Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-12-29

INJURED, breathing deep. "A week o.
this would have broken my .spirit!'
IF you can, Price, you'd better
come feet first, suggested Mahaffy.
Not sufficiently acrobatic, Solomon
its heads or I lose!" said the judge
He thrust his shoulders into th'
opening and wriggled outward. Sud
denly his forward movement was ar
rested.
II was afraid of that" he said, witt
rather piteous smile. cts my stom
ach, Solomon!" Mahaffy seized hin
by the shoulders with lean muscular
hands. Pull" cried the judge
hoarsely.
But Mahaffy's vigorous efforts fail
ed to move him.
. "I guess you're stuck. Price,
Get your wind. Solomon" urged
the Judge, land then If Hannibal
will reach up and work about my mid
die with his knuckles while you pull
I may get through" But even this
expedient failed. "Do you reckon you
can get me back? I should not care
to spend the night SOL" said the judge
He was purple and painting.
Lets try you edgewise!" And Ma
haffy pushed the judge into the jail
again.
mo, said the judge, after another
period of resolute effort on his part
and on the part of Mahaffy. "Provi-
dence has been kind to me in the past
but it's clear she didn't have me In
mind when they cut this hole"
well, Price, l guess all we can do
is to go back to town and see If l
can get into my cabin-Ive got an
old saw there. II can find 1t. can
come again tomorrow night and cut
away one of the logs. or the cleats of
the door.
I'm Heavens name. do that tonight.
Solomon!" implored the judge. why
procrastinate?"
Price, there's a pace of dogs in this
neighborhood, and we must have n
full night to move in, or they'll pull
us down before we've gone ten miles,"
The judge groaned.
You're right, Solomon; I'd forgot
ten the dogs" and he groaned again.
Mahaffy closed and fastened the
shutter, then he and Hannibal stole
across the clearing and entered the
woods. The judge flung off his clothes
and went to bed, determined, to sleep
away as many hours as possible. He
was only aroused by the arrival Of his
breakfast, which the sheriff brought
about eight o'clock.
well. If was in your boots I
couldn't sleep like you!" remarked
that official admiringly. But 1 reck-
on. sir, this amt the first time the
| Benitentiary has stared you in the
face"
Then you reckon wrong" said the
judge sententiously, as he hauled on
his trousers.
"No?-you needn't hurry none. I'll
get them dishes when I fetch your
dinner" he added, as he took his
leave.
A little later the blacksmith appear
ed and fitted three iron bars to the
window.
II reckon that'll hold you, old fell
ler!" he observed pleasantly.
He was disposed to linger. since he
was interested in the mechanical
means employed in the making Of
counterfeit money and thirsted for
knowledge at first hand. Also, he had
in his possession a one-dollar bill
which had come to him in the way Of
trade and which local experts had de-
clared to be a spurious production.
He passed it in between the bars and
demanded the judges opinion Of it as
though he were the first authority in
the land But he went no wiser than
he came.
1t was nearing the noon hour when
the judges solitude was again invad-
ed. He first heard the distant mur-
muir Of voices on the road and passed
an uneasy and restless ten minutes,
with his eye to a crack in the door.
He was soothed and treasured, how
ever, when at last he caught sight Of
the sheriff.
We'll, judge, got company for
you," cried the sheriff cheerfully, as
he threw open the door. "A hoss-
thief"
He pushed into the building a man,
hatless and coatless, with a pair of
pale villainous eyes and tobacco
stained chin. The judge viewed the
newcomer with disfaror. AS for the
horse thief, he gave his companion in
misery a coldly critical stare, seated
himself on the stool, and with quite a
fierce air devoted all his energy to
mastication. 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 movement with
his hand, the three fingers raised; but
to the judge this clearly was without
Significance, and the horse thief mani
tested no further interest where he
was concerned. He did not even con-
descend to answer the one or two civil
remarks the judge addressed to him.
AS the long afternoon wore itself
away, the judge lived through the
lmany stages of doubt and uncertainty,
for suppose anything had happened to
Mahaffy! When the sheriff came with
his supper he asked him If he had been
or heard of his friend.
Judge, l reckon he's lopin' on yet.
| never saw a man Of his years run as
well as he done-it was inspirin' how
he got over the ground" answered
the sheriff. Then he attempted con-
versation with the horse thief, but was
Isavagely cursed for his pains. We'll,
l don't envy you your company none,
sir" he remarked as he took leave
Iof the judge.
Standing before the window, the
judge watched the last vestige of
light fade from the sky and the stars