The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1912-06-08

loaned you was bad-but you don't
need ever to pay 1T back! 1t were
Captain MWrell 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!" Mahary spoke
gruffiy.
How are you going to get me out
of this, Solomon-for l suppose you
are here to break jail for me-" said
the Judge.
We'll, Price, l guess all we can do
is to go back to town and see II I
Ncan get into my cabin-Ive got an
old saw there. II I can find it, l 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
a full night to move in. or they'll pull
us down before we've gone ten
miles,"
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, II / was in your boots
couldn't sleep like you!" remarked
that official admiringly. But l reckon,
sir. this amt the first time the peni-
Tertiary has stared you in the face"
II 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, 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 a tobacco
stained chin. The Judge viewed the
newcomer with disfavor 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
mastfcation. 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
but to the Judge this clearly
was without significance, and the
manifested no further IN
terest where he was concerned. He |
did not even condescerd 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
y. for suppose anything had hap
)ened to Mahaffy!
Standing before the window. the
Judge watched the last vestige OF light
'ade from the sky and the stars ap-
pear. Would Mahaffy come? The
suspense was intolerable. Suddenly
,ut Of the silence sounded . long
lrawn whistle. Three times it was
'epeated. The horse-thief ieaped to
IFS feet.
"Neighbor. that means mel" he
.ried.
The moon was rising now. and by
Is light the Judge saw q number OF
lorsemen appear on the edge of the
woods. They entered the clearing.
'icking their way among the stumps
Without haste or confusion When
Iuite close. five of the band dis
nounted : the rest continued on about
be jail or cantered on toward the
DAD.
- l
dice. and log was dashed against
be door; once-twice-it rose ana
ell on the clapboards, and under
hose mighty thuds grew up a wide
ap through which the moonlight
splendidly. The horse-thief
topped between the dangling cleats
nd vanished.
The judge tossed away the stool.
lie understood now. With a conf
emit, not to say jaunty step. the Judge
merged from the jail.
Your servant, gentlemen!" he
aid, lifting his hat
"Git!" said one Of the men BRIEF
:, and the Judge moved nimbly away
ward the woods.
Now to find Solomon and the boy,
nd then to put the miles between
imself and Pleasantville with all
Iligence. AS he thought this, almost
his elbow Mahaffy and Hannibal