Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1901-05-29
CHAPTER xx111.

Sim Banks secured one good nights
rest, as Pap Sampson had said, or at
least II he didn't 1t was not the fault
OF Pap and Mirandy. The two old
people did everything In their power
TO add to the comfort of their guests.
IT'S been q long time," Pap remark
ed, "senee Sims had my comfort, an
he may never have any ag'ln in this
world, SO we'll give him all we can
!; while we have the chanst."
Pore Slmw Mrs. Sampson said, with
a Sigh.
"Pore simw Pap repeated, signing
too.
II wish he'd go away" Mrs. samp-
i son said, "whar they couldn't never
lind HIM"
II wish so, too" Pap agreed, "but he
won't. Lord, he won't bulge a inch.
I've argyed an reasoned an begged, but
II amt done no good. He's got his
pegs sot to stay, an stay he will.'
Yes, an I'm afeard, Pap. that they'll
hang him. Is,
II dunno, I'm shore. They may not
do 80 bad as that, but they'll send him
to prison anyhow"
that other man lows he can save
him. But, Lord, Pap, he can't do It"
Goose he can't. Lord a-massy, that
Teller can't do nothin for Sim. Guess
he'd like to well enough, but likin to do
o thing an doin 1t are two different
things. No, stree! He can't lift a fin
ger to save SIM"
.'No, but he's pow full in earnest bout
IT. an b'lieve he thinks he can"
My land, / can't see what he figgers
that he'll do
Neither do 1, but I reckon he thinks
hen do somethin.''
'.Mebby he does. been kinder
thinkin, though, that he mought be Jest
a-talkin that Away to sorter chlrk Sim
up bit"
Lord, he mought Jest as well save
his breath, then, cause Sim amt takin
no hope from what he is a-promisin."
Nary grain, he amt, can see
that Jest as plain as the ears on a
mule" q
wonder how that man happened to
come home with Sim anyhow
II dunno, except Sim said he was
Jest sot an determined to come"
"Waal, I guess 1t don't matter much
: whar he Is, for he amt got many more
days In this world nohow. He was
shot clean through that time Sim car
ried him off the battlefield, an his
wound never got plumb well, an now
It's opened fresh IN tuck to bleedin.
he lows it's liable to bleed in'ard jest
any minute, an when 1t gifts to dom
that he's DONE"
He is SO. That WINS rale brave of
Sim, the way he done, carryin that fell
Ter way from the battle, want it7''
My land, I'd sesso. Didn't hardly
reckon 1t was in Sim to do that away"
Me nuther. But, Lord, you can't
never tell what walked up dog'll do
by lookin at him when he's asleep"
That's so. An Sim Jest begun to git
sorter walked up fore he went away.
You mind how he done Jim Thorn that
night at the store2"
Gland Of Goshen, Mirandy, reckon
do. An that minds me. wonder
what Loueesy'll think when she hears
Sims come back7'
II amt no idea"
II wish he hadn't never "a come"
/ Lord, Pap, SO do l.. I hate to think
bout what may happen to him."
$50 do I. I'm goin to try ag'in in the
mornin to git him to go away"
Sim entered the room, and Pap and
Mirandy lapsed into silence. Whether
Pap would have succeeded the next
morning in persuading Sim to go re-
mains matter Of doubt, for he never
had o chance totry.
Before Sim had left his bed Sam
Morgan came with state warrant to
arrest him. Mary Mann had discover
ed In some way that Sim had returned,
and she reported 1t to Jim Thorn. The
latter, overanxious to bring Sim to JUS:
ttce, had hurried before Squire Beeson
and aM6rftout the WarratfE