Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1912-05-01

CHAPTER Nit Contlnuedl.
Boy; don't be afraid. Locke me
as friend, n urged the judge IA
II reckon I'll be glad to stop, an an
swered Hannibal. e III. ss 5l
such confidence is inspiring. Are
you hungry z? z? PIX
..Yes. sir,'s replied Hannibal.
I. What do you say to cold fish,,
the Judge smacked his lips to impart
q relish to the idea. Il dare swear
/ can find you some corn bread into
the bargain" He began to assemble ISIS 1l'
1 the dainties he had enumerated:
Here you are!, he cleared his throat
lmpressiyely, while benignity shone
from every feature, OF his face. T. !
moment. since you allowed me TO think
you were solvent to the extent OF
fifty cents - - Hannibal looked puzz '
zled. II wonder II you could be In
duced to make temporary loan OF
that fifty cents? The sum involved
Is really such a ridiculous trihe !
don't need to point out to you the alb
soiute moral certainty OF my return
Ing 1t at an early date. "
1t was not the loss of his money
4 that Hannibal most feared, and the
coin passed from his possession into
his hosts custody.
RI THANK you, my boy! must step
down to the tavern--when return,
+ please God, we shall know more OF
4 ench other While he was still
speaking. he had produced a jug from from
behind the quilt that screened his
q bed, and now took himself OH into the
night. VA &, n
Left alone, Hannibal gravely seated
himself at the table. What the
Judges larder lacked in variety II
more than made up for In quaptity
and the boy was grateful for this fact
4 Presently he heard the judges heavy
z shutting step as he came up the path
1 from the road, and moment later
q HIS gross bulk OF body filled the door
way. Breathing hard and perspiring
the Judge entered the shanty, but his
eagerness kept him silent until he
had established himself In. his chair
beside the table, with the jug and
cracked glass at his elbow. Then
bland and smiling. he turned toward
his guest. N. (, - On.
"My tenderest regards, Hannibal.
and he nodded over the rim OF the
cracked glass his shaking hand had
carried to his lips. Twice the glass
was filled and emptied. and then
again, his rowing, watery eyes rested
meditatively on the child. Have you
i a father?' he asked suddenly. Han
Il nibal shook his head. - mother" 4
'.They both OF them done died
years and years ago." answered the
boy. II can't tell you how long back
& it was, but reckon 1 don't know
much about It. ! must have been 2
small child" "a n
Ho-a small child!" cried the
Judge, laughing He cooked his head
I on one side and surveyed Hannibal
+ Wayne Hazard with a glance Of com
ic seriousness. .'In Gods name what
do you call yourself now?"
s q. s"I'm most ten, said Hannibal, with
4 dignity. "a
Il can well believe It, responded
( the Judge. Where did you come
from :"
From across the mountains.
.'And where are you going?
ITO west Tennessee
Have you any friends there"
''Yes, sir.
You've money enough to see you
through2." and what the judge intend
ed for smile OF .fatherly affection
Il became a leer OF Infinite cunning. NJ
II got ten dollars"
Ten dollars" the Judge smacked
his lips once. Ten dollars" he re
peated, and smacked his lips twice.
The purple flush on the judges
face, where the dignity that belonged
to age had gone down in wreck, deep
ened.
He quilted his chair and, lurchine
somewhat as he did 80. began to. pace
\ .theS floor.
s Take me for your example, boy
You may be poor, you may possibly
be hungry-you'll often be thirsty
4 but through 1t all you will remain
that splendid thing ga gentleman!
.