Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-12-19

ened. Something was to happen at
sunup-he could not recall what II
was to be, though he distinctly remem.
bered that Mahaffy had spoken of this
very matter - Mahaffy. the austere
and implacable, the disembodied con-
science whose fealty to duty had
somehow survived his own spiritual
ruin so that he had become a sort Of
moral sign-post, ever pointing the way
yet never going It himself.
The Judge lay still and thought
deeply as the light intensified itself.
What was 1t that Mahaffy had said he
was to do at sun-upeaThe very hour
accented his suspicious. Probably It
was no more than some cheerless OBJ
legation to be met, or Mahaffy would
not have been 50 concerned about It..
Eventually he decided to refer every
thing to Mahaffy. He spoke his
friends name weakly and In shaking
,, voice, but received no awnser.
"Solomon!" he repeated. and shift
ing his position, looked in what should
have been the direction OF the shake
down bed his friend occupied: Neither
the bed nor Mahaffy were there. The
Judge gasped-he wondered II this
were not a premonition Of certain
Authorizations to which he was not
stranger. Then all in a flash he re-
membered Fentress and the meeting
at Boggs', something Of how the even
ing had been spent, and a spasm OF re-
greet shook him..
II had other things to think Of. This
must never happen!" he told himself
remorsefully. L.
| He was wide-awake now. Doubtless
Pegloe had put him to bed. Well, that
had been thoughtful Of Pegloe-he
would not not forget hin-the city
tavern should continue to enjoy his
patronage. It would be something for
/ Pegloe to boast Of that Judge Slocum
Price Turberville always made his
phase his headquarters when IN
Raleigh. Feeling that he had already
conferred wealth and distinction on
the fortunate Pegloe the Judge thrust
his fat legs over the side Of his bed
and stood erect. STOPPING he reached
for his clothes. He confidently ex-
pected to find them on the, floor, but
! his hand merely swept an uncarpeted
waste. The Judge was profoundly as
tonished.
h Maybe I've got 'em on, I don't re-
call taking them of! he thought hope
fully. He moved uncertainty In the
direction Of the window where the
light showed him his own. bare. ex-
tremities. He reverted to his original
idea that his clothes were scattered
about the floor.
He was beginning to experience q
great sense of haste, 1t was two miles
to Boggs' and Fentress would be there
at slln-up. Finally he abandoned his
quest of the missing garments and
turned to the door. To say that he was
amazed when he found It locked would
have most inadequately described his
emotions. Breathing deep, he fell back
step or two. and then with all the
vigor he could muster launched him
self at the door. But 1t resisted him.
| "It's bolted on the other side!" he
muttered,, the full measure Of Pegloe's
perfidy revealing itself to his mind.
He was aghast twas plot to dis
credit him. Pegloe's hospitality had
been inspired by his enemy for Peg
Hoe was Fentress' tenant IA I
| Again he attacked the door; he be-
lieved 1T might be possible TO force 1t
from its hinges, but Pegloe had done
his work too we'll for that. and at last.
spent and breathless, the Judge
dropped down on the edge OF his bed
to consider the situation. He was with
/ out clothes and he was prisoner. yet
his mind rose splendidly to meet the
difficulties that beset him. His great
l ~ ~ w q
appeared to be only season Of des-
pair. He armed himself with three.
legged stool he had found and turned
i once more to the door, but the stout
planks stood firm under his blows.
| "I!nless get out of here in time I'm
a ruined mani" thought the Judge.
After this Fentress will refuse to
meet me-"
The window next engaged his atten-
iton. That, too, Pegloe had taken the
precaution to fasten, but a single
savage blow Of the stool shattered
glass and sash and left an empty space
that framed the dawn's red glow. The
Judge looked out and shook his head
obviously. It was twelve feet or more
ITO the ground. a risky drop for gen.
| tleman Of his years and build. The
Judge considered making rope Of
his bedding and lowering himself to
the ground by means Of 1t, he remem-
bered to have read of captives in that
interesting French prison. the Bastile,
who did this. However, an equally in
genious but much more simple use for
his bedding occurred to him; 1t would
form soft and yielding substance on
which to alight He gathered 1t up into
his arms, feather tick and all, and
pushed it through the window, then he
wriggled out across the ledge, feet
first, and lowering himself to the full
llenght Of his arms, dropped. s;
4 He landed squarely on the rolled-up
bed with jar that shook him to his
center. Almost gaily he snatched up
quilt, draping 1t about him after the
manner of Roman toga, and thus
lightly habited, started across Mr..
Pegloe's truck-patch, his one thought
Boggs and the sun. 1t would have
served no purpose to have gone home,
since his entire wardrobe, except for
tho shirt m hia ha clx WAS in tho