Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1901-07-06
CHAPTER Xxx.
PAP SAMPSON AS A FRIEND.


the whole world says he did, and 1
don't care what proof there is against
him, say Sim Banks never commit
ted such a crime as murderr'
That's what he didn't, Loueesy,"
and Pap Sampson stepped to the wo-
mans side, thumped his cane firmly
against the ground and faced the 9TH
ers defantly. Il say it, Jim Thorn,
an I say 1t openly an aboveboard, an
I'll continue to say it till the last day
in the evenin, Sim Banks never took
that mans life"
Louisa turned a grateful look on the
old man, and the tears started to her
eyes
Thank you, Pap. with my whole
heart" she said. Its a comfort to
know that Sim has one true friend in
all the world who will stand up In his
defense to the last
An will stand up for him, Loueesy.
AS long as there's breath Of life in
my body III defend Sim Banks against
all the world. because 1 know he's an
innocent man."
Jim Thorn stood with his head bent
and his gaze fixed on the ground He
made no reply to anything Louisa or
Pap said. Perhaps, for all that. he
may have been honest in his expressed
belief in Sims guilt. There were 9th
ers there who were. They could scarce
ly be blamed under the circumstances.
You and I know Sim is innocent"
Louisa said, laying her hand on Pap's
arm, "even If all the world believes
he's guilty"
I'VE do" Pap replied but we are
not alone, Loueesy. Thar's others here
who blieve Sim is innocent"
Louisa shook her head.
but thar is" Pap insisted. Sam
Morgan, you b'lieve It, don't your
Sans head dropped, and after hest
tating a moment he turned and walked
slowly away. II needed no words TO
tell what he thought. Pap was disap-
pointed, but he said:
"Never mind, Loueesy. Sam Morgan
is honest, and he can't help his opin-
Ions. Thar's one here, though. know
is with us. Jason Roberts. you don't
b'lieve Sim Banks is guilty. do your
Jason, too, dropped his head and hes
itated, but he replied:
81 wish, Pap" he said in low tones,
''that you hadn't asked me that. 1
don't want to tell you the truth, and
can't tell you lie."
Pap said no more. Two such keen
disappointments were enough. Be
sides, If those two men were not
friendly TO Sim, where should he look
for one who was?
The action OF Sam and Jason cut
70 h.I
among Sims nearest friends, and II
anybody could believe In his innocence
certainly they could.
"Come, Loueesy," Pap said. "This is
not the place for you. Let me take you
TO my home. You'll find n true friend
In Mirandy, an mebby she'll do you
good.
Louisa took Pap's arm and walked
away with him. For some time after
they were both silent, but there was
something occupying Pap's mind
There was something he wanted TO
say, but he was at loss for words to
express himself as he felt he should 1t
was matter that to him was very
delicate, and TO breach it without Civ
ing offense seemed no easy task. But
finally he ventured TO begin 10y saying:
"Loueesy, you know I'm your friend
an that 1 want to do everything for
you can an tina, wouldn't knowingly
DO nary a thing TO hurt you for nothin
on earth. You b'lieve that, don't you?"
Il do, Pap. believe every word you
say. Do you know before Sim went
away he wrote note and left it for
me, and in that note he said, IF you
ever need friend, go to Pap Sampson
He said I could trust you and depend
on you"
Lord! Did Sim write that away
bout me?" and Pap's face fairly beam
ed with pleasure.
HE did,
MY land, amt that quaire now?
Who'd ever "a thought of Sim writin
like that bout old no count scrub
like me? Waal, waalr'
''Sim thought a great deal of you,
Pap, more than he thought of anybody
else
''You don't say SOP
'EYes, do. And it's true too"
"Waal, wal! Who'd "a thought sich
a thing? A old played out plug like me,
too-my, my! But l allus liked Sim. He
was a pow'ful fine Teller, Sim was, an
good, honest Teller too. An Sim told
you to come to me? Waal, 1 swami
"But I didn't have to come to you,
did /? You came to me-"
THAT'S QUaire, too, amt It? But it's
all right, an now we understand each
other, don't we?"
"I understand. that Sim was right
about you"
Il hope so, Loueesy, hope so. And
now I was jest a-thinkin bout some
thin that sorter felt like ort to men
ton, but ylt didn't know exactly"
What is it, Papa"
''I dunno. Loueesy. I'm most afeerd
I'll hurt your feelin's."
mo; speak out. / know you mean to
do that which is right
'Then it is about Melvin. You see,
we know all that bout you an him, an
, thought-you see, l don't know, OF