
all his specious seeming OF unconcern,
Samson was waking TO the fact tina,
he was a scarecrow. and his sensitive
pride made him cut his meals short
In the dining car. where he was KEEP,
busy beating down inquisitive eyes
with his defiant gaze. He resolved
after some thought upon a definite pol.
Icy. II was a very old policy. but "a
him new-and a discovery. He would
change nothing In himself that In.
volved a surrender OF code or conv,c.
ton. But. wherever II could be done
with honor. he would concede to Gus.
tom.
II was late In the second afternoon
when he stepped from the train at Jer.
sey City. TO be engulfed In an un.
imagined oar and congestion. Here
1t was impossible to hold his own
against the u~nconcealed laughter OF
the many. and he stood for an instant
glaring about like a Gagged tiger, while
three currents OF humanity separated
and flowed toward the three ferry
exits. Then he saw the smiling face OF
Lescott. and Lescott's extended hand.
Even Lescott. Immediately CARRIED and
~fur-coated, seemed almost a stranger.
and the boys feeling OF intimacy froze
TO inward constraint and difidence.
But Lescott knew nothing OF that.
The stole In Samson held true. mask.
ing his emotions.
80 you came" said the New Yorker,
heartily. grasping the boys hand.
where's your luggage? Wen Just
pick that up and make a dash for the
ferry"
,"Hyar hit Is" replied Samson. who
stili carried his ~saddlebags. The
painters eyes twinkled. but the mirth
was so frank and friendly that the
boy. instead OF glaring In defiance.
grinned responsibility.
Right. OH" laughed Lescott. II
thought maybe you'd bring a trunk,
but it's the wise nan who travels
light"
He followed Lescott out TO the foot
OF Twentythird street. and stepped
with him into the tonneau OF the
painters waiting ear Lescott lived
with his family uptown. for Il hap.
pened that. had his canvases pos.
sessed no value whatever. no would
still have been in q position TO drive
his motor and follow his impulses
about the world. II he did not take
the boy to his home. It was because