The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1912-07-19


loaned you was bad-but you don't
need ever to pay it back 1t were
Captain Murrell gave 1t to me-"
Il consecrate myself to his destruc-
ton! Judge Slocum Price cannot be
Inundated with impunity!"
IL should think you would save
your wind, Price, until you'd wad-
died out of danger!" Ma,hafry spoke
gruffly.
How are you going to get me out
of this, Solomon-for suppose you
are here to break jail for me-" said
the Judge.
We'll, Price, guess all We can do
is to go back to town and see II
can get into my cabin-Ive got an
old saw there. II can find 1t, can
come again tomorrow night and cut
away one OF the logs, or the cleats OF
the door,"
in heavens name, do that tonight,
Solomon" implored the Judge. why
procrastinate?"
Price, there's pack Of dogs in
this neighborhood. and We must have
q full night to move in, or they'll pull
US down before we've gone ten
milesl"
You're right. Solomon; I'd forgot
ten the dogs"
Mahaffy closed and fastened the
shutters, then he and Hannibal stole
across the clearing and entered the
woods. The Judge went to bed. He
was aroused by the arrival Of his
breakfast, which the sheriff brought
about eight o'clock.
We'll, If | was in your boots 1
couldn't sleep like you'll" remarked
that official admiringly. But reckon.
sir, this amt the first time the penn
Tertiary has stared ysu in the face"
1t was nearing the noon hour when
the judges solitude was again in
vaded He first heard the distant muir.
muir of voices on the road and passed
an uneasy and restless ten minutes,
with his eye to crack in the door.
He was soothed and treasured, how.
ever, when at last he caught sight OF
the sheriff.
We'll, judge, I got company for
you," cried the sheriff cheerfully, as
he threw open the door, "A boss
thief"
He pushed into the building a man.
hatless and coatless. with pair OF
pale villainous eyes and tobacco
stained chin. The Judge viewed the
newcomer with dlsfavor. AS for the
horse-thief. he gave his companion In
misery coldly critical stare. seated
himself on the stool, and with quite
a fierce air devoted all his energy to
mastication. He neither altered his
position nor changed his expression
until he and the Judge were alone,
then, catching the judges eye, he
made what seemed a casual move
ment with his hand, the three fingers
raised; but to the Judge this clearly
was without significance, and the
horse-thief manifested no further in
terest where he was concerned. He
did not even condescend to answer
the one or two civil remarks the
Judge addressed to him.
AS the long afternoon more itself
away, the Judge lived through the
many stages of doubt and uncertain
ty. for suppose anything had hap
pened to Mahafry!
Standing before the window, the
Judge watched the last vestige OF light
fade from the sky and the stars ap-
pear. Would Mahaffy come? The
suspense was intolerable. Suddenly
out OF the silence sounded long
drawn whistle Three times 1t was
repeated The horse-thief leaped to
his feet.
"Neighbor, that means mel" he
cried
The moon was rising now. and by
its light the Judge saw number Of
horsemen appear on the edge OF the
woods. They entered the clearing,
picking their way among the stumps
without haste or confusion. When
quite close, five of the band dis
mounted; the rest continued on about
the Jail or cantered off toward the
road.
Look out inside, there!" cried a
voice. and log was dashed against
the door; once-twice-it rose and
fell on the clapboards, and under
those mighty thuds grew up a wide
gap through which the moonlight
streamed splendidly. The horse-thief
stepped between the dangling cleats
and vanished
The judge tossed away the stool
He understood now. With conf
dent, not to say jaunty step, the judge
emerged from the jail.
Your servant, gentlemen!" he
said, lifting his hat
"Git!" said one Of the men brief.
ly, and the Judge moved nimbly away
toward the woods.
Now to find Solomon and the boy.
and then to put the miles between
himself and Pleasantville with all
diligence. AS he thought this, almost
at his elbow Mahaffy and Hannibal
rose from behind a fallen log. The
Yankee motioned for silence and