The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-11-08
CHAPTER Xxx.
Colonel Fentress.

The judge had not forgotten his
ghost, the ghost he had seen IN Mr..
Saul's Office that day he went 10 the
courthouse on business for Charley
Norton. Working or idling-princi-
pally the latter-drunk or sober
principally the former--the ghost,
otherwise Colonel Fentress. had pre-
served a place in his thoughts, and
now as he moved stolidly up the drive
toward Fentress' big white house on
the hill with Mahaffy. Cavendish and
Iancy trailing in his wake, memories
OF what had once been living and vital
crowded in upon him Some sense OF
the wreck that Uttered the long years.
and the shade Of. the open shame that
had swept away pride and gelf-respect,
came back TO him out of the past
He only paused when he stood on
the portico before Fentress' open
door He glanced about him az the
wide fields bounded by the distant
timber lands that hid gloomy bottoms,
at the great log barns In the hollow
10 his right. at the huddle OF white
washed cabins beyond; then with his
big fist he reached in and pounded on
the door The blows echoed loudly
through the silent house. and an in
was seen advancing from the far end
of the hall
Who is it," he asked.
Judge Price-Colonel Fentress,
said the judge.
Judge Price," uncertainty, and still
advancing.
| Il had battered myself that you
must have heard OF me-" said the
Judge
Il think have said Fentress,
| pausing now.
| He thinks that he has" muttered
the judge under his breath.
will you come in?" II was more a
| question than an invitation.
IF you are at liberty" The colonel
bowed. Allow me- the Judge con
tinued. Colonel Fentress-Mr. Ma
hairy, Mr.. Yancy. and Mr.. Cavendish.
Again the colonel bowed
Will you step into the library
Very good, and the judge followed
the colonel briskly down the hall.
When they entered the library Fen
tress turned and took stock OF his
! sutSNS. he Hdh StNh bcACa
Yancy and Cavendish were OF course
strangers to him, but their appear
ance explained them; last of all his
glance shifted 10 the Judge He had
a certain curiosity respecting the man
/ ft was Immediately satisfied. The
Judge had reached a degree of shah
biness seldom equaled. and but for
his mellow, effulgent personality
might well have passed for a common
vagabond; and IL his dress advertised
the state OF his finances, his face
explained his habits. No misconcep
ton was possible about either.
May | offer you a glass OF liquor
asked Fentress, breaking the silence
He stepped 10 the walnut center
table where there was a decanter and
glasses. BY a gesture the Judge de
clned the invitation. Whereat the
colonel looked surprised but not sc
surprised az Mahaffy There was an
other silence.
81 don't think we ever met before?
observed Fentress. There was some
thing in the fixed stare his visitor
was bending upon him that he found
dlsouieting, Just why. he could not
have told
But that fixed stare OF the Judge e
continued. No, the man had not
changed-he had grown older certain
ly. but age had not come ungrace
fully; he became the glossy broad
cloth and spotless linen he wore
Here was man who could command
! the good things OF life, using them
| with rational temperance. The
room itself was in harmony with his
character; II was plain but rich in
It's appointments, at once his library