Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1901-05-08
Copyright. 1901, by Thomas P. Montfort
CHAPTER XIV.
I'LL DO NY DUTY"

"1'LL DO NY DUTY"
Sure enough, as Jacob Hicks had
predicted. q circular came bearing the
Information that one Frank Shelton
was wanted by the authorities Of an
other county and that liberal reward
would be paid for his arrest. The de-
scription Of Shelton as given in the cir
cular fitted Melvin so perfectly as to
leave no doubt Of his being the man
that was wanted.
Hicks very prudently decided that
the less noise made about the circular
and the fewer people who We're In
formed Of it the better. So, in accord
ance with this decision. he took Pap
Sampson. Jason Roberts and Sam Nor
gan into his confidence and excluded
all others. Pap and Jason he knew he
could trust implicitly, and, while he
was not so sure Of Sam, he was COM
pelled to let him into the secret on ac-
count of his being the township con-
stable, for when it came to making the
arrest Sam would have to take the
lead.
That night he showed the circular to
those three men in his store and asked
their opinion on it. After reading II
over carefully they all agreed. with one
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, "is as plain as
the ears on a 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 Ia
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
we'll 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 feller bein
wanted for murder! Amt 1t awful?
"'Tis So" Sam agreed. "Wonder
who it was he murdered. Does that
paper tell?' ),
"Of course it does," Jason replied.
"Didn't you read it,"
"Not all of it, 1 didn't. never read
nothin bout that"
what was the feller's name, Jake?'
Jason asked. "I've done clean forgot.
"Marchand," Hicks replied.
Fright putty name, amt itT 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 q good sort Of feller too"
thought "a been," Jason replied
II dunno nothin bout that, though"
"No, but l bet he was. Wonder
what that feller killed him for any,
howT
Lord, Sam, l reckon it'd be putty
hard to tell what made him do it. Meb'
by they got into fight an jest fit an
fit till one killed the other. / guess II
was that away or some other"
"Must a been. bet he jest got
him down an stabbed him with a
knife"
II 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 it. though? Lord, I'd hate aw,
full to be done any sich way"
"Yes. but dunno if wouldn't hate
most as bad to be the feller that done
1t. My land. don't you know he's
moughty nigh skeered to death all t!le
time for fear he'll beketched an hung?
"C'ose he is. Then bet he's ha'nted
too"
ITO be shore he is. I've hearn II
said that when feller done murder
he want never free from 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 sayn nothin, never maxim nc
complaint, but jest a-keepln 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 a ha'nt al
lus a-peSterin round after me that
Away un know | want never goin t.
git shet Of 1t no more. My land, In
awful glad amt never killed nobody
an you bet l amt never a-goin to Kill
nobody nuther."
Suddenly and unexpectedly Pal
Sampson brought his cane vigorously
down on the floor, causing Sam and
Jason to jump and putting an end t.
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 ain't them things
we uns air specially interested in jest
now. So, If you uns please, We'll talk
bout that Mr.. Melvin"
"Waal. If you got your mind made
up to anything, Pap Sampson, jest
speak it out" Jason said.
81 have got my mind made up tt
somethin. Jason Roberts-me an Jake
both has-an If you'll jest listen yor
can hear what it is."
I'm a-listenin with all my ears"
"Waal. me an Jake has agreed tha
the proper thing to do Is to arrest tha
Teller at once. an accordin we figgel
that Sam best jest go over thar t,
Turner's tomorry an take him."
Sam gave an uneasy glance around.
ayes, best jest nail him while W,
can" Hicks added. "He mOught han!