The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1916-02-05
DID Alik McBriar threw forward hi.

y reckon It wouldn't profit ye muci
% harm us. Milt. We amt armed, an
4 would bring on heap of trouble
Outside rose an angry chorus OF
voices. The news that the Jail was
empty had gone through the crowd.
For time the McBriar stood there
debating his next step. The town
seemed at his mercy. Seemed! That
word rave him pause. The way home
lay through Hsvey territory. which
might mean twenty miles Of solid
ambush. Anse Havey sat too quietly
TOR Milt's ease Of mind. Was he bait
ing some fresh trap?
The old intrfguer felt bafied and at
seA He had grown accustomed to
weighing and calculating with guileful
elaboration. He baked at swift and
impulsive action. Moreover, II he de-
bated long. he might not be able to
control his men. He looked up-to
zee little Milt, who was lighting back
|, the crowd at the door and locking
them out. Beyond the panels could
BE heard loud swearing and the impa
taeut stunning Of many feet.
What shall We do. son?" inquired
the older man Of the younger. His
VOICE had note Of sppeal and break.
ing power.
When Young Milt had ridden out
Of Peril no feudist In the hills had
borne . heart fuller Of hatred and
hunger Tor vengeance. but that was
because of his father. Now his father
was free. For Luke Thixton he had
. profound contempt He saw In the
situation only Z game Of Wits In which
Anse Havey Was winner.
WELL" he replied with q grin he
could not repress. hit looks right
smart ter me like thar hain't nothin'
to do but ride on back home an try
again next time"
That counsel In the end prevailed.
Outside there had been short, sharp
struggle with mutinous spirit. These
men had come for action and they did
not want to ride hack foiled, but the
word Of Old Milt had stood unchal.
lenged too long to fail now. Yet he
LED back . grumbling following and
bore . discounted power. They could
not forget that . Havey had worsted
him. v
30 the spirit Of the men who had
come to tight vented itself in the yell
and the random shots to which there
was no reply. and again q train OF
horsemen we're on their way ir.to the
hills.
When II wss all over and Juanita
sat there In her empty school she was
reafising that, after all. the desperate
moment had only been deferred and
must come with absolute certainty.
Christmas was only two days cff and
her gun-rack was empty. When she
had come home there had not been
! . single weapon, there.
There would b no Christmas tree
ucwi The beribboned packages lay In
. useless pile. Had school been in SEES
sion. she knew that the desks would
have been a. empty as the gun.rack.
The whole turtle)ike life had drawn In
ats head and the countryside lay a.
though besieged.
On Anse Havey's book.shelves were
new volumes, for Juanita was feeding
his scant supply. and softer type of
poetry was being added to his frugal
and stern repertoire. A number Of
men left the mountains and went into
eaiile elsewhere. These were the wit.
nesses who must testify against Luke
Thixton and whose lives would not
have been worth . nickel had they
stayed a. home.
Then came Christmas day atself,
bleak and soggy with the thaw that
had set In and the moody dreariness
Of the sky. The sun seemed to have
despairet and made It's course spirit.
lessly from dawn to twilight, crawling
dimly across its daily arc.
Brother Anse Talbot came over to
the school and found both women sit
ting alphabetically by an untrimmed fir
tree amid . litter Of forgotten pack.
ages. The children Of Tribulation
were having the sort Of Christmas
they had always had-a day Of terror
and empty cheerlessnesa.
Hit seems like right smart pity
fer them children ter. be plumb, tee
totally disapp'inted." mused the old
preacher. "e'pose now ye put names
on them gewgaws an let me Jest
sorter ride round an scatter EN-"
"You dear old saint" cried Juauita.
suddenly reused out Of her apathy.
But you'll freeze to death an get
drowned In some ford"
"Thet's all right" the preacher an.
swered briefly. II reckon I kin 20
ther route"
1t took Good Anse Talbot three
days Of battle with quicksand and
mire to finish that mission. At each
house he told them that Juanita Hol.
land had sent him. and the girl was
GQnnnfRoA afpooh In hoov<c