Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1901-05-25

TEL us all about IL, IUon't uouf"
better tighten the reins on your bosses
q little an be sorter keerful whar you
drive"
II hain't afeard of Sim Banks"
You better be if you git to lettin
your tongue run on Loueesy'
Il hain't said nary a word about
Loueesy, have IP'
"Waal, mebby not exactly"
"But will say this, Pap Sampson.
wouldn't want no wife OF mine meetin
that Teller out in the woods an standin
a-talkin to him, with him a-holt of her
hands"
You mean to say, Sam Morgan, that
Loueesy Banks done that?"
81 amt calm no names, Pap Samp-
son, but reckon most anybody ort to
see through a board il it's got a auger
hole in it"
The men exchanged q surprised
glance, but for a little while no one
spoke. Finally, however, Hicks broke
the pause.
SAM" he said, "have you been seem
that Melvin an some woman doin like
you said?"
"'Thout mentionin no names, Jake,
I'm bound to say have"
when was IL, an wharf"
"Yisteddy evenin. right down here in
Sim Banks own piece of timber land"
Tell us all bout 1t, won't your
There was a concerted hitching Of
chairs up closer around Sam, and a
hush almost as still as death fell over
the little group. There was little, very
little, of excitement or interest in the
lives OF the citizens of Postum Ridge,
and when anything strange or out of
the common did happen they liked to
make the most of it and enjoy it to the
fullest possible extent
Then, too, in this instance, they scent
ed something in the way of scandal,
and that made them all the more eager
listeners. Unsophisticated and simple
as they were, they possessed that insa-
table curiosity and that morbid love of
the unsavory which are not altogether
things apart from the lives OF many of
the more cultured.
Sam Morgan, finding himself the CEN
ter Of an eager group who waited with
open mouths for him to speak, felt his
Importance, and it was excusable in
him that he remained silent for little
while to enjoy the situation. 1t was
not every day he could occupy a posi-
ton like that, and 1t was very natural
that he should desire to make the most
oft.
But glorying in a triumph, even such
triumph as that, cannot last forever.
SO finally Sam condescended to speak.
I'D been out a-huntin, he began
"an, comm long up across sim Banks
timber land, 1 felt sorter tired an
lowed I thoughts we'll set down an
rest bit. So turned out of the path
an went few steps out to that big tree
what Pap Sampson told us he shot six
squirrels out Of at one time when he
was young Teller. You all mind bout
that tree, reckon"
They all nodded assent. Then Pap
Sampson spoke.
at was seven squirrels, Sam, std of
six"
you said six last time you told bout
it." Sam replied. 81 mind that most
distinctly"
can five time before that" Jason
Roberts added. Lord, reckon it'll be
eight next time Pap tells that story"
WAL, don't squirrels naturally null
tiply an increasep Pap asked.
mot dead uns don't" Jason replied.
WAL, thar was seven squirrels If
thar was one-I mind counted 'em
both before 1 killed 'em afterward-
seven squirrels settin long on a limb
all In row, with all their heads turn
ed the same way. drawed up my old
rife an tuck aim at the head of the
nigbdest to me an banged away. I'm
agine my surprise when all seven of
them squirrels come a-tumblin out of
that tree an fell in a pile on the ground,
that bullet havin gone clean through
ever one of their heads"
can then gone on an killed a wild
turkey over in another tree" Jason
added.
"Waal, yes, that's allus been my
opinion" Pap admitted, 'but thar was
another feller shot his gun off at the
same time, an he lowed he killed the
turkey. But, as you was a-sayin. Sam,
you tuck few steps out to that tree
can sot down behind it in the shade"
Sam resumed. I'D been a-settin thar
bout ten minutes, / guess--don't low