The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1915-09-02

| you can come back-if you want to-;
/ but you must promise that"
81 PROMISE" she reluctantly yielded.
1t was half-past nine o'clock when
Samson South and Sidney Callomb
rode side by side into Hixon from the
east. A dozen of the older Souths,
who had not become soldiers, met
them there, and, with no word, sepa-
rated to close about them in a circle of
protection. AS Callomb's eyes swept
the almost deserted streets, so silent
that the strident switching Of q freight
train could be heard down at the edge
of town, he shook his head. AS he met
the lsullen chances of the gathering in
the courthouse yard, he turned to Sam
| son.
They'll fight" he said, briefly.
Samson nodded.
II don't understand the method" de.
| INJURED the officer, with perplexity
why don't they shoot you at once.
What are they waiting for?"
'They want to see," Samson assured
him, what tack mean to take They
want to let the thing play itself out.
They're inquisitive-and they're eau
tious, because now they are buck1ng
the state and the world"
Samson with his escort rode up to
| the courthouse door and dismounted.
He was for the moment unarmed and
his men walked on each side of him,
while the unlocking Hollmans stood
back in surly silence to let him pass.
In the office of the county judge Sam
son said briefly:
Il want to get my deputies sworn
| in"
We've got plenty of deputy sher-
| IFS" was the quietly insolent reJoin-
| der.
mot now--we haven't any" Sam
sons voice was sharply incisive. I'll
name my own assistants"
Whats the matter with these
boys?" The county Judge waved his
hand toward two hold-over deputies.
They're fired"
The country judge laughed.
well, reckon can't attend to that
right now"
Then you refuse?"
"Mebby you might call it that"
Sampson leaned on the judges table
and raped sharply with his knuckles.
His handful of men stood close and
Callomb caught his breath in the
heavy air of storm-freighted suspense.
The Holman partisans filed the room
and others were crowding to the doors.
I'm high sheriff of this county now"
said Samson, sharply. "You are coun-
ty Judge. Do we co-operate-or f1ght?'
II reckon" drawled the other, that's
matter we'll work out as we goes
along. Depends on how obedient We
air."
I'm responsible for the peace and
quiet of this county," continued Sam
son. Were going to have peace and
quiet"
The Judge looked about him. The In
dications did not appear to him indica-
tive of peace and quiet.
"Air WEI" he inquired.
I'm coming ba * here in a half
hour said the new sheriff. This is
an unlawful and armed assembly.
When / get back / want to find the
courthouse occupied only by unarmed
citizens who have business here"
when We comes back" suggested
the county Judge, I'D advise that We
resigns yore job. A half-hour is about
es long as We ought ter try ter hold
hit"
Samson turned and walked through
the scowling crowd to the courthouse
steps.
Gentlemen" he said, in clear, far
carrying voice, there is no need OF an
armed congregation at this court
house. l call on you in the name OF
the law to lay aside your arms or scat
ter"
There was murmur which for an in
slant threatened to become roar, but
trailed into a chorus of derisive laugh
ter
Samson went to the hotel, accompa-
MED by Callomb. A half-hour later the
two were back at the courthouse with
a half-dozen companions. The yard
was empty. Samson carried his faith
er's rifle. In that half-hour telegram,
prepared in advance, had flashed to
Frankfort. 3.t
"Mob holds courthouse need
troops"
And a reply had flashed back:
"Use local company-Callomb com.
handing" So that form of law was
met.
The courthouse doors were closed
and its windows barricaded. The place
was no longer judicial building. 1t
was a fortress. AS Samson's party
paused at the gate warning voice
called:
Don't come no nigher!"
The body-guard began dropping
back to shelter.
II demand admission to the court
house to make arrests" shouted the
new sheriff. In answer scattering OF
rifle reports came from the Jail win
dows. Two of the Souths fell. At
word from Samson Callomb left on
run for the hotel. The sheriff himself
took his position in small store
across the street, which he reached I'M
hurt under desultory fire.
CTO BE CONTINUED.)
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