The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1912-05-09
yWUcHAnk ESTER
CooroNonI Iou A1 6o615 .MeaeHs Co~he4"r

ready for that question, Solomon"
answered the Judge, with a melan-
Icholy shake of the mead. He gazed
down on his friend with an air of
large tolerance. Il am going to Belle
Plain, but you are too drunk. Sleep
1t of, Solomon, and join me when
your brain is clear and your legs
steady"
Mahaffy 1erked out an oath, and
lifting himself of his chair, stood
erect. He snatched up his hat.
"Stuff your pistols into your pock-
cts, and come on, Price!" he said,
and stalked toward the door.
He fitted up the street, and the
judge pulled and painted in his wake.
They gained the edge of the village
without speech.
There is mystery and rascality
here!" said the judge.
what do you know, Price, and
where did you hear this?" Mahairy
shot the question back over his shout
der.
AT Pegloe's; the Belle Plain over
seer had just fetched the news into
town.
Again they were silent, all their
energies being absorbed by the physi-
cal exertion they were making. The
road danced before their burning
eyes, it seemed to be uncoiling itself
serpent-wise with hideous undulations.
Mr.. Mahaffy was conscious that the
Judge, Of whom he caught blurred
vision now at his right side. now at
his left, was laboring painfully in the
heat and dust, the breath whistling
from between his parched lips.
You're just ripe for apoplexy,
Price," he snarled, moderating his
pace.
" "Go on" said the Judge, with stoud
1esolution.
Two miles out Of the village they
came to roadside spring: here they
Enaused for an instant. Mahaffy
cooped up handfuls of the clear wa
tsr and sucked it greedily. The Judge
dropped on his stomach and buried
his face IN the tiny pool, gulping
up great thirsty swallows. After a
long breathless instant he stood erect,
With drops of moisture clinglng to his
nose and eyebrows. Mahaffy was q
dozen PAGES down the road, hurrytng
forward again with relentless vigoF.
The Judge shuffled after him. The
tracks they left In the dust crossed
and re-crossed the road, but present
II the slanting lines Of their advance
Strengthened, the Judge gained and
held a fixed place at Mahat1y's right,
q step or so In the rear. His opulent
fancy began to deal with the situa-
ton.
III anything happens to the child,
tho man responsible for 1t would bet
ter never been born-1ll pursue him
with undiminished energy from this
moment FORTH" he painted.
What could happen to him. Price?"
asked Mahahy.
God knows, poor little lad"
'Will you shut up!" cried Mahaf1y
savagely.
Solomon"
why do you 60 building on that
idea? Why should any one harm MIN
what earthly purpose"
II tell you, Solomon, we are the
pivotal point in a vast circle Of crime.
This is q blow at me-this Is revenge.
sir, neither more nor less! They have
struck at me through the boy, 1t Is as
plain as day."
what did the overseer say?'
"Just that they found Miss Malroy
gone from Belle Plain this morning,
and the boy with her."
"This is like you, Price! How do
you know they haven't spent the night
at some neIghbor's?"
1.-THE nearest neighbor Is five or SIX
miles distant. Miss Malroy and Han
nibal were seen along about dusk In
the grounds at Belle Plain; do you
mean to tell me you consider 1t likely
that they set out on foot at that hour,
and without word to any one, to
make a visit?" inquired the Judge; but
Mahaffy did not contend for this
point.
"What are you going to do first,
Price,"
"Have a look over the grounds. and
talk with the slaves"
.Where's the brothef-wasn't he at
Belle Plain last night?"
1T seems he went to Memphis yes
terday." ,... ...,s. ..s ........ .
They plodded forward in silence;
now and again they were passed by
some man on horseback whose des-
tination was the same as their own,
and then at last they caught sight OF
Belle Plain in it's grove Of trees.
CHAPTER XXI.
The Judge Takes Charge.
All work on the plantation had
stopped, and the hundreds OF slaves
men, women and children-were gain
cred about the house. Among these
moved the members Of the dominant