Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1901-06-01

what anybody else thinks"
"She don't. Sim. I'm tellln you the
Gods truth. She don't. An now we've
said enough for this time. so les 60 on
home"
But Sim did not move, and be had
become deeply thoughtful. After lit
| tie he said:
81 don't know what |. had best do.
This is all so new an unexpected to
me that can't jest see my way clear
If stop here, I'll be arrested"
In his excitement Pap Sampson had
forgotten this. but he knew it was true.
If Sims presence in the village became
known. he would certainly be arrested,
and then the gallows, or at least the
state prison. would no doubt await
him.
"You had better hide somewhere un-
til night" be said anxiously. then go
away again. That is the best you can
do now."
But Sim deliberated a long time, then
said slowly:
Maybe you're right. Pap, but don't
know. A body may as we'll be dead
or in prison as to be q wanderer on
the earth. with neither home nor
friends an always in dread Of some
thin. No matter what anybody says
or thinks. I'm innocent"
81 know it. Sim: know It," Pap said
assuringly. But. then, courts mebby
won't see as we do"
Maybe not, Pap" Sim replied aftef
q pause, but I'm innocent, an I'm goin
to stay"
But think. Sim, of -
81 have thought Of it all, Pap. I'm
goin to stay an face it out"
Then Sims companion, who had lis.
tened intently all this while, spoke up
again. Laying his hand on Sims arm,
he said earnestly:
"And you'll never be hurt, Sim. New.
er so much as hair of your head shall
be touched"
Pap Sampson looked at the speaker
doubtfully.
"How do you know that" he asked.
"It doesn't matter how l know it,"
the other answered. Il know 1t, and
that is enough"
"Who are you. an what do you
know bout this AFFAIR."" Pap ques-
toned.
"My name Is Thompson, and l am
Sim Banks friend. I have been his
friend since that day he saved my
life at the risk Of his own"
THAT was nothin." Sim said. ANY
body would have done all did,"
Anybody would have rushed into
that hail Of shot and shell after our
men had retreated and carried q
wounded comrade off the battlefield
to save him from the enemy? You'll
never make me believe any such thing.
Nobody can ever make me believe
that there's another man in the world
besides Sim Banks who was brave
enough to have done it."
"My Lord. .Toe. I'd been brute If l
hadn't done it." Sim protested. "a
plumb cowardly brute. You make too
much over Il little no count thing like
that
ut may seem Of no account to you,
but 1t doesn't to me. can tell you.
guess it didn't seem so to the men who
saw it either. judging from the way
they cheered you. Why. even the ene-
my chccrcd.
81 didn't hear It," Sim said.
"No. you were too busy trying to get
me out Of that awful place. guess
YOU didn't even hear the bullets whiz.
zing round your head like swarm Of
bees?"
81 didn't"
"Well. | heard them. you can just
bet. 1t was just like hailstorm bro
ken loose. know I thought every
second we'd both be killed, and can't
understand why we weren't. l begged
you to leave me and save yourself If
you could. and you wouldn't do it,
"Oh, waal, Joe, les let that alone.
I'm plumb tired Of hearin Of that fool
thing. 1t amt worth kickin up so
much fuss about"
"Well, that's just your opinion, Sim.
Other people see it differently. Then
there is the way you looked after me
for weeks while l was In hospital. No
father, no brother, my own mother
even, could not have been more care
full of me. l remember it all, Sim, and
I'll never forget it as long as | live
"Waal, that's all right, Joe," Sim
said, "but I'm tired an hungry. so les
not say no more but go along OF Pap.
I'll 90 to his house an rest bit. Then
I'll 90 an give myself up"
you'll not give yourself up this day
nor this night, Sim Pap announced
fatty. you'll have one good rest first
If l know myself, an I'm most shore
do, for if they git you into Jail you
won't have no rest thar"
"No, but it's all right, Pap. I'm re-
signed to take whatever comes, an
reckon it don't matter much what 1t
is. I amt got anything to live for no
more nohow, an I'd jest as well be
dead as not"
"But you'll never be hurt, Sim," the
other said. Don't you think it. Not
hair of your head shall be touched"
Pan SamOson looked WOnderingly AZ