Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-02-20
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the rear. His opulent fancy began t.
deal with the situation.
IF anything happens to the child
the man responsible for it would bet
ter never been born-Pll pursue hin
with undiminished energy from thi
moment forth" he painted.
What could happen to him, Price?
asked Mahaffy.
God knows, poor little lad"
will you shut up!" cried Mahaff!
savagely.
Solomon"
why do you go building on tina
idea? Why should any one harm
him-what earthly purpose"
II tell you, Solomon, we are the piv
otal point in a vast circle Of crime
This Is a blow at me-this is revenge
sir. neither more nor less! They hav'
struck at me through the boy, 1t II
as plain as day."
What did the overseer say?"
Just that they found Miss Malro!
gone from Belle Plain this morning
and the boy with her"
This Is like you, Price! How do yol
know they haven't spent the night a
some neighbors?"
The nearest neighbor is five or si'
miles distant. Miss Malroy and Han
nibal were seen along about dusk II
~ DA1l Dloi IN
mean to tell me you consider 1t likel!
that they set out on foot at that hour
and without 4 word to anyone, t.
make visit?" inquired the judge; bu
Mahaffy did not contend for this point
What are you going to do first
Price?"
Have a look over the grounds ant
talk with the slaves"
Where's the brother-wasn't he a
Belle Plain last night?"
1T seems he went to Memphis yes
terday."
They plodded forward in silence
now and again they were passed b!
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 NOV.
ed the members of the dominant race
The Judge would have attached him
self to the first group. but he heard
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 purposeless talk pervad-
ing the place The judge frowned
This was all wrong.
Has Mr.. Ware returned from Mem
phis?" he asked of Steve.
mo. 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 AIDED. They
entered the library, and the judge mo-
toned Steve to close the door. Now
boy, you'll kindly ask those people to
withdraw-you may say 1t Is Judge
Prices orders. Allow no one to enter
the house unless they have business
with me, or as I send for them-you
understand? After you have cleared
the house you may bring me decan-
ter of corn whisky-stop a bit-you
may ask the sheriff to step here"
Yes, sah." And Steve withdrew.
The Judge drew an easy-chair up to
the fiat-topped desk that stood in the
center of the room, and seated him.
self.
Are you going to make this the ex-
cuse for another drunk, Price? If 80
I feel the greatest contempt for you,
said Mahaffy sternly.
The judge WINGED at this.
You have made a regrettable choice
of words, Solomon" he urged gently
Where's your feeling for the boy?'
"Here!" said the Judge with an elo.
quent gesture, resting his hand on his
heart.
IF You let whisky alone, I'll believe
YOU, otherwise what I have said must
stand"
The door opened and the sheriff
slouched into the room. He was chew
ing long wheat straw, and his whole
appearance was one Of troubled weak.
ness.
Morning" he said briefly.
"Sit down, sheriff." and the judge in.
dicated a meek seat for the official ir
distant corner. Have you learned
anything?" he asked.
The sheriff shook his head.
What you turning all these neigh
bors out Of doors for?" he questioned.
I'VE don't want people tracking II
and out of the house, sheriff. I'M
portant evidence may be destroyed.
propose examining the slaves first
does that meet with your approval?'
"Oh. I've talked with them, the!
don't know nothing" said the sheriff
NO one don't know nothing"
please God, we may yet put oul
fingers on some villain who does" sait
the Judge.
Outside it was noised about tina
Judge Price had taken matters II
hand-he was the old fellow who hat
been warned to keep his mouth shut
and who had never stopped talking
since. A crowd collected beyond TIT
library windows and feasted its eye
on the back of this hero's bald head.
One by one the house servants wer'
ushered into the judges presence
First he interrogated little Steve, wh'
had gone to Miss Bettv's door tina
morning to rouse her, as was his Gus
tom. Next he examined Miss Betty
maid; then the cook and various hous
servants, who had nothing especia
to tell, but told it at considerable
length; and lastly big Steve.
stop a Bit" the Judge suddenly in
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