Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1915-01-07
CHAPTER VIII.

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 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 it served it's purpose
of saving him from the suspicion of
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 in
the absence of frank warning.
The correctness of his Inference
brought brief smile to his lips when
he crossed the creek that skirted the
orchard and heard 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
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 he
trudged the empty streets from the
livery stable to the railroad station,
carrying his saddlebags over his arm.
| A 10 Ct hn orI ho xry1,fc nj n
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 meant to have Sam
son Swallowed as far as Lexington, and
his movements from that point def
nitely reported. Jim Asberry and Aaron
Hollis were the chosen spies. He did
not speak to the two enemies who took
seats across the car, but his face
hardened, and his brows came together
in black scowl.
when l gifts back" he promised
himself, you'll be one, of the fust
folks I'll look fer, Jim Asberry, damn
yei All | hopes is tibet nobody else
don't git We fust. Ye b'longs ter me-
The sleeping car to which he was
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. He
engaged every pair with a pair very
clear and steady and undropping un
til somehow each lip that had started
to twist in amusement Strengthened
and the twinkle that rose at first
glance sobered at second. Yet, for
all his specious seeming of unconcern
Samson was waking to the fact that
he was a scarecrow, and his sensitive
pride made him cut his meals short
in the dining car, where he was kept
busy beating down inquisitive eyes
| with his defiant gaze. He resolved
/ after some thought upon definite pol
Icy. 1t was very old policy, but tC
him new-and discovery. He would
| change nothing in himself that in
| volyed surrender of code or convic
| tion. But, wherever it could be done
| with honor, he would concede to Gus
tom
| 1t was late in the second Afternoon
4 when he stepped from the train at Jer
1. sey City, to be engulfed in an I'm
/ imagined roar and congestion. Here
4 it was impossible to hold his OWL
4 against the unconcealed laughter o.
y the many, and he stood for an instant
glaring about like Gagged tiger, while
three currents Of humanity separated
and flowed toward the three ferry
!. exits. Then ne saw the smiling face o.
u Lescott, and Lescott's extended hand
Even Lescott, Immediately CARRIED ahC
l fur-coated, seemed almost a stranger
D and the boys feeling of intimacy frozt
{ to inward constraint and difidence
Q 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? Well jus
pick that up and make dash for tn,
h ferry"
d "IIyar hit is" replied Samson, whit
II still carried his saddlebags. Tn,
d painters eyes .twinkled, but the mirtl
d was so frank and friendly that tn,
l. boy, instead Of glaring in defiance
e grinned responsibility.
d Fright, OH" laughed Lescott. "
thought maybe you'd bring a trunk
d but it's the wise man who travel
light"
h He followed Lescott out to the foo
sr of Twenty-third street, and steppe,
70 with him into the tonneau OF tn
Il painters waiting car. Lescott live,
d with his family uptown, for II heT
It pened that, had his canyases poi
= sessed no value whateveE he woul
r still have been in q position 70 driv
his motor and follow his impulse
Il about the world. II ne did not TAX
e the boy to his home, i Was becaua