The state herald., 1915-08-06

n woman buying card of buttons and
a fair.ha,red clerk waiting on her. they
found the building empty.
Back beyond. the hills were impene-
trable, and answered no questions.
Old Spicer South would ten years
ago have put bandage on his wound
and gone about his business. but now
he tossed under his patchwork quilt.
and Brother Spencer expressed grave
doubts for his recovery. With his
counsel unavailable VILE McCager. by
common consent, assumed something
like the powers of a regent and took
upon himself the duties to which Sam
son should have succeeded.
That HOLMAN should have been
able to elude the pickets and penetrate
the heart Of South territory to Spicer
South's cabin was both astounding and
alarming. The war was on without
question now. and there must be coun-
ell. Vile McCager had sent out sum-
mons for the family heads to meet
that afternoon at his mill. It was Sat.
urday-"mill day"-and In accordance
with ancient custom the lanes would
be more travelled than usual.
Those men who came by the wagon
road afforded no unusual spectacle,
for behind each saddle sagged suck
OF grain. Their faces bore no stamp
OF unwonted excitement. but every
man balanced rife across his pom.
mel. None the less. their purpose was
grim. and their talk when they had
gathered was to the point.
Old McCager. himself sorely per.
picked. voiced the sentiment that the
others had been too courteous to ex.
press. With Spicer South bed.ridden
and Samson renegade, they had no
adequate leader. McCager was solid
nan OF intrepid courage and honesty,
bus grinding grist was his vocation.
not strategy and tactics. The enemy
had such masters OF intrigue as Purvy
and Judge HOLMAN.
Then lean sorrel mare came Jog
ging into view. switching her fiy bitten
tail. and on the mares back. urging
him with a long. leafy switch. sat a
woman. Behind her sagged the two
loaded ends OF corn sack She was
1.-THE and slim. and her violet eyes
were profoundly serious. and her lips
were as resolutely set as Joan OF Arcs
might have been. for Sally Miller had
come only ostcnsibly TO have her corn
ground to meal She had really come
TO speak for the absent chief. and she
knew that she would be met with deri.
sion. The years had sobered the girl.
but her beauty hnd Increased. though
II was now chastencd type. which
gave her n strange and rather exalted
refinement OF expression.
Vile McCager came TO the mill door
ms she rode up and lifted the sack
from her horse.
"Howdy. Sally" he greeted.
"Toi'abie. thank ye," said Sally. I'm
goin' tor get on"
As she entered the great half.lightcd
room. where the mill stones crcakcd
on their cumbersome ahnftr the hum
OF discussion sank to silence. Tho
girl nodded TO the mountalnecrs gath.
cred In conclave. then. turning to tho
miller. she announced;
I'm going TO send for Samson.'
The statement was at lra. act with
dead silence. then came n rumble OF
Indignant dissent, but for that the
girl was prepared. an she was prepared
for tho contomptuous laughter which
followed
\ reckon II Samson was here" she
said. dryly. you all wouldn't think II
was quite no funny"
Old Caleb Wiley npat through his
brintling beard. and his voice was
auayoring rumble
What we wants IN man. We hain't
got no use fer no traitors thots too al
mighty damn busy doln' fancy work
tor stand by their h'th an kin