The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1901-03-21

! Identical words he said to Sim, for
heard him with my own ears. an
guess you heard him. too. Pap"
Il did, Jason. heard him speak
them very words But what OF IT?
Strictly spcakin. damn ain't no cuss
word. an | low preacher mought use
1t In case OF emergency, though 1t
mint Jest proper"
Jim Thorn. who had remained silent
all this time. suddenly broke into the
conversation by rcmariing with the
mir OF one who has convictions and
who IS positive OF their correctness:
You all have had your say about
that man. an now It's time l was hav.
IN mine. Some Of you have rrckonrd
one thing au some OF you have rcck-
onrd another hut none OF you aIn't
rcckoncd right. know what that fcl.
Ter Is. an | stand ready to bet hoss
on IT,"
"What are the word you lows to
speak. Jim Thorn" Pap Sampson ask
ed contcmptuously. "if you knows so
much about it?'
"l'hc word | low to speak Is Jest
this. Pap Sampson, an you all will see
It nrc II true word if you live long
enough: That man ain't nothin more
nor less than Il rascal hldin out from
the law. That's the word | speak. al
it's II word I'll stand to If it kills me-"
There was Il moment OF hrcathlcSs
silence while the people looked from
one to another, and nobody noticed
that one OF the company colorcd and
after shooting Il contcmptuous glance
at Jim Thorn turned her face away.
That one person was Louise. the young
and beautiful wife Of Sim Banks, tho
man who had fled before the advance
OF herd OF cattle.
Tho people OF I'rckcttS Mill were
like the rest OF humanity in that they
were more ready to believe i'll Of Il fcl.
low creature than they were to believe
good Of him. For this reason the ma.
iorlty Of those present fell at once in
with Jim Thorn's idea and proceeded
to announce their belief that he was
right.
10 be sure, Pap Sampson shook his
head and thumpcd the earth with his
cane and stoutly maintained that he
was correct. So did Jason Roberts
contend that he was right. Those two
men had taken positions, and they felt
that it waS incumbent on them to main.
tain them, and nothing short Of abSo.
lutte conviction would induce them to
reccdc So much as Il hairs breadth.
With the others. however, it was diff.
fcrcnt.
''Lord. l reckon Jim Thorn is shore
right!' Hicks said, breaking the pause.
YcS, stree! Come to think Of 1t, had
,Nr ,l-,,>
fcler was here that he want Jest OK.
actly plumb straight
81 noticed" observed another, chat
he had sort Of an uneasy look about
the eye, like he was Slieercd that he
mou-ht bc overlook an ketched up.
Didn't none OF you uns notice that?"
Lord. | reckon | did" another re-
piled, IAN | mind most distinctly that
he didn't appear to act a bit natral. 1t
flashed over me in q minute that thar
was sOmcthIn wrong about him some
way"
'ShuckS" exclaimed n third. ~ seed
through that feller the very minute
clappcu my eyes on him, an ! knowed
as we'll rs If he'd told me that he was
hidm from the law. I wouldn't never
| else ha dn't n amcntioned it fust."
Jim Thorn listened In silence to all
these men. Il cold, incrcdulous smile on
| his face and look Of contempt shining
| In his eyes. He knew that every one
Of them was uttering Il positive false.
| hood and that not one OF them had
thought OF Jim Melvin as rascal and
Il fugitive from justice until lie had
| suggested 1t.
"Wonder what that chaps been up to
now some one said after a pause,
THAT he's had to take to hidin out this
AWAY"
"I.ord, | hope he ain't been an killed
nobody" Hicks remarked. with Il shud.
der, "hut like enough that's Jest what
hes done"
"Or 1t may be that he's stolcd boss
or Somethin." another added. II reck.
OH he's most mean enough to do any
Thing judgin by his looks"
cor he mought "a robbed n bank. for
all we know. Land, like as not he's
got a bushcl OF money hid about him
somcwlar."
These were all merely surmiScs on
the part OF the speakers. for none Of
| lHcln knP" tnlllS on cNftn aDOul
James Melvin. 1t IS strange, however.
how near 10 the truth II mere Surmise
may somctimcs draw. That James
Mclyin was II fugitive from the law
was fact and that some OF the other
surmiscS Smnckcd strongly of the truth
| were also facts.
All at once at this point the attention
OF the villagers was drawn away from
James Melvin and fixed on another
subject. Mrs. Sparks had come dash.
Ing in among them. her face pale and
haggard and her eyes wet with tears.
'Whar's my old mani" she cried
"Whar's EbcncZcr? IIain't none Of
you uns seed nothn OF him? Oh, my
Lord"
Not until this moment had any one
noticed that EbcncZcr Sparks was alb,
sent, and consequently nobody was in
Il position to cnlightcn his other half
| as to his whereabouts. Mrs. Sparks
looked eagerly from face to face. then
broke forth I'm hcartrcndIng lamcnta.