The Call of the Cumberlands

"They'll fight," he said, briefly.

Samson nodded.

"I don't understand the method," demurred the officer, with

perplexity. "Why don't they shoot you at once. What are they waiting

for?"

"They want to see," Samson assured him, "what tack I mean to take.

They want to let the thing play itself out, They're inquisitive--and

they're cautious, because now they are bucking the State and the world."

Samson with his escort rode up to the court-house door, and

dismounted. He was for the moment unarmed, and his men walked on each

side of him, while the onlooking Hollmans stood back in surly silence

to let him pass. In the office of the County Judge, Samson said briefly: "I want to get my deputies sworn in."

"We've got plenty deputy sheriffs," was the quietly insolent rejoinder.

"Not now--we haven't any." Samson's voice was sharply incisive. "I'll

name my own assistants."

"What's the matter with these boys?" The County Judge waved his hand

toward two hold-over deputies.

"They're fired."

The County Judge laughed.

"Well, I reckon I can't attend to that right now."

"Then, you refuse?"

"Mebby you might call it that."

Samson leaned on the Judge's table, and rapped sharply with his

knuckles. His handful of men stood close, and Callomb caught his

breath, in the heavy air of storm-freighted suspense. The Hollman

partisans filled the room, and others were crowding to the doors.

"I'm High Sheriff of this County now," said Samson, sharply. "You are

County Judge. Do we coöperate--or fight?"

"I reckon," drawled the other, "that's a matter we'll work out as we

goes along. Depends on how obedient ye air."

"I'm responsible for the peace and quiet of this County," continued

Samson. "We're going to have peace and quiet."

The Judge looked about him. The indications did not appear to him

indicative of peace and quiet.

"Air we?" he inquired.

"I'm coming back here in a half-hour," said the new Sheriff. "This is

an unlawful and armed assembly. When I get back, I want to find the

court-house occupied only by unarmed citizens who have business here."

"When ye comes back," suggested the County Judge, "I'd advise that ye

resigns yore job. A half-hour is about es long as ye ought ter try ter

hold hit."

Samson turned and walked through the scowling crowd to the court-house

steps.