Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1901-07-13

parture from RICKETTS, Mill. Though
four years had PASSED since that tine,
Sim had never returned. and the people
of Postum Ridge were no wiser as to
his whereabouts than they had been
the day nc left. \ large reward lad
been offered for his arrest, and the OH
cials. stimulated by the hope OF earn.
ing the money, had made strenuous eff
forts to locate him. But IL had been all
I'm vain. Now and then there had
come reports TO Beckett's Mill 60 the
effect that Sim had been captured: bur.
as is usual with such reports, IL always
turned out case of mistaken identity.
Pap was wondering where Sim could
have gone to hide himself so complete
" and whether he was still among the
living. He was wondering. too, wheth-
er IL Sim still lived he would ever re-
turn to Possum Ridge and IL he return
ed what would be his fate. 1t was
with such thoughts as these the old
man was busy when he was suddenly
aroused and shocked by some one close
to him saying quietly:
Why, howdy, Pap Sampson?"
Zap started and looked quickly
around. and. his eyes falling on a
bearded, sun tanned face, his mouth
fell open and he stared in stupid
amazement for almost a minute. Then
he rubbed his eyes and stared again.
Lord a-massy" he exclaimed at
last. "Am l dreamin, or is that rally
Sim Banksr'
1T is rally Sim Banks, Pap" the
other replied; whats left Of him any
way"
Pap was down OF the fence in the
twinkling OF an eye, and the next mo-
ment he had Sim by the hand, shak-
Ing It with a heartiness that was al
most painful
Great land OF Goshen he cried.
Who'd "a thought 1t? Lord a-massy!
It's shore old Sim, amt it?"
Il guess 1t Is, Pap. Are you sur
prised to see me?"
Surprised to see you'll Why, Lord, 1
wouldn't be no more surprised IL the
sky was to drop. But think of the
devil an he's shore to make his ap-
pearance, as the old sayin goes"
Were you thinkin OF me?"
Jest been a-sittin thar on the fence
a-wonderin whar you'd gone an what
had come OF you an IL was ever
a-gwine 10 stt to see you any more. 1
was 1est a-gwine over them thoughts
when you moughty nigh skeered the
life out OF me by speakin to me that
away. Land don't hardly seem like
1T can be you. Sim"
Don't itF'
aShOrea nnpfN DIT
all these yearsT
I've been 10 the war, Pap"
Great day In the morninl You
Amt been fghtin into the army, have
your
"Yes, I've done some flghtin."
"But you wasn't killed, bless the
Lord"
Not quite"
HE came next thing to it, though"
Sims companion volunteered.
as that so?r Pap cried. "Waal, I'll
be snAtchedl You come moughty nigh
gittih killed.
yes, had a pretty close call once"
Great land! Tell me all bout it,
WON'T you, Simr'
"Yss, but first you must tell me
SOn@Sulu, rap. HOW is LOueeSy
Lord, amt a great old fool, a-run-
min On here that away, never a-think-
In bout what you'd naturally be jest
a-dyn TO know? Loueesy's we'll"
Where is she-up at the old place."
La, no! She amt lived thar sence
you NSent away. She's down at town"
what is she dom down there?"
shes workin In store to earn her
livin-"
Sim was surprised.
ITO earn her nvinf" he repeated.
Pap nodded his head.
whats become of all the land left
herT' Sim asked.
Its thar jest as It was. She amt
never teched foot of it,"
"Why?"
"Said it was your'n an she didn't de-
serve It."
Sim paused a moment, then said.