Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-12-09

II IN 5-,-DyUWY
down on his friend with an air OF large
tolerance. IT am going to Belle Plain,
but you are too drunk. Sleep it of,
Solomon, and join me when your brain
is clear and your legs steady .t
Mahaffy jerked out an oath, and
lifting himself OF his chair, stood erect.
He snatched up his hat. "a
s'Stuff your pistols into your pockets.
and come on, Price," he said, and
stalked toward the door.
He fitted up the street, and the
Judge putfed and painted in his wake.
They gained the edge Of the village
without speech.
There is mystery and rascality
here!" said the Judge. ,9 /.
What do you know, Price, and
where did you hear this?" Mahafy shot
the question back over his shoulder. w
.'At Pegloe's, the Belle Plain over
seer had just fetched the news into
town., 0
Again they were silent. all their
energies being absorbed by the physical
exertion they were making. The road
danced before their burning eyes, It
seemed to be uncoiling itself serpent
wise with hideous undulations. Mr.,
Mahaffy was conscious that the Judge,
Of whom he caught blurred vision
now at his right side, now at his left,
was laboring painfully in the heat and
dust. tho breath whistling from be-.
tween his parched lips
you're just ripe for apoplexy,
Price!" he snarled moderating his pace.
go on. said the Judge, with stolid
resolution. @ IL.
Two miles out of the village they
came to roadside spring. here they
paused for an instant. Mahafly scooped
up handfuls of the clear water and
sucked It down greedily. The Judge
dropped on his stomach and buried his
face in the tiny pool, sulping up great
thirsty swallows. After q long breath
less instance he stood erect, with drops
OF, moisture clinging to his nose and
eyebrows. Mahatfy was dozen PAGES
down the road, hurrying forward again
with relentless vigor. The Judge
shuffled after him. The tracks they
left in the dust crossed and re-crossed
the road, but presently the slanting
lines of their advance Strengthened, the
judge gained and held fixed place at
Mahaffy's right, q step or so in tho
rear. His oppulent fancy began to deal
with the situation.
III anything happens to the child,
the man responsible for it would bet
ter never been born-Ill pursue him
with undiminished energy from this
moment forth!' he painted
- III
asked Mahaffy. ~. +.
God knows, poor little lad!"
'Will you shut up!" cried Mahany
savagely. Fl IL.
Solomon" 4.}. &s
why do you 90 building on that
idea? Why should any one harm him
what earthly purpose"
II tell you, Solomon, we are the
pivotal point In vast circle Of crime.
This is q blow at me-this is revenge,
sir, neither more or less! They have
struck at me through the boy, It is as
plain as day." 49, q. .s. .t.5. Is,
r What did the overseer say"
"Just that they found Miss Malroy
gone from Belle Plain this morning,
and the boy with her."
This Is like you, Price! How do
you know they haven's spent the night
at some neighbor's?" IA;
""The nearest neighbor is five or six
miles distant. Miss Malroy and Han
nibal were seen along about dusk In
the grounds at Belle Plain, do you
mean to tell me you consider 1t likely
that they set out on foot at that hour,
and without word to any one, to
make q VISIT" inquired the Judge; but
Mahaffy did not contend for this
point. S : ~
what are you going to do first,
Price?" 5.t7,i. 3 q
Have a look over the grounds, and
talk with the slaves"
&. where's the brother-wasn't he at
Belle Plain last night?"
ut seems he went to Memphis yes
terday"
They plodded forward in silence;
now and again they were passed by
some man on horseback whose des-
tination was the same as their own,
and then at last they caught sight Of
Belle Plain in its grove Of trees.
All work on the plantation had stop
ped, and the hundreds of slaves-men,
women and children-were gathered
about the house. Among these moved
the members of the dominant race.
The Judge would have attached him
self to the first group, but he heard a
whispered question, and the answer,
Miss Malroy's lawyer"
Clearly it was not for him to mix
with these outsiders, these curiosity
seekers. He crossed the lawn to the
house, and mounted the steps. In the
doorway was big Steve, while groups
OF men stood about in the hall, the hum
of busy purposless talk prevailing the
place. The Judge frowned. This was
all wrong. f5
HAS Mr.. Ware returned from Mem
phis?" he asked of Steve. II
No, sab; not yet.
Then show me into the library"
said the Judge with bland authority,
surrendering his hat to the butler.
Come along, Mahaffy!" he added.
They entered the library, and the Judge
motioned Steve to close the door.
"Now, boy, you'll kindly ask those PEG.
pie to withdraw-you may say 1t is
Judge Prices orders. Allow no one