The Chanute times., 1912-11-29


Raleigh in attendance upon Judge
Price. Intimately acquainted with the
judges mental processes, he could lol
low all the devious workings OF tha'
magnificent mind; he could fathon
the simply hellish ingenuity he wai
capable OF putting forth to accom-
plish temporary benefits. Permitting
his thoughts to dwell upon the min
ged strength and weakness whicf
was so curiously blended in Slocun
Prices character, he had horrld vi
sions OF that great soul, freed IRON
the trammels of restraint confidlne
his melancholy history to Mr.. Peg.o'
in the hope OF bolstering his taller
credit at the City Tavern.
Always where the Judge was con
cerned he tiuctuated between extremes
of doubt and confidence. He telt thai
under the urgent spur OF occasion his
friend could rise to any emergency
while a sustained activity made de
mands which he could not satisfy;
then his efforts were discounted by
IllS lIOdnC uGCiIC W lCuhhC ob OAN~ ~
his opportunities; in his haste he was
tor ever plucking unripe fruit; and
though he might keep one eye on the
main chance the other was fixed just
as resolutely on the nearest tavern.
With the great stake which fate
had suddenly introduced into their los
ing game, he wished earnestly to be-
lieve that the judge would stay quiet
ly in his Office and complete the task
he had set himself; that with this on
his hands the promise of excitement
at Belle Plain would compel his pres
ence there, when he would pass some
what under the restraining influence
which he was determined to exert;
in short, to Solomon, life embraced
just the one vital consideration,
which was to maintain the judge in
state OF sobriety until after his meet
ing with Fentress.
The purple OF twilight was stealing
over the land when he and his two
companions reached Belle Plain. They
learned that Tom Ware had returned
from Memphis, that the bayou had
been dragged but without results, and
that as yet nothing had been heard
from Darlington or the dogs he had
gone for.
Presently Cavendish and Yancy set
off across the fields. They were go
ing on to the raft, to Polly and the
six little Cavendishes, whom they had
not seen since early morning; but
they promised to be back at Belle
Plain within an hour.
BY very nature an alien, Mahafry
sought out a dark corner on the wide
porch that overlooked the river to
await their return The house had
been thrown open. and supper was be-
ing served to whoever cared to stay
and partake OF it, The murmur OF
idle purposeless talk drifted out to
him; he was irritated and offended by
1t. There was something garish in
this indiscriminate hospitality In the
very home of tragedy AS the mo-
ments slipped by his sense OF dis
pleasure increased, with mankind In
general, with himself, and with the
judge-principally with the judge
who was to make a foolish target OF
himself in the morning. He was go
ing to give the man who had wrecked
his life a chance to take 1t as well.
Mahaffys cold logic dealt cynically
with the preposterous situation his
friend had created.
In the midst of his angry medita-
tions he heard a clock strike In the
hall and counted the strokes. 1t was
nine o'clock. Surely Yancy and Cav
endish had been gone their hour! He
Quilted his seat and strolled restless
ly about the house. He felt deeply
Indignant with everybody and every
thing. Human intelligence seemed
but a pitiable advance on brute in
stiuct. A whole day had passed and
what had been accomplished? Car
rington, the Judge, Yancy. Cavendisn
1.-The four men who might have
worked together to some purpose
had widely separated themselves; and
here was the duel, the very climax Of
absurdity. He resumed his dark cor
ner and waited another hour. Still
no Darlington, and Yancy and Caven-
dish had not come up from the raft.
"Fools!" thought Mahaffy bitterly.
"All Of them fools!"
,,A mn CnNr1-TNrTrEnN