Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1901-06-01
CHAPTER MI.
i RASH THREAT.

Pap Sampson, coming down the
street from the store. saw a woman
dressed in musty black leave his house
as he approached and walk away In
the opposite direction Her head was
bent, and her attitude and movement
gave unmistakable evidence that she
was in deep trouble.
As Pap entered the yard Mrs. Samp-
son appeared IN the open front door. a
look Of troubled anxiety on her wrin-
killed.. homely. but kind old face.
"SIirandy." Pap said eagerly. want
that the widder Mann that Jest went
out?"
Mrs. Sampson nodded.
Il thought 1t was Pap went on.
though | want clost enough to see
her face. Somethln wrong with her.
amt theyg"
THE pore critters in a peck OF trou-
ble." Mrs. Sampson answered.
I'D say't!" Pap exclaimed thought
fully. "Humph! All along Of what
folks are a-sayin OF her an Sim Banks,
l reckon
WAL. it's along OF that, Pap. but
not bout that exactly. You know she's
got piece of wheat down on her farm.
an It's ripe and needs cuttin."
"waalT'
An 1t pears lack she'd made a trade
. with Sim good spell ago to cut It for
her on the sheers"
: 'She did. NHrandy. I was a witness
TO the trade, an I mind II well"
WAL. now, becus OF all the talk
that's a-gwine bout. Sim he's backed
out an won't tech that wheat"
why. wonderl"
''Becus he says II he did it'd give
more color to what folks are a-sayin."
An it would. too, Mirandy: 1t would
shore"
SO, not havln no money to live with
an not bein able to make no trade with
nobody else. Mary Mann is plumb nj
the end OF her row, an she don't know
which way TO turn"
Naturally she would be. MIrandy.
Yes. sir-ee-' Pap paused for quite
awhile, during which time he chewed
his tobacco vigorously. showing that
he was engaged I'm earnest thought.
Then he added slowly: "Yes, stree!
Naturally she would be; atrally she
would be-"
Cant you see no way out for her
Pap" Mrs. Sampson asked.
Il was jest a-thinkin. AIirandy.
hain't no great admiration for Mary
Mann, an | guess thar amt many as
has. but for all that she's woman. an
wilder woman at that. Wonder when
her wheatll do to cut"
"Tomorry, she said
WAL, IL won't nigh do TO let that
wheat go to waste: so, as thar don't
seem to be nothin else for It. / guess |
better go out this evenin an gather up
n handful OF men an take 'em over
thar tomorry an cut IL for her"
Mrs. SIMPSONS face frightened Mt
once. She was one of those great soul
ed plain people who can never bear 20
see any one In trouble without want
ing TO move heaven and earth TO re-
lieve his distress
Are You shore you can git the men
to goE" she asked.
Lord. yes, Yes, stree, Thar's ia
son Roberts. Jason an me has il up
an down sometimes, an | reckon the
chief enjoyment OF his life is to take
sides ag'in me in everything / saw; but.
my land, that amt nothln, an when IL
comes right down to the pinch Jason
VIII sw'ar by me. Yes; Jasonu go an
, Sam Morgan an EbeneZer Sparks an n
I lot of the others"
! DO you reckon they won't want to
! charge her for their work. thought"
Lord, Mirandy, you don't know
! them fellers shorely! Charge Il woman.
! an wiider woman at that. for helpin
her out OF pinch. Land. You jest
; let Mary Mann give us good dinner.
! an Wen have all the pay we want.
I Wen even go to the length Of furnish
in our jug Of liquor if we can git a boy
! TO so to the still after 1t. an guess we
! shorely can"
! Zap Sampson was buster that after
noon than he had been for a long time
| He hunted around till he found six
| good men TO accompany him to Mrs
Mann's farm. Then he hunted up era
| dies. and last Int not least he hunted
a boy TO so after jug Of whisky.
thought jest as well try to git long
| without cradles as without jug OF
liquor" he said to himself as he potter
4 - NN''AiA~ tNSA lllIiS III TeHUl~
ness "A getherin without q Jug
wouldn't be no getherin at ALL"
Pap was in great spirits the next
morning when he marshaled his force
into the wheatfeld and got the cradles
to going. He hOrped about as spry as n
boy and gave orders like general. He
even gra. ped cradle and prepared TO
lead the way with the first swath. but
Jason took the cradle out of his hands
and wouldn't let him.
mo, Pap" Jason said. eve can't
have that Thar's plenty of us younger
men here. You jest set down in the
shade somewhar an take it easy"
Pap fiared up with resentment in an
Instant.
"Me set down in the shader' he cried.
Have you got notion, Jason Roberts.
that I'm so no count an played out as
an that?'
"Why, Lord. Pap. OF course mott" ia.
SON replied. Il didn't say nothin like
that, did I?"2 .
Nor you better not say nothin Ike