The Washington herald., 1911-10-22


fared up the boy glanced about him.
The interior was mean enough, with its
rough walls, dirt floor, and black cavern
Gus fireplace. shakedown bed in one
corner Of the room was tastefully
screened from the public gaze by a tat
tered quilt.
| Boy, don't be afraid Look on me as
| a friend" urged the judge.
81 reckon I'll be glad to stop" an
I swered Hannibal
such confidence is inspiring. Are
you hungry"
Yes. sir" replied Hannibal.
What do you say to cold fsh?'' the
judge smacked his lips to impart relish
to the idea. Il dare swear I can find
you some corn bread into the bargain"
He began to assemble the dainties he had
enumerated. Here you are! he cleared
his throat impressively, while benignity
shone from every feature of his face "A
moment since you allowed me to think
you were solvent to the extent of so
cents" Hannibal looked puzzled. IT
wonder If you could be induced to make
( a temporary loan of that so cents? The
sum involved is really such a ridiculous
trife / don't need to point out to you
the absolute moral certainty Of my re-
turning 1t at an early date"
1t was not the loss of his money that
Hannibal most feared and the coin
passed from his possession into his hosts
custody.
Thank you. my boy! 1 must step down
to the tavern-when 1 return, please
God, we shall know more Of each other"
While he was still speaking, he had pro-
duced a jug from behind the quilt that
screened his bed, and now took himself
of into the night.
! Left alone, Hannibal gravely seated
himself at the q bla What ba ind e
Iarder lacked in variety it more than
made up for IN quantity, and the boy
was grateful for this fact. Presently he
heard the judges heavy, shuffiing step
as he came up the path from the road,
and a moment later his gross bulk of
body filled the doorway. Breathing hard
and perspiring, the judge entered the
shanty. but his eagerness kept him 81
lent until he had established himself in
his chair beside the table, with the jug
and a cracked glass at his elbow. Then.
bland and smiling, he turned toward his
guest.
My tenderest regards. Hannibal
and he nodded over the rim of the crack
ed glass his shaking hand had carried
to his lips Twice the glass was filled
and emptied, AMI then again, his rowing,
watery eyes rested meditativeIy on the
child. Have you a father " he asked
suddenly. Hannibal shook his head. "A
mother?'
They both of them done died years
| and years and yeaes ago" answered the
boy. 4 can't tell you how long back
it was. but I reckon I don't know much
about it. I must have been small
child"
"Ho-a small child cried the judge.
laughing He cooked his head on one
side and surveyed Hannibal Wayne Haz-
ard with a glance of comic seriousness.
In Gods name, what do you call your
| self now?"
I'm most ten" said Hannibal, with
! dignity.
Il can we'll believe it," responded the
judge Where did you come FROM"
From across the mountains"
| And where are you going"
To West Tennessee
Have you any friends there
Yes, sir
You've money enough to see you
through" and what the judge intended
for smile of fatherly affection became |
a Ieer of infinite cunning.
II got SO
Ten dollars" the judge smacked
his lips once. Ten dollars he re-
peated, and smacked his lips twice.
The purple flush on the judges face, |
where the dignity that belonged to age !
had gone down in wreck, deepened
He quilted his chair and. lurching /
somewhat as he did so, began to pace
the moor.
Take me for your example, boy! You
may be poor you may possibly be hun
gry-you'H often be thirsty but through
it all you will remain that splendid
thing-a gentleman! Perhaps you'll con-
tend that the old order is overthrown,
that family has gone to the devil? You
are right, and there's the pity of it
The social fabric is tottering-I can see
it totter-' and he tottered himself as
he said this
We'll. I'm an old mantle spectacle
won't long offend me. I'll die present
ly." He was so profoundly moved by
the thought that ne could not go on !
His voice broke, and he buried his face
in his arms. A sympathetic moisture
had gathered in the childs eyes. He
slipped from his chair and stole to the |
judges side.
I'm mighty sorry you're going to die |
Bless you, Hannibal!' cried the |
judge, looking wonderfully cheerful, de- |
spite his recent bitterness of spirit. I'm |
not experiencing any of the pangs of !
mortality now. My dissolution amt a |
matter of tonight or to-morrow-there's
some life in SlOcum Price vet, for all
the rough usage, en-? I think you'd bet
ter go to bed.
L reckon 1 had" agreed Hannibal.
slipping from his chair
We'll, take my bed back of the quilt.
You'll find a hoe there. You can dig
up he dirt under the shuck tick with