The Washington herald., 1911-10-23
THE PRODIGAL JUDGE
By VAUGHAN KESTER
Copyright, sll. the BOobaMerin oOnpuuyJ

the child began the story of their flight.
confused narrative. The Judge shud-
dered. Can such things be-" he muir
INJURED at last. Then ne remembered
what Mahafry had told him Of the man
on the raft. Hannibal" he said, Solo
mon Mahaffy. who was here last night,
told me he saw down at the river land
ing, a man who had been fished up out
OF the Eliza man who had been roughly
handled"
Were it my Uncle Bob?" cried Han
nibal. lifting a swollen race to his.
Dear lad. i don't know" said the
judge symPathetically.
1T were Uncle Bob! I know it were
my Uncle Bob. I must go find him.
and Hannibal slipped from the Judge
lap and ran for his rine and bundle
Stop a bit!" cried the Judge Now,
If it was your Uncle Bob, he'll come
back the moment he is able to travel.
Meantime, you must remain under nv
protection while We investigate this man
Slosson."
1t was Saturday. and in Pleasantv1lIe
jafl-raising was in progress. During
all the years Of its corporate dignity the
village had never boasted any building
where the evil-doer could be placed un-
DER restraint; hence had arisen its pc
culiar habit Of dealing with crime; but
leading citizen had donated half an
acre Of ground lying midway between the
town and the river landing as a site for
the proposed structure, and the scat
tered population OF the region had as
sembled for the raising.
we don't want to get there too early"
explained the judge, as they quilted the
caDin. we want to miss the work, but
be on hand for the celebration"
1 suppose we may confidently look to
you to favor US with a few eloquent
words?" said Mr.. Mahatry.
And why not, Solomon" asked the
Judge.
The opportunity he craved was not de-
MED him. The crowd was like most
Southwestern crowds Of the period, and
no sooner did the judge appear than
there were clamorous demands for a
speech. He cast a glance OF triumph al
Mahaffy, and nimbly mounted a con-
venient stump He extoIled the climate
Of Middle Tennessee, the unsurpassed fer
tility of the soil: he touched on the f1-
ture that awaited Pleasantvtlle; he apos-
trophized the jail.
Presently the crowd drifted away in
the direction Of the tavern. Hannibal
meantime had gone down to the river.
He haunted its banks as though he ex-
pected to see his Uncle Bob appear any
moment. The Judge and Mahaffy had
nllngled Win the others IN the nope OF
free drinks, but in this hope there lurked
the germ OF a bitter disappointment. At
ter a period Of mental anguish, Mahafry
parted with his last stray coin, and while
his flask was being filed the Judge In
dulged in certain winsome gallantrieS
with the fat landlady.
La, Judge Price, how you do run on"
she said with coquettIsh toss of her
cufls.
That's the charm of you, ma'am,"
said the judge. He leaned across the bar
and, sinking his voice to a husky whis-
per, asked: would 1t be perfectly con-
venient for you to extend me a limited
credit?'
Now. Judge Price, you know a heap
better than to ask me that!" she an
sweref, shaking her head
mo offense, ma'am," said the judge,
hiding his disappointment, and with Ma
haffy he quilted the bar.
CIo BE CONTINUED To-MoRRoWA -.