The Delta independent., 1915-08-27
Shall I have him Gomez" he in

Holman threw the letter down on
his desk with a burst of blasphemy:
Have him Gomez" he echoed Hell
and damnation, no! What do we want
him to come here and spill the milk
for? When we get ready. we'll indict
him Then, let your damned soldiers
go after him-as a criminal, not a
witness. After that, We'll continue this
case until these outsiders go away,
and we can operate to suit ourselves.
We don't fall for Samson Souths
tricks. No, sir; you never got that
letter! 1t miscarried. Do you hear?
You never got it,
Smithers nodded grudging acqui-
escence. Most men would rather be
independent officials than collar-wear-
ers.
Out on Misery Samson South had
gladdened the soul of his uncle with
his return. The old man was mending,
and, for a long time, the two had
talked. The failing head of the clan
looked vainly for signs of degeneration
in his nephew, and. failing to find
them, was happy.
'Hev ye decided, Samson" he in
quired, tibet ye was right in yer no.
ton, bout goin' away?"
Samson sat refiectively for a while,
then replied:
I'VE were both right Uncle Spicer-
and both wrong. This is my place,
but if I'm to take up the leadership it
must be in different fashion. Changes
are coming. We can't any longer stand
still"
too, in these last years, had seen in
the distance the crest of the oncoming
wave.
81 reckon there's right smart truth
to that" he acknowledged. I've been
studyin' bout hit consid able myself of
late. Thar's been sev'ral fellers
through the country talkin' coal an
timber an railroads-an' sich like
Sally went to mill that Saturday,
and with her rode Samson. There, be-
sides Vile McCager. he met Caleb
Wiley and several others. At first,
they received him skeptically, but they
knew of the visit to Purvy's store. and
they were willing to admit that in part
at least he had erased the blot from
his escutcheon. Then, too. except for
cropped hair and a white skin, he had
come back as he had gone. in home
spun and hickory. There was nothing
highfalutin in his manners. In short,
the impression was good.
Il reckon now that ye're back.
Samson" suggested McCager, AN see
f,,s ic Uattir'
along all right, I'll jest let the two OF
ye run things. I've done had enough.
1t was a simple fashion of resigning
a regency. but effectual.
Old Caleb, however. still insurgent
and unconvinced, brought in a minor
ity report.
I'VE wants fghtin' men," he grum-
bled, with the senile reiteration of his
age, as he spat tobacco and beat rat
tat on the mill floor with his long
hickory staff. We don't want no de-
serters."
Samson amt a deserter." defended
Sally. There isn't one OF you fit to
tie his shoes" Sally and old Spicer
South alone knew of her lovers letter
to the circuit Judge, and they were
pledged to secrecy.
Never mind. Sally!" 1t was Sam
son himself who answered her. Il
didn't come back because / care what
men like old Caleb think. came back
because they needed me. The proof of
a fighting man is his fighting, reckon.
I'm willing to let 'em judge me by
what I'm going to do"
So, Samson slipped back, tentative
ly, at least, into his place as clan head,
though for a time he found 1t a post
w;tnout action. After the fierce out
burst of bloodshed, quiet had settled,
and 1t was tacitly understood that, un-
less the HOLMAN forces had some coup
in mind which they were secreting.
this peace would last until the soldiers
were Withdrawn.
When the worlds a-lookin'," com
mented Judge HOLMAN, hits a right
good idea to crawl unuer logan
lay still"
Purvy had been too famous a feud
ist to pass unsung Reporters came as
far as Hixon. gathered there such
news as the Hollmans chose to give
them, and went back to write lurid
stories and description, from hear
say, of the stockaded seat of tragedy
Nor did they overlook the dramatic
coincidence of the return of wildcat"
Samson South from civilization to saw
agery. They made no accusation, but
they pointed an inference and a moral
as they thought. 1t was a sermon on
the triumph OF heredity over the ad
vantages of environment. Adrienne
read some of these saffron misrepre-
sentations, and they distressed her. i