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

}& Yes" interrupted HICKS uneaSlly:
put !, pair Of lines In nigger's hands
and he'll run any team off its legs!
An the heritage all scratched up
from bein' thrashed through the
brushes" added Steve. Ia
There's a niger for you!" said
Hicks. "She took the rascal out Of
the field, dressed him like he, was a,
gentleman and 'pampered him up, and
now first chance he gets he runs off!"
"Ah!" said the judge softly. Then
you knew this?'.
"Of course knew-wa'n't it my
business to know? 4 reckon he was
off skylarking, and when he'd seen the
mess he'd made, the trifling fool took
to the woods Well, he catches it
when I lay hands on him."
do you know when and under what
circumstances the team was stabbed,
Mr.. Hicks ?" inquired the Judge.
mo, don't, but / reckon it must
have been along after dark, said
Hicks unwillingly. II seen to the feed
ing just after shutdown like I always
do, then went to supper" Hicks
vouchsafed to explain. ra5
"And no one saw or heard the team
drive in?" r.. ~
mot as know Of" said Hicks.
"Mas'r Ca'ington's done gone off to
get pack of dawgs--he lows hits
might important to find what's come of
George" said Steve. 3
Hicks started violently at this piece
of news.
II reckon he'll have to travel a right
smart distance to find pack of dogs"
he muttered II don't know of none
this side of Colonel Bates down below
Girard." s tx
The Judge was lost in thought. He
permitted an interval of silence to
elapse in which Hicks glance slid
round in furtive circle.
when did Mr.. Ware set out for
Memphis?" asked the Judge at length.
early yesterday. He goes there
pretty often on business" s.t#.
"You talked with Mr.. Ware before
he left?" Hicks nodded. did he
speak of Miss Malroy?" Hicks shook
his head. did you see her during the
afternoon ?" r. 1, -sss.
'No-maybe you think these niggers
amt enough to keep man stirring?
said Hicks uneasily and with a scowl
The Judge noticed both the uneasiness
and the scowl.> "a sz
s'I should imagine they. would absorb
every moment of your time, Mr..
Hicks" he agreed affably. Z
GA mans got to be hog for work
to hold job like NINE" said Hicks
|sourly. S,@@a;5. ~ 3, M. Ell IS ! ;
"But 1t came to your notice that Miss
Malroy has been in a disturbed mental
state ever since Mr.. Norton's murder?
/ am interested In this point, Mr.. Hicks
because your experience is so entirely
at variance with my own, 1t was my
privilege to see and speak with her
yesterday afternoon; l was profoundly
impressed by her naturalness and com
posure." The Judge smiled then he
leaned forward across the desk. What
were you doing up here early this
morning-hasn't a hog for work ike
you got any business of his own at that
hour" The judges tone was sudden
ly offensive.
"Look here, what right have you got
to try and pump me?" cried Hicks.
For no discernible reason Mr.. Cavan-
dish spat on his palms. -s.-I
"Mr. Hicks" said the judge, urbane
and gracious, IT believe in frankness."
Sure agreed Hicks, notified by
the judges altered tone.
wherefore do not hesitate to say
that consider you a damned scoun-
drel!" concluded the Judge.
Mr.. Cayendish. accepting the Judges
ultimatum as. something which must
debar Hicks from all further considera-
ton, and being as he was, exceedingly
active and energetic by nature, If one
passed over the various forms of gain
full industry, uttered loud whoop and
threw himself on the overseer. There
was a brief struggle and Hicks went
down with the Earl of Lambeth astride
Of him; then from his boot leg that
knightly soul flashed horn-handled
ticker Of formidable dimensions.
The Judge Yancy. and Mahaffy,
sprang from their chairs. Mr.. Ma
haffy was plainly shocked at the spec
tacle Of Mr.. Cavendish's lawless vio-
lence. Yancy was disturbed too, but
not by the moral aspects of the case;
he was doubtful as to just how his
friends act would appeal to the judge.
He need not have been distressed on
that score, since the judges one idea
was to profit by it. With his hands on
his knees he was now bending above
the two men,
what do you want to know, Judge?"
cried Cavendish, painting from his ex-
ertions. "I'll learn this parrot to talk
up!'
Hicks" said the Judge, lit is in your
power to tell us few things we are
here to find out" Hicks looked up into
the Judges face and closed his lips
grimly. "Mr Cavendish, kindly let
him have the point of that large knife
where he'll feel it most!' ordered the
Judge. 49,.
"Talk quick" said Cavendish with a
ferocious scowl "Talk--or what's to
hinder me slicing open your woozen %
and he pressed the blade of his knife
against the overseer's throat
don't know anything about Miss
Betty" said Hicks In sullen whisper.
maybe you don't. but what do you
know about the boy?' Hicks was silent
but he was grateful for the judges
question. From Tom Ware he had
learned of FentreSs' interest in the