Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1901-05-08

leAd,
THAT night he showed the circular to
those three men In Ills store and asked
their opinion on It. After reading It
over carefully they all agreed. with cnu
accord, that Hicks was right In his
view and that Shelton and Melvin were
certainly one and the same.
"That," Pap Sampson said, with an
air Of clear conviction. sis as plain as
the ears ON mule. Thar amt shad-
der Of doubt in my mind on that score.
But what I'm pestered bout is what
we ort to do next. That's the pint I'd
like for some Of you to make clear to
me-"
They all exchanged an inquiring
glance, but no one spoke. 1t was evil
dent that none Of them had any very
well defined ideas as to what would be
the proper course for them to pursue.
When the pause had begun to grow
awkward, Jason Roberts broke 1t by
remarking irrelevantly:
"Lord. Jest to think of that Teller bein
wanted for murder! Amt. It awful?"
"'Tis So" Sam agreed. "Wonder
who It was he murdered Does that
paper tellY'
"Of course IT does" Jason replied.
didn't you read it,"
mot all Of It, l didn't. I never read
nothin bout that"
"What was the feller's name. Jake?''
Jason asked. "1've done clean forgot"
"Marchand," Hicks replied.
Fright putty name. amt itY' Jason
observed. "Rale high soundin, too,
like 1t might belong to some Of them
way up kind Of people,"
"'Tis Shore" Sam agreed, ian bet
he was good sort Of Teller too"
thought a. BEEN" Jason replied.
81 dunno nothin bout that, though"
mo, but bet he was. Wonder
what that Teller killed him for any
howl"
Lord, Sam, reckon it'd be putty
hard to tell what made him do 1t. Meb-
by they got into fight an jest fit an
at till one killed the other. 1 guess II
was that away or some other"
"Must "a been. I bet he Jest got
him down an stabbed him with a
knife"
81 guess that's Jest bout what he
done, Sam-either that or else he shot
him or somethin. It's an awful thing
any way you fix It."
"Ain't 1t, thought Lord, I'd hate aw.
full to be done any sich way"
Eyes, but dunno II I wouldn't hate
most as bad to be the Teller that done
It. My land. don't you know he's
moughty nigh skeered to death all the
time for fear he'll beketched an hung?'
Goose he Is. Then I bet he's ha'nted
too"
ITO be shore he is. I've hearn II
said that when a Teller done murder
he want never free from a ha'nt nc
more. Day an night. day an night
long as he lives. the spirit of the one
he killed Jest hangs round after him
never sayin nothin, never maxim nc
complaint, but Jest a-keepin its eyes
on him an a-lookin so sad an mournful
It's Jest plumb techin."
Lord. amt that terrible? Why, I'd
ruther be dead than to have ha'nt al
lus a-pesterin round after me that
away an know want never goin Il
git shet Of 1t no more. My land, I'm
awful glad amt never killed nobody
an you bet amt never a-goin to kill
nobody nuther.r
Suddenly and Unexpectedly Par
Sampson brought his cane vigorously
down on the floor, causing Sam and
Jason to jump and putting an end to
their conversation. Pap and Hicks
had been holding consultation apart
relative to Melvin and. having reached
an agreement. were now ready to take
the others into their confidence.
you uns has said a-plenty bout
them dead folks an ha'nts," Pap re.
marked. .seein's It amt them things
we uns air specially interested In jest
now. So. II you uns please. we'll talk
bout that Mr.. Melvin"
"Waal. II you got your mind made
up to anything. Pap Sampson. Jest
speak It out" Jason said.
II have got my mind made up ia
somethin. Jason Roberta-me an Jake
both has-an Y you'll Jest listen you
can hear whatsit H."
I'm a-listenin with all my ears"
"Waal. me an Jake has agreed that
the proper thing to do is to arrest that
Teller ut once. an nccordin we flggel
that Sam best Jest 60 over thar to
Turner's tomorry an take him."
Sam gave IN uneasy glance around.
"Yes. best Jest nail him while we
tan." Hicks added. "He mought hang
round here long time yit. an he
mought skin out tomorry: no tcllin."
But" Sam remarked. "you all ain't
figgerin that !. ort to go over BY myself
to take that thar feller7.
"Lord a-massy. Sam. you ain't
|a-gwine to be afeard of him. are you 2?
Pap asked.
moo. I amt afeard Of him." Sam
replied slowly. 'but low I'D ruthcr
have somebody go long Of me. That
mans killed one Teller, an have q no.
ton he wouldn't hang back much "a
drap another II he thought the safety
Of his neck demanded It"
"waal. you want to keep your ",
peeled an look out that he don't GIT /
chance to drap you"
"rhat's all Hght, Pap. but you wan
to bear in mind that he'll be keepin hi,
eyes peeled too. Felier like that, al
the time spectin somethfn to happen
amt to be kotched settin round nap
pin. Not much he ain't.''
"Mebby that's all so. Sam. but
want to tell you that II could 1es
call back bout 90 years wouldn't b.
afeard to try to take him single band
ed an alone. You can Jest bet you
hide on that. Lordss1 wouldn't ham
back much tostake my:soot In my ham
an put out right over thar after hin
now"
"Mebby you wouldn't, Pap but 70
all that I'd a heap ruther have some
body long Of me-"
"Waal, have somebody. then. Sam
reckon Jason can go as well as moi" "
~ dunno" Jason replied hastily. "a