Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1912-05-09

You asked Il there was any nsW-S
Price: while We were waiting Tor the
boat 4 raft tied up to the bank: the
fellow aboard Of It had a man he'd
ished up out Of the river. man
who'd been pretty wen cut to pieces =
who was HEP asked the Judge.
NOBODY knew, and he wasn't con-
scious shouldn't be surprised Il he
never opens his lips again When
the doctor had looked to his cuts. the
fellow on the rant cast on and went
on down the Elk. ("
It occurred to the judge that he
himself had news to impart He must
account Tor the boys presence.
-Whiie you've been taking your
whiff Of life down at the steamboat
landing, Mahaffy. I've been expert
encing most extraordinary coinci-
dence. When went to the war OF
IL, a Hazard accompanied me as my
orderly His grandson is back of that
curtain now asleep my bedI'
Mahaffy put down his glass.
You were like this once before, =
he said darkly. But at that instant
the shuck tick ratified noisily at some
movement of the sleeping boy.
There was hoof-beat on the road.
It came nearer and nearer. and pres
emily sounded Just beyond the door.
Then 1t ceased, and voice said:
"Hullo, there!s The judge scram-
bled to his feet, and taking up the
candle, staggered into the yard. Ma
haffy followed him.
Whats wanted?" asked the judge
holding his candle aloft. The light
showed tall fellow mounted on a
handsome bay horse. 1t was Murreli.
Have either of you gentlemen seen
a boy go through here today?" Muir
rell glanced from one to the other.
Mr. Mahaffy's thin lips twisted them
selves into sarcastic smile. He
turned to the judge, who spoke up
quickly.
Did he carry a bundle and rtfie?"
he asked. Murrell gave eager assent.
Well" said the judge, "he stopped
here along about four o'clock, and
asked his way to the nearest river
landing.
=
Hannibal" the judges voice and
manner were rather stern. "Hanni-
bal, man rode by here last night on
a big bay horse. He said he was
looking for a boy about ten years old
Ia boy with a bundle and rifle" "
There was an awful pause. who was
that man, Hannibal?"
1T were Captain Murrell." The
judge raised his fist and brought it
down with great crash on the ta-
BILE. "We don't know any boy ten
years old with rifle and bundle!"
he said
"Please-you won't let him take me
away. judge-I want to stop with
you'll" cried Hannibal. He slipped
from his chair. and passing about the
table, seized the judge by the hand.
The judge was visibly affected.
mol" he roared. He shan't have
yoA Is he kin to you?"
'IA0t" said Hannibal. HE tried: to
get me away from my Uncle Bob"
Where is your Uncle Bob?"
Hes dead" And the child began
to weep bitterly. The judge bent
and lifted him into his lap.
There, my SON. he said sooth-
ingly. Nov you tell me when he
died, and all about it.
He, were killed. 1t were only yes
terday, and can't forget him. I
don't want to-but 1t hurts-it hurts
terrible!" Hannibal buried his head in
the judges shoulder and sobbed
aloud. Presently his small hands
stole about the judges neck, and that
gentleman experienced strange thrill
Of pleasure.
Tell me how he died. Hannibal
he urged gently. In a voice broken
by sobs, the child began the story
Of their fight. confused narrative.
The judge shuddered. Can such
things be-" he murmured at last. Then
he remembered what Mahafry had
told him of the man on the raft.
Hannibal" he said, Solomon Ma
hairy, who was here last night. told
me he saw down atN the river land
ing. a man who had been fished up
out Of the Eliza man who had been
roughly handled"
Were 1t my Uncle Bob?" cried
Hannibal, lifting swollen face to
his.
Dear lad, / don't know" said the
judge alphabetically.
ut were Uncle Bob! l know 1t
were my Uncle Bob! must go ind
him!" and Hannibal slipped from the
Judges lap and ran for his rife and
bundle.
stop bit!" cried the judge "Now,
IL 1t was your Uncle Bob, he'll come
back the moment he is able to travel.
Meantime, you must remain under my
protection while we investigate this
man Slosson.''
1t was Saturday, and in Pleasant
vile a jail-ra1sing was In progress.
During all the years Of its corporate
dignity the village had never boosted
any building where the eyil-doer could
be placed under restraint: hence had
arisen its peculiar habit OF dealing
with crime; but a leading citizen had
donated half an acre OF ground lying
midway between the town and the
river landing as site for the pro-
posed structure, and the scattered
population Of the region had assem-
-