The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1916-04-14

S"~C teH \\bt@SOOttOOS0.
III
Jim Fletcher. a mountain man who
had for years drifted between Tribula-
ton and Winchester trading in cattle
and timber made q journey through
the hills that spring, and was every.
where received as home folks" For
him there were no bars of distrust.
and he was able for that reason to buy
land right and left. Though he had
paid for 1t a price above the average
1t was q price far below the value of
the coal and timber it contained
and Jim had picked his land.
Anse Havey and his associates knew
that Jim Fletcher had been subsidized:
that the money he spent so lavishly
was not his own money: and that he
came as a stalking-horse, but they did
not know that he had been to Louis
Vile and had conferred there with Mr..
Trevor. Neither did they know at
once that he had visited the cabins OF
every malcontent among both the for
mer factions. and that he was a mis-
chiefmaker adroitly laying here in the
hills the foundations for a new feud.
Jim had a bland tongue and q per-
suasive manner, and he talked to the
mountain men In their own speech.
but he was none the less the advance
agent of the new enemy from down
below: the personal fulfillment of
Juanita's prophecy to Roger Malcolm.
Juanita did not realize how much
she was leaning on the strength OF
Anse Havey. how she depended on
him for counsel and encouragement.
which he gave not in behalf OF the
school. but because he was the school
teachers slave. She saw the little
hospital rise on the hill and thought
OF what it would do. and she believed
that Anse Havey must be, in his heart.
converted, even though his mountain
Obstinacy would not let him say so.
Then, while the hillsides were JOY
Gus with spring. came a squad of lads
with transit and chain, who began
running a alternative line through the
land that Jim Fletcher had bought
Anse Havey watched them grimly
with folded arms, but said no word
until they reached the boundary of his
own place.
There he met them at the border.
Boys" he said. Eye mustn't cross
that fence. This is my land. an for
bids ye."
Their foreman argued.
I'VE only want to take the measure
ments necessary to complete our line.
Mr. Havey. We won't work any In
Jury"
An1e shook his head
Come In. boys. an eat with maaAns
- wa - AoeEe ~ tald
thSm, fszsava vuuz tools outside"
Men from the house Dntrolled the
boundary with rides and the young
men were forced to turn back.
But later they drew near the house
Of old Bob McGreegor. and he. steal
Ing down to the place In the thichet Of
rhododendron. saw them perilously
near the trickling stream which even
then bore on its surface little kernels
Of yellow corn. Deeply and violently
old Bob swore as he drank from his
little blue key. and when one day he
saw them again he asked counsel of
no man. He went down and crept
close through the laurel. and when his
old rife spoke . schoolboy from the
Blue Grass fell dead among the rocks
of the water course.
After that death. the first murder of
an innocent outsider. the war which
Anse Havey had SO long f0reseen
broke furiously and brought the Or
ders OF upland and lowland to the
grip of bitter animosity.
Old McGreegor's victim had been
young Roy Calvin, the son OF Judge
Calvin of Lexington, and the name of
Calvin in central Kentucky was one
associated with the states best ira
ditions. tsE @
1t had run in q strong. bright thread
through the pattern of Kentucky's
achievements. and when news OF the
wanton assassination came home. the
state awoke to q shock Of horror. The
infamy OF the hills was screamed In
echo to the mourning. and the name
OF Bad Anse Havey was once more
printed In large type.
The mon whose capital sought to
wrest profit from the hills. and whose
employee had been slain. were quick
to take advantage Of this hue and cry
OF calumny.
They hurled themselves into the
nght for gaining possession Of coveted
land and were not particular as to
methods.
Jim Fletcher came and went con-
stantly between the lowlands and
highlands. He was all things to all
men, and In the hills he cursed the
lowlander, but In the lowland he
cursed the hills. Milt and Jeh and
Anse rode constantly from cabin to
cabin In their efforts to circumvent
the adroit schemes Of the mountain
Judas who had sold his soul to the
lowland syndicate.
Fletcher sought . foothold for CAPT.
tai to pierce fields acquired at the
price Of undeveloped land and then
to take the profit Of development.
Anse sought to hold title until the
sales could b on fairer basis. and
20 the issue vas made up.
Capitalists. Hike HalcOlm. who at n
directors rooms launching : legiti-
mate enterprise. had no actual hnow1-
oaaeo Elpenea In lneUhasQe.z i
An Ax1oona scient1se - Ae
- VI - <n