Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-12-12
CHAPTER TX.
JUDGE Slocum Price.

and seen at SloSSOn Tavern. "Oi
than this, there was his terrible sense
of loss, and the grief he could NOT
master, when his thin, little body was
shaken by sobs. Marking the course
of the road westward, he chung to the
woods. where his movements were as
stealthy- as the very shadows them
selves. He Stunned the scattered
farms and the infrequent settlements
for the fear was strong with him that
he might be followed either by Muir
rell or Slosson. But as the dusk OF
evening crept across the land, the
great woods, now peopled by strange
shadows, sent him forth into the high
road. He was beginning to be very
tired, and hunger smote him with
fierce pangs, but back Of 1t all was
his sense of bitter loss, his desolation
and his loneliness.
"I couldn't forget Uncle Bob II l
tried" he told himself with CULVER
ing lips, as he limped wearily along
the dusty road, and the tears weiled
up and streaked his pinched face
Now before him he saw the scattered
lights of settlement. All his terrors'
the terrors that grouped themselves
about the idea Uf pursuit and capture,
rushed back up IN him, and in panic
he plunged into the black WOODS
again.
But the distant lights intensified his
loneliness. He had lived a whole day
without food, a whole day without
speech. He began to skirt the set
tlement, keeping we'll within the thick
gloom of the woods, and presently, as
he stumbled forward, he came to
small clearing in the center OF which
stood a log dwelling. The place SEEM
ed deserted. There was no sign or
life, no light shone from the window
no smoke issued from the stick-and-
mud chimney.
Tilted back in a chair by the door
of this house a man was sleeping.
The hoot Of an owl from a nearby
oak reused him. He yawned and
stretched himself, thrusting out his
fat legs and extending his great arms.
Then becoming aware Of the small
figure which had stolen up the path
as he slept and now stood before him
he fell to rubbing his eyes with the
knuckles of his plump hands. The
pale night mist out Of the silent depths
of the forest had assumed shapes as
strange.
who are you?" he demanded, and
his voice rumbled thickly forth from
his capacious chest The very sound
was sleek and unctuous.
I'm Hannibal" said the small fig
ure. He was meditating flight; he
glanced over his shoulder toward the
woods.
NO, you amt. He's been dead a
thousand years-more or less. Try
again" recommended the man.
I'm Hannibal Wayne Hazard" said
the boy. The man quilted his chair.
we'll am glad to know you'
Hannibal Wayne Hazard. 1 am Slo-
cum Frice-Judge Slocum Price,
sometime major-general Of militia and
ex-member of congress, to mention
few Of those honors my fellow-coun-
trymen have thrust upon me-" He
made a sweeping gesture with his two
hands outspread and bowed ponder
ously.
The boy saw a man of sixty, whose
gross and battered visage told its own
story. There was a sparse white frost
about his ears; and his eyes, pale
blue and prominent, looked out from
under beetling brows. He wore
shabby plum-colored coat and tight
drab breeches About his fat necR
was a black stock, with just a sugges'
ton of soiled linen showing above 1t
His figure was corpulent and un'
wieldy.
The man saw a boy Of perhaps ten
barefoot, and clothed in homespur
shirt and trousers. On his head wa:
a ruinous hat, much too large for him
but which in some mysterious manner
he contrived to keep from quite en-
gulfing his small features, which were
swollen and tear-stained. In his righ
hand he carried a bundle, while hi:
left clutched the brown barrel Of
long rifle.
you don't belong in these parts. dC
you?" asked the judge, when he hac
completed his scrutiny.
mo, SIR" answered the boy. HI
glanced off down the road, where
lights were visible among the trees
What town is that?" he added.
"Pleasantville-whi is a lie-bu
I am neither sufficiently drunk moi
sufficiently sober to cope with the pos
sibilities your question offers. 1t /!
a task one should approach only al
ter extraordinary preparation" anc
the sometime major-general of mil
itia grinned benevolently.
Its a town, amt it?" asked Han
nibal doubtfully. He scarcely under
stood this large, smiling gentleman
who was so civilly given to speech
with him, yet strangely enough ht
was not afraid Of him, and his whole
soul craved human companionship.
ITS got a name-but you'll excuse
me, I'd much prefer to tell you hoV
Iregard it-you're too young to hear
But stop a bit-have you so much a!
fifty cents about you?" and the Judge
eyes narrowed to a slit above thei
folds of puffy flesh. Hannibal, keepint
his glance fixed on the mans face, fel
back a step II can't let you go if yoN
are penniless-I can't do that crie'
the judge, with sudden vehemence
You shall be my guest for the night
They're a pack of thieves at the tav
ern," he lowered his voice. II know
'em. for they've plucked me-" T.
make sure of his prey, he rested
fat hand on the boys shoulder an,
drew him gently but firmly into tn
shanty. AS they crossed the threshol
he kicked the door shut. then wit