Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-01-07
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CHAPTER XIII.

Tamarack spicer sat on the top OF
box car, swinging his legs over the
side. He was clad In overalle. and In
the pockets Of his breeches reposed
. bullying flask of red liquor. and an
unbulging pay envelope. Tamarack
had been "railroading" for several
months this time. He had made q
new record for sustained effort and
industry, but now June was beckon'
inr, him to the mountains with vaga-
BID ID yearnings for freedom and lei
sd Q. Many things had invited his soul.
al most four years had passed since
Samson had left the mountains, and
in four years q woman can change her
mind. Sally might, when they met ON
the road, greet him once more as kins-
man and agree to forget his faulty
method OF courtship. This time he
would be moro diplomatic. Yesterday
he had gone to the boss and called
for his time" Today he was paid on.
and free lance.
!. AS he reflected on these matters a
Ifellow-trainman came along the top
iof the car and sat down at Tamarack's
side. This brakeman had also been
recruited from the mountains. though
from another section-over toward the
Virginia line.
$50 yer quittin'3" observed the new
conner.
Spicer nodded.
Z A.
Again Tamarack answered with q
Jerk OF his head.
! 1--WE been layin' Of. ter tell We some
thin, Tam'rack."
"Cut her loose"
II laid over in Htxon 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 Ticker"
What of hit?"
They was talkin' bout you"
What did they say?"
81 seen that they was enemies OF
yours, an they wasn't in no good hui
NOR. so, when they axed me eff
knowed ye, lowed 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 thet you'd done shot
Purvy tibet time, an he said"-the
brakeman paused to. add emphasis e
his conclusion-"thet the next time ~
come home, he lowed ter git ye plumb
shore"
Tamarack sco~led.
.Much obleeged." he replied.
At Hixon Tamarack spicer strolled
along the street toward the court
house. He wished to be seen. So long
as 1t 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 at.
fably and he paused to talk.
"Ridin' over ter Msery?" inquired
Asberry.
"'Lowed mout as well"
"Mind eff rides with ye es fur es
Jesse's placer"
"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 who
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
well and turned in. Tamarack rode
on, but shortly he hitched his horse
In the concealment Of a hollow. walled
with huge rocks. and disappeared into
the laurel.
He began climbing In crouched
position, bringing each foot dow
noiselessly and pausing often to listes
Jim Asberry had not been outward:
armed when he left spicer. But. SOON
the brakeman's dslicate1y attuned ear
caught Z sound that made him lie ia:
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 grading Q Winchester rih1
In the hollow. Of his arm. Then Tama
rack knew that AsbeTTy was taking
this cut to head him OF and waylay
him in the gorge mile away BY road
but q short distance only over the hill
spicer held his heavy revolver cooked
III his hand, but Il was too near the
Purvy house TO risk shot. He waited
= moment, and then, rising, went or
noiselessly with . snarling grin. stalk
dng the man who was stalking him.
Asberry found place ct the fool
of I huge pine where the underground
would cloak him. Twenty yards below
ran the creek,bed road, returning from
its long horseshoe deviation. Whhss
he had taken his position his faded
Z 'butternut clpthing matched the eartt
10 inconspic nously ae quail matchei
dead leayeesand he settled himself *
wait. Slowly and with infinite eau
ton hts Intended victim stole down
!. guarding arch step. until he was II
short and certain range. but, insteat
OF being at ~ front, he came from
che; back. ne, also, lay fiat on hit
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