The Washington herald., 1911-10-21
THE PRODIGAL JUDGE
By VAUGHAN KESTER a Company

| Murrell went to bed reasonably drunE
| he would sleep late and give him the
| opportunity he coveted. TO quit the tav,
ern unnbserved at break of day.
When yo get to feelin' like sleep
young boss. Mas'r Slosson he says
show yo' to yo' chamber" 1t was Slos
sons boy Eph.
Yes; you can show me my chamber. e
he said.
Eph secured a tin candlestick with I
| half-burnt candle IN il and led the way
into the passage hack of the bar
They mounted a flight Of stairs and
passed down a narrow hall This brought
them to the back Of the building. and
Eph pushed open the door on his right
This heahs yo' chamber" he said.
and preceding his companion into the
| room, placed the candle on a chair.
The moon was rising and Hannibal
went to the open window and glanced
out. For a moment he considered the
night. not unaffected by its beauty. theu.
turning from the window, he moved his
bundle and rifle to the foot OF the bed,
where they would be out of his way,
kicked off his trousers, blew out the can
die and lay down.
Yancy had become more and more con-
vinced as the evening passed that Muir
rell was bent on getting him drunk, and
suspicion mounted darkly to his brain.
Have a drink with me-" cried Slos-
son, giving way TO drunken laughter.
The captains dropped out, and I low
it's about time TO these here festivities
to come 70 an end. I'm thinking some
of going to bed myself" said Yapcy. He
kept his eyes fixed on Murrell. He real
lied that if the latter could prevent 1t he
was not to leave the bar. He never
shifted his glance from Murrelrs face.
scowling now, the captains eyes blazed
back their challenge as he thrust his
right hand under his coat. Fair play
l don't know who you are, but I know
what you want" said Yancy the light
in his frank gray eyes deepening. Muir
rell laughed and took forward step. At
the same moment Slosson snatched UP
heavy club from the back OF the bar and
dealt Yancy a murderous blow. A single
startled cry escaped the Scratch Hitler;
he struck out wildly as he lurched to-
ward Murrell, who drew his knife and
drove II into his shoulder. Yancy
dropped heavily to the floor.
How long the boy slept he never knew,
but he awoke with a start and con-
fused sense of things. 1t was evidently
very late, probably long after midnight
but where was his Uncle Bob?
He sank back on his pillow intent and
A chilling terror that gripped
him fast and would not let him go,
to his brain.
Where was his Uncle Bob? Why didn't
he come to bed? Memories Of idle tales
Of men foully dealt with In these lonely
flashed through his mind
He slid from the bed, and for long
stood cold and shaking, his
every sense on the alert. With infinite
caution he got into his trousers and
again paused to listen since he feared
his least movement might betray him. |
Next he secured his pack, and was ready |
for flight.
Ineumbered by HIS belongings, but with |
no mind to sacrifice them, he stepped |
out upon the shed and made his way |
down the slant Of the roof to the caves. |
He tossed his bundle to The g-ound, and, |
going down on his knees, lowered his |
Fihe, letting the muzzle fall lightly |
against the side Of the she's a. Il left |
his hand. then he lay nat on ais Atouaseh