Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1912-09-26
cHApTER xkx.iI,.. 4
soIon1on,s L.nt Mont.

II had been With no little reluctance
that solomon Mahaffy accompanied
Yancy and Cavendish to Belle pain:
he would have preferred TO remain In
Raleigh In attendance upon Judge
Price. Intimately acquainted with the
judges mental processes. he could fol-
low all the devious workings Of that
magnificent mind; be could fathcm
the simply heIlish ingenuity he was
capable of putting forth to accom-
plish temporary benefits. Permitting
his thoughts to dwell upon the min
gled strength and weakness which
was 30 cariously blended In SlocuIn
Prices character, he had horrid vi
sions Of that great soul, freed from
the trammeis of restraint, contiding
his melancholy history to Mr.. Pegioe
in the hope of bolstering his fallen
credit at the City Tavern.
Always where the judge was con-
cerned he fluctuated between extremes
of doubt and confidence. He felt that
under the urgent spur of occasion his
friend could rise to any emergency,
while sustained activity made de-
mands which he could not satisfy;
then his efforts were discounted by
his insane desire to realize at once on
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 thetr, los
ing game, he wished earnestly to be-
lieve that the judge would stay quiet
~ in his Office and complete the task
he had set himself; that with this OH
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 a
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 Cavendfshes, 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, Mahafy
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 1t. The murmur OF
idle purposeless talk drifted out to
him; he was irritated and offended by
it. 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 foolish target OF
himself in the morning. He was go
ing to give the man who had wrecked
his life 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 media.
lions he heard 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,
~ about the house. He felt deeply
indignant with everybody and every
thing. Human intelligence seemed
but a pitiable advance on brute In
stinct. A whole day had passed and
what had been accomplished! Car
rington, the judge, Yancy. Cavendish
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.
Fob