The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1915-04-29

far as Hixon, gathered there,
news as the Hollmans chose I'd
them. and went back to write
stories and description, from
say, Of the stockaded seat of ira
Nor did they overlook the draI
coincidence of the return of "Wil(
Samson South from civilization to
agery. They made no accusation
they pointed an inference and n
-as they thought 1t was a sermo
the triumph of heredity over the
vantages of environment. Adri
read some of these saffron misr'
sensations, and they distressed h
Meanwhile, it came insistently to
ears Of Captain Callomb that 81
plan was on foot, the intricacies
which he could not fathom, to mi
facture a case against a number Of
Souths, quite apart from their &C
guilt, or likelihood of guilt Q
more, he would be called upon to
out and drag in men too well fort
to be taken by the posses and d.
ties of the Holman civil machin
At this news, he chafed bitterly,
still ranking with sense Of shame
the loss of his first prisoner, he form
a plan of his own, which he reveal
over his pipe to his first lieutenant.
There's a niger in the woodp
Merriweather," he said. 1--WE are 8
ply being used to do the dirty w
up here, and I'm going to do lit
probing of my own. 1 guess I'll tn
the company over to you for a day
two"
what idiocy are you contemplate
now" inquired the second in CO
mand.
I'm going to ride over on Miser|
and hear what the other side has
say. I've usually noticed that one ST
Of any story is pretty good until
others told"
"You mean you are going to go owe
there where the Souths are in
trenched, where every road is guard
ed?" The lieutenant spoke wrathfuli!
and with violence. Don't be an ass
Callomb. You went over there once
before and took man away-and he'I
dead. You owe them life, and theI
collect their dues. You will be sup
ported by no warrant of arrest, and
can't take a sufficient detail to pro
tect you"
mo" said Callomb, quietly; II &c
on my own responsibility and / go BY
myself"
"And," stormed Merriwether, you'll
never come back"
81 think" smiled Callomb, "Ill gel
back. l owe an old man over there
an apology, and l want to see this des'
perado at first hand"
TITS sheer madness. l ought to take
you down to this Internal crook of a
judge and have you committed to q
strait jacket"
IF" said Callomb, you are content
to play the catspaw to bunch of as.
sassins, I'm not. The mail-rider went
out this morning and he carried a let
ter to old Spicer South. l told him that
I was coming unescorted and unarmed
and that my object was to talk with
him. | asked him to give me a safe
conduct, at least, until / reached his
house, and stated my case treated
him like an officer and a gentleman,
and, unless I'm a poor judge of men,
he's going to treat me that way"
The lieutenant sought vainly to dis
suade Callomb, but the next day the
captain rode forth, unaccompanied.
Curious stares followed him and Judge
Smithers turned narrowing and I'M
pleasant eyes after him, but at the
point where the ridge separated the
territory Of the Hollmans from that of
The Souths he saw waiting in the road
/ mounted figure, sitting his horse
straight, and clad in the rough habili-
nents Of the mountaineer.
AS Callomb rode up he saluted and
he mounted figure with perfect gray
ty and correctness returned that
ialute as one officer to another. The
captain was surprised. Where had
his mountaineer with the steady eyes
md the clean-cut jaw learned the
liceties Of military etiquette?
81 am Captain Callomb of F. COM
AMY" said the officer. I'm riding
yer to Spicer South's house. Did you
ONE to meet me?"
ITO meet and guide you," replied a
leasant voice. my name is Samson
iouth."
The militiaman stared. This man
hose countenance was calmly
thoughtful scarcely comported with the
descriptions he had heard of the
Wildcat of the Mountains" the man
rho had come home straight as
torm-petrel at the first note of the
empest and marked his coming with
ouble murder. Callomb had been too
usy to read newspapers of late. He
ad heard only that Samson had been
way"
While he wondered, Samson went
a:
I'm glad you came. If it had been
Ossible I would have come to you"
s he told Of the letter he had written |
le Judge, volunteering to present him
slf as witness, the officers wonder
rev. I
"They said that you had been away