Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-03-28
CHAPTER XIV.
ce!ene! Fent.ess.

Saul'D once that day he went to the
court house on business for Charley
Norton. Working or idling-principal.
" the latter-drunk or sober-prin-
cipally the former-the ghost, other
wise Colonel Fentress, had preserved
. place In his thoughts, and now as
he moved stolidly up the drive toward
Fentress' big white house on the hill
With MahafIy, Cavendish and Yancy
trailing In his wake. memories of what
had once been living and vital crowd.
ed in upon him. Some sense of the
wreck that Uttered the long years, and
the shame Of the open shame that had
swept away pride and self-respect,
came back to him out of the past.
He only paused when he stood on
the portico before Fentress' open
door. He glanced about him at the
wide fields. bounded by the distant
timber lands that hid gloomy bottoms,
at the great log barns in the hollow to
his right; at the hubble Of white
washed cabins beyond; then with his
big fist he reached in and pounded on
the door. The blows echoed loudly
through the silent house, and an in
slant later Fentress' tall. spare figure
was seen advancing from the far end
Of the hall.
''Who IL IT." he asked.
'.Judge Price-Colonel Fentress,'
said the Judge.
Judge Price," uncertainty, and still
advancing.
Il had hattered myself that you
must have heard of me-" said the
judge.
Il think I have" said Fentress,
pausing now.
He thinks he has," muttered the
Judge under his breath.
.Will you come in?" it was more q
question than an invitation.
IF you are at liberty" The colonel
bowed. ALLOW me-" the Judge con
tinued. Colonel Fentress-Mr. Ma
hairy, Mr.. Fancy and Mr.. Cavendish... y
Again the colonel bowed.
"Will you step into the library
"Very good" and the judge followed
the colonel briskly down the ball.
When they entered the library Fen
guests. Mahany he had seen before;
Yancy and Cavendish were Of course
strangers to him. but their appear
ance explained them; last Of all his
glance shifted to the Judge. He had
heard something Of those activities BY
means Of which Slocum Price had
striven to distinguish himself. and he
had . certain curiosity respecting the
man. It was Immediately satisfied
The Judge had reached a degree Of
shabbiness seldom eQualed, and but
for his mellow, effulgent personality
might well have passed for common
vagabond; and II his dress advertised
the state Of his finances, his face ex
planned Ills habits. No misconception
was possible about either.
MAJ offer you a glass of liquor p
asked Fentress. breaking the silence
He stopped to the walnut comfortable
where there was decanter and
glasses. BY gesture the judge de-
clined the invitation. Whereat the
colonel looked surprised, but not 90
surprised ~ Mahaty. There was an
other silence.
II don't think We ever met before?'
observed Fentress. There was some
thing in tho fixed stare his visitor was
bending upon him that he found dis
quieting, Just why, he could not have
told.
But that hxed stare Of the judges
continued. No. the man had not
changsd-he had grown older certain
". but ege had not come ungraceful
": he became the glossy broadcloth
and spotless linen he wore. Here was
a man who could command the good
things Of life. using them with a "a.
tional. temperance. The room itseli
wGs In harmony with his character;
It was plain but rich in its appoint
ments. ct once his library and his OF.
nee. while the weli-filled cases ranged
about the walls showed his tastes to
70 IN tho main scholarly and intel
lectual.
.How long have you lived here7'
asked the Judge abruptly. Fentress
seemed to hesitate; but the judges
glance, compelling and insistent, %
manded IN answer.
''Tsn years"
"You have known many men OF o.
classes o. . lawyer and planter!
said the Judge. Fentress inclined hi
head. The judge took q step nearei
him. people have great trick o.
coming and going in these westerf
Atates-all sorts Of damned riffraf
drift in and out of these new lands
"a deadly sarnestness lifted the judge'i
word. above mere rudeness. Fen
tress. cold and distant, made no reply
..For the past twenty years I have
been looking for q man BY the name
of Gatewood-David Gatewood." Dis
ciplined % he was, the colonel start
cd violently. Ever heard Of him
Eentress?" demanded the Judge Will
. savage scowl.
whats all this to met" The words
came with q gasp from Fentress
twitchin9 lips. The Judge looked q
him moody and frowning.
Il have reason to, think this maj
Gatewood came to west Tennessee
he said.
ri 90. / have never heard Of him
.Peraaps not under that nams-A
any rate. you are going to hear Of hin
now. rms man Gatewood. Who Ds