Scratch Hill remembered the rifles in
its hands and took comfort.
"The Fayetteville co't air a higner
co't than this, Uncle Sammy," ex
plained the squire indulgently.
"I'm aweer of that," snapped the
patriarch. "I've seen hit's steeplt.'
"Air you finished, Uncle Sammy?"
asked the squire deferentially.
"I 'low I am. But I 'low that if
this here case is goin' again Bob
Yancy I'd recommend him to go home
and not listen to no mo' foolishness."
"Mr. Yancy will oblige this co't by
setting still while I finish this case,"
said the squire with dignity. "Mr.
Yancy has sworn to one thing, Mr!
Blount to another. Now the Yancys
air an old family in these parts Mr.
Blount's folks air strangers. Conse
quently," pursued the squire, some
what vlndlcjiygly.. _"^e ain't had_any
time in which to form an" opinion of
the Blounts but for myself, I'm sus
picious of folks that keep movin'
about and who don't seem able to get
located permanent nowheres, who air
here today and away tomorrow. But
you can't say that of the Yancys.
They air an old family in the country,
and naturally this co't feels obliged
to accept a Yancy's word before the
word of a stranger. And, in view of
the fact that the defendant did not
seek litigation, but was perfectly sat
isfied to let matters rest where they
was, it is right and just that all costs
should fall on the plaintiff."
CHAPTER V.
The Encounter.
Betty Malroy had ridden into the
squire's yard during the progress of
the trial and when Yancy and Han
nibal came from the house she beck
oned the Scratch Hiller to her.
