The Washington herald., 1911-10-18
THE PRODIGAL JUDGE
VAUGHAN KESTER "HTrrEh 1911 the BobtSNuin Company
rrorrrEht, 1911 the Bobb~Msrrin Company

. the occasion. YanCy led the struggling
/ procession. with the hoy trottIng by his
side, his little sunburncd fist clasped il
the mans great hand.
The squre's court held its inrrequent
sittinEs in the best room Of the Balaam
! homestead, a double cabin Of hewn logs.
I Here Scratch Hill was gratifled with a
view Of Mr.. Blount's battered visage.
What's all this here fuss between you
! and Bob YanCy - demanded the squire
when he had administered the oath to
BIount. Mr.. BIount's statement was
| brief and very much to the point.
He done give me the order from the
| judge of the cOt-I was to show II to
Bob YanCy-"
Got that order?" demanded the squire
sharply. With a smile. damaged. but
! clearly smile Blount produced the or
! der. 'Hmm-apP inted guardeen OF the
! boy" the square was presently heard
| to murmUr. The crowded room was
very still now. and more than one pair
! of eyes were turned pitylingly in YanCys
| direction. When the long arm of the
law reached out from Fayetteville, where
! there was real Judge and real sheriff,
! II clothed itself with terrors.
We'll, Mr.. Blount. what did you do
! with this here order" asked the squire
| Il showed Yancy the order
You lie. Dave BlOunt; you didn't"
said NanCy. But I can't say as 1t would
| have made no difference. squire He'd
have taken his licking just the same and
I'd have had my nevvy out Of that
| buggy
Didn't he say nothing about this here
order from the cot. Bob"
There want much conversation,
squire. invited my nevvy TO light down.
and then l snaked Dave Blount out over
the wheel"
He did. He struck at me with his
buggy whip"
Squire Balaam removed his spectacles
and leaned back in his chair.
It's the opinion of this here cot that
the whole question of assault rests on
whether Bob YanCy saw the order Bob
IanCy swears he didn't see il, while Dave
BlOunt swcars he showed II to him. II
Bob GanCy didn't know Of the existence
of the order he was clearly actin on the
idea hat BlOunt was stcaIin' his nevvy,
and he done what any one would have
done under the circumstances. II, on the
other hand, he lInOwed Of this order from
the cot. he was not only guilty of as
sault. hut he was guilty of resistin' an
officer OF the cot" The squire paused
impressively. His audience drew a long
breath.
Can a body drap a word here?" II
was lncle Sammy's thin voice that cut
into tn" silence
Certainly. UuClc Sammy This hera
cot will always admire to listen to you.''
We'll. I'd lk" To say that 1 consider
that Fayetteville cot mighty officious
with its orders. This part of the county
won't take nothin' off Fayetteville. We
don't interfere with Fayetteville. and
blamed If we II let Fayetteville interfere
with us There was n murmur Of ap-
proval. Scratch Hill remembered the
rifles in,
The Fayetteville cot air higher cot
than this, Tnrle Sammy" explained the
squire indulgently.
I'm aweer of that" snapped the patri-
arch. I've seen hits steeple"
Air you finished. Uncle sammy?''
asked the squire deferentIally.
Il low I am. But I low that IL this
here case is goin' agin Bob Yancy I'd
recommend him to go home and not lis
ten to no mo toolishncss.
Mr.. YanCy will Oblige this cot by
setting still while ! finish this case said
the squire with dignity. Mr. Yancy has
sworn to one thing. Mr.. Blount to an
other. Now the Yancys air an old fam
lily in these parts: Mr.. Blounts folks air
strangers. Consequently pursued the
squire, somewhat vindictiveIy, we amt
had any time in which to form an opin-
ion Of the Blounts: but for myself. I'm
suspicious of folks that keep movin'
about and who don't seem able to get
located permanent nowheres, who air
here to-day and away tomorrow. But
you can't say that of the Yancys. They
air an old family in the country. and nat
urally this cot feels obliged to accept
Yancy's word before the word OF q
stranger. And. in view Of the fact that
the defendant did not seek litigation,
but was perfectly satisfied to let matters
rest where they was it is right and just
that all costs should fall on the plain
tiff"
RIO RE CONTINUED TOMORROW