Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1901-06-15
CHAPTER XIV.
"1'I.I DO NY n1-rN. >,

SILL DO My DUTY"
Sure enough, as Jacob Hicks had
predicted, a circular came bearing the
Information that one Frank Shelton
was wanted 10y the authorities Of an
other county and that a liberal reward
would be paid for his arrest The de-
scription of Shelton as given in the cir
cular htted 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 were 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
PEELED to let him into the secret on ac-
count Of his being the township con-
stable, for when il 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. lis as plain as
the ears on n mule. Thar amt a 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 Td
like for some of you to make clear to
me-"
They all exchanged an inquiring
glance, but no one spoke. II was evil
dent that none OF them had any very
well defined ideas as TO what would be
the proper course for them 20 pursue.
When the pause had begun to grow
awkward, Jason Roberts broke il 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 teliT'
''Of course il does" Jason replied.
Didn't you read it?"
''Not all Of it. 1 didn't. 1 never read
nothin bout that"
what was the feller's name, JakeT"
Jason asked. I've done clean forgot"
"Marchand." Hicks replied.
Fright putty name, amt itT' Jason
observed. "Rale high soundln, too.
like it might belong to some of them
way up kind or people"
"'Tis Shore" Sam agreed, 'an bet
he was n good sort OF Teller too"
-
81 dunno nothin bout that, though"
''No, but 1 bet he was. Wonder
what that Teller killed him for any
howl"
lord, Sam, 1 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 il
was that away or some other"
Must "a been. I bet he Jest got
him down an stabbed him with a
knife"
Il 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,"
Amt 1t. though? Lord, I'd hate aw-
full to be done any SIGH n way"
most as bad to be the Teller that done
1t. My land, don't you know he's
moughty nigh skecred to death al the
time for fear he'll lie ketched an hungy'
''C'ose he is. Then l bet he's ha'nted
too"
ITO be shore he is. I've hearn it
said that when a Teller done n murder
he want never free from n ha'nt no
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 no
complaint. but jest a-keepin its eyes
on him an a-lookln 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 an know l want never goin to
git shet of It no more. My land. I'm
awful glad i amt never killed nobody,
an you bet amt never a-goin to kill
nobody nuther."
Suddenly and Unexpectedly Pap
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'pts," Pap re-
marked, seems 1t amt them things
we uns air specially interested in lest
now. So, If you uns please, We'll talk
bout that Mr.. Melvin"
WAL, if you got your mind made
up to anything, Pap Sampson, lest
speak 1t out" Jason said.
Il have got my mind made I'D to
somethin, Jason ROberts-me an Jake
both has-an if you'll jest listen you
can hear what it is"
I'm a-listenin with all my ears"
WAL, me an Jake has agreed that
the proper thing to do is to arrest that
Teller at once, an accordin we figcer
that Sam best lest 90 over thar 70