The Detroit times., 1911-10-16
Ole d.
PPODIGAL JUDGE M
ENTHUSIASTICALLY GVlvl ~
VAUGHAN HESTER GAWNZNG
n

Captain Murrell gave Il TO me-"
II consecrate myself TO his destruc-
toni Judge Slocum Price can not be
humiliated with impunityl"
Il should think you would save your
wind, Price, until you'd waddled out
OF danger!" Mahaffy spoke gruffly.
How are you going TO get me out
OF this, Solomon--for ! suppose you
are here TO break jail for me" said
the Judge.
We'll. Price. guess all We can do
Is to go bnck TO town and see II
can get into my cabin--fve got an old
saw there. II | can find II. l can
come again tomorrow night and cut
away one of the logs, or the cleats OF
the door"
In Heavens name. do that tonight.
solomon implored the Judge. why
procrastinate?"
Price. there's pack OF dogs In
this neighborhood. and we must have
a full night 10 move In. or they'll pull
US down before we've gone ten miles!"
You're right Solomon: I'd forgot
ten the dogs"
Mahaffy closed and fastened the
shutter, then he and Hannibal stole
across the clearing and entered the
woods. The judge went TO bed He
was aroused by the arrival of lis
breakfast. which the sheriff brought
about s o'clock.
We'll, IL was In your boots I
couldn't sleep like you!" remarked
that Official admiringly. But | reck-
on, sir, this amt the first time the
penitentiary has stared you In the
face"
1t was nearing the noon hour when
the judges solitude was again invad.
ed. He first heard the distant MUIR
muir OF voices on the road and passed
an uneasy and restless ten minutes.
with his eye TO crack In the door. He
was soothed and treasured. however.
when at last he caught sight of the
sheriff
Well, judge. | got company for
you, cried the sheriff cheerfully. as
he threw open the door. "A boss
thief"
He pushed into the building a man,
hatless and coatless, with a pair OF
pal2 villainous eyes and a tobacco
stained chin. The Judge viewed the
newcomer with disfavor AS for the
horse-thief. he gave his companion in
misery coldly critical stare. seated
himself on the stool, and with quite
nerce air devoted all his energy to
mastihcation. He neither altered his
position nor changed his expression
until he and the Judge were alone,
then. catching the judges eye, he
made what seemed a casual move
ment with his hand, the three fingers
raised; but to the judge this clearly
was without significance. and the
horse-thief manifested no further In
terest where he was concerned. He
did not even condescend 70 answer
the one or two civil remarks the Judge
addressed to him.
As the long afternoon wore itself
away, the Judge lived through the
many stages Of doubt and uncertainty,
for suppose anything had happened to
Mahaffy!
Standing before the window, the
Judge watched the last vestige or
light fade from the sky and the stars
appear. Would Mahaffy come? The
suspense was intolerable, Suddenly
out of the silence sounded a long
drawn whistle. Three times II was
repeated. The horse-thief leaped to
his feet.
"Neighbor. that means mel" he
cried.
The moon was rising now, and by
its light the Judge saw a number OF
horsemen appear on the edge OF the
woods. They entered the clearing,
picking their way among the stumps
without haste or confusion. When
- 10 hof fox mt
ed: the rest continued on about the
jail or cantered or toward the. road.
Look out inside. there!" cried
voice, and log. was dashed against
the door: once-twice-it rose and
fell on the clapboards. and under
those mighty thuds grew up a wide
gap through which the moonlight
streamed splendidly. The horse-thief
stepped between the dangling cleats
and vanished.
The Judge tossed away the stool. He
understood now. With a confident.
not to say jaunty step, the judge
emerged from the jail.
your servant, gentlemen" he
said, lifting his hat.
cit" said one OF the men briefly,
and the Judge moved nimbly away
toward the woods.
Now to find Solomon and the boy,
and then to put the miles between
himself and Pleasantville with all
diligence. As he thought this. almost
at his elbow Mahafy and Hannibal
rose from behind fallen long. The
Yankee motioned for silence and
pointed west.