The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1915-02-04
(copynght, .01s. BY W. ]. Watt & ca)
CHAPTER VII.


Several soberer men closed aroun
the boy, and after disarming him, lie
him away grumbling and mutterine
while Vile McCager made apologies t
the guest.
"Jimmy's jest peevish child" h
explained "A drop or two of licke
makes him skittish. hopes YIN lool
over hit"
Jimmy's outbreak was interesting t
Lescott chiefly as an indication o
what might follow. Unwilling to in
troduce discord by his presence, ant
involve Samson in quarrels on his &C
count, he suggested riding back t.
Misery, but the boys face clouded at
the suggestion.
EFF they KANT be civil ter my
friends" he said, shortly, they've got
ter account ter me. You stay right
hyar, and I'll stay clost to you. l done
come hyar today ter tell 'em that they
mustn't NEEDLE in my business"
A short while later, Vile McCager
invited Samson to come out to the
mill, and the boy nodded to Lescott
an invitation to accompany him.
The mill, dating back to pioneer
days, sat by its race with its shaft now
idle. 1t looked to Lescott, as he ap-
preached, like a scrap of landscape
torn from some medieval picture, and
the men about its door seemed medic
val, too; bearded and gaunt, hard
thewed and -sullen.
All of them who stood waiting were
men of middle age, or beyond. A num-
Der were gray-haired, but they were all
of cadet branches. Many of them, like
Vile McCager himself, did not bear
the name of South, and Samson was
the eldest son of the eldest son.
Samson" began old Vile McCager,
clearing his throat and taking up his
duty as spokesman, were all your
kinfclks here, an we aimed ter ask We
about this here report thet yer 'lowin'
ter leave the mountings?"
What of hit?" countered the boy.
"Hit looks mighty like the wars
a-goin' ter be on ag'in pretty soon. Air
ye a-goin' ter quit, or air ye agoin' ter
stick? Thet's what we wants ter
know"
81 didn't make this here truce. an
hain't a-goin' ter bust hit" said the
boy, quietly. when the war COM
mences, III be hyar Eff hain't hyar
in the meantime, hit hain't nobody's
business. l hain't accountable ter no
man but pap, an reckon, whar he is,
he knows whether I'm a-goin' ter keep
my word
There was moments silence, then
VILE McCager put another question:
EFF ye're plumb sot on gettin' larnin'
why don't We git hit right hyar in these
mountings?"
Samson laughed derisively.
Who'll l git hit from?" he caueti-
cally inquired EFF the mountain won't
come ter Mohamet. Mohamet's got ter
go ter the mountain, reckon"
Caleb Wiley rose unsteadily to his
feet, his shaggy beard trembling with
wrath and his voice quavering with
senile indignation.
"Hev We done got too damned good
fer yore kinfolks. Samson South?" he
shrilly demanded. "Hev We done been
follerin' after this here puny witch
doctor twell ye can't keep civil
tongue in yer head fer yore elders?
I'm in favor of runnin' this here fur
riner outen the country with tar an
feathers on him. Furthermore, I'm in
favor of cleanin' out the Hollmans.
was jest a-sayin' ter Bill"
Never mind what We war jest
interrupted the boy, flushing
redly to his eheekbones, but con-
trolling his voice. we've done said
enough already. Ye're right old man,
Caleb, an l reckon thet gives ye some
license ter shoot off yore face, but eff
any of them no-'count, shif'less boys OF
yores wants ter back up what We says,
I'm ready ter go out thar an make EN-
eat hit. l hain't a-goin' ter answer no
more questions.
There was commotion OF argu-
ment, until BLACK Dave" Jasper, sat
uTnll6 giant, NhOoO iidAA was ~ SANANN
err than his expression. rose, and a
semblance OF quiet greeted him as he
spoke.
"Mebby, Samson, we've got right
ter take the studs this away, an ter
refuse ter answer our questions, but
we've &c right ter say who kin stay
In this hyar country Ell ye lows ter
mutt us, l reckon we kin quit you
and. If we quits We. we hain't nothin'
more ter us then no other boy thets
gettin' too big fer his breeches- This
furriner is visitor here today, an
we don't low ter hurt him-but he's
got ter go. We don't want him round
hyar no longer" He turned to Les
colt. Were a-givin We fair warnin,
stranger. Ye hain't our breed. After
this. We stays on Misery at yore own
risk-an' hits a-goin' ter be plumb
risky. That thar's final"
This man." blazed the boy, before
Lescott could speak, 'is a-visitin' me
an Unc' Spicer When We wants him
va kin come up thar an git him. Every
damned man of We kin come. | hint