The Green Forest tribune., 1915-03-05

Purvy thet time an he said'-the | brakeman paused to add emphasis to hls conclusion-'thet the next time ye l come home, he lowed ter git ye plumb shore"
 Tamarack scowled.
 Much obleeged," he replied
 At Hlxon Tamarack Spicer strolled along the street toward the court | house. He wished to be seen. So long as 1t was broad daylight and he dis played no hostility, he knew he was safe-and he had plans
 Standing before the Holman store were Jim Asberry and several com panions. They greeted Tamarack af- fably and he parsed to talk.
 "Ridin' over ter Misery?" inquired Asberry.
 Lowed I mout as we'll"
 Mind eff I rides with ye es fur es Jesses place?"
 Plumb glad ter have company" drawled Tamarack.
 They chatted of many things, and travelled slowly, but, when they came to those narrows where they could not ride stirrup to stirrup each jockeyed for the rear position, and the man who found himself forced into the lead turned in his saddle and talked back over his shoulder, with wary, though seemingly careless, eyes. Each knew the other was bent on his murder.
 At Purvy's gate Asberry waved fare we'll and turned in. Tamarack rode on, but shortly he hitched his horse in the concealment of hollow, walled with huge rocks, and disappeared into the laurel
 He began climbing, in a crouched position, bringing each foot down noiselessly and pausing often to listen. Jim Asberry had not been outwardly armed when he left Spicer. But, soon, the brakeman's delicately attuned ears caught a sound that made him lie flat in the lee of great log, where he was masked in clumps of Towering rho dodendron. Presently Asberry passed him. also walking cautiously, but hur- riedly and cradling Winchester rifle in the hollow of his arm. Then Tama- rack knew that Asberry was taking this cut to head him off and waylay him in the gorge mile away by road but short distance only over the hill. Spicer held his heavy revolver cooked in his hand, but it was too near the Purvy house to risk shot. He waited moment, and then, rising, went on noiselessly with a snarling grin, stalk ing the man who was stalking him.
 Asberry found a place at the foot of huge pine where the undergrowth would cloak him. Twenty yards below ran the creek-bed road, returning from its long horseshoe deviation. When he had taken his position his faded butternut clothing matched the earth as inconspicuously as quail matches dead leaves, and he settled himself to wait. Slowly and with infinite eau tion his intended victim stole down, guarding each step, until he was in short and certain range, but, instead of being at the front, he came from the back. He, also, lay fiat on his stomach and raised the already cooked pistol He steadied it in a two-handed grip against tree trunk and trained it with deliberate care on point to the left of the other mans spine just below the shoulder blades.
 Then he pulled the trigger! He did not go down to inspect his work. It was not necessary The instantaneous fashion with which the head of the ambuscader settled forward on it's face told him all he wanted to know He slipped back to his horse, mounted and rode fast to the house of Spicer South, demanding asylum.
 The next day came word that If stand trial in court dominated by the Hollmans the truce would con- tinue. Otherwise the war was on."
 The Souths flung back this message:
 Come and git him."
 But Holman and Purvy, hypocriti- cally clamoring for the sanctity of the law, made no effort to come and "git him." They knew that Spicer South's house was now fortress, prepared for siege They knew that every trail thither was picketed. Also, they knew a better way. This time they had the color of the law on their side. The circuit judge, through the sheriff. asked for troops and troops came. Their tents dotted the river bank be- low the Hixon bridge. A detail un- der white flag went out after Tama- rack Spicer. The militia captain in command, who feared neither feudist nor death, was courteously received. He had brains, and he assured them that he acted under orders which could not be disobeyed. Unless they surrendered the prisoner, gatling guns would follow. If necessary they would be dragged behind OK teams. Many militiamen might be killed, but for each of them the state had another If Spicer would surrender, the officer would guarantee him personal protec- tion, and, if it seemed necessary. change of venue would secure him trial in another circuit. For hours the