Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-03-12

| the most confused memory OF impend
| ing events: at ten he collapsed and
was borne upstairs by Pegloe and his
black boy to remote chamber in the
kitchen wing. Here he was undresseo
and put to bed, and the tavern-keep
or. making bundle of his clothes, re
tired from the room, locking the door
after him, and the judge was doubly
a prisoner.
Rousing at last from a heavy
dreamless sleep the judge was aware
of faint impalpable light in his room
the ashen light Of dull October dawn
He was aware, too, Of a feeling OF
profound depression. He knew this
was the aftermath of indulgence and
that he might look forward to forty
eight hours of utter misery of soul
and, groaning aloud, he closed bis
eyes. Sleep was the thing if he could
compass it. Instead, his memory
quickened. Something was to hap.
pen at sun-up-he could not recall
what it was to be. though he distinct.
ly remembered that Mahaffy had
spoken of this very matter-Mahatfy
the austere and implacable, the dis.
embodied conscience whose fealty to
duty had somehow survived his own
spiritual ruin, so that he had become
a sort OF moral sign-post, ever point.
ing the way yet never going it him.
self.
The Judge lay still and thought
deeply as the light intensified itself,
What was it that Mahafy had said
he was to do at sun-up? The very
hour accented his suspicious. Prob
ably il was no more than some cheer.
less obligation to be met, or Mahaffy
would not have been SO concerned
about it. Eventually he decided TO
refer everything to Mahafy. He
spoke his friends name weakly and
in q shaking voice, but received no
answer.
Solomon" he repeated, and shift
ing his position, looked in what should
have been the direction OF the shake
down bed his friend occupied. Meth
err the bed nor Mahaffy were there.
The judge gasped-he wondered If
this were not premonition of certain
hallucinations to which he was not
stranger. Then all in fash he re-
membered Fentress and the meeting
at Boggs', something Of how the eve
ming had been spent, and spasm OF
regret shook him.
II had other things to think OF. This
must never happen again.! ne told
himself remorsefully.
He was wide-awake now. Doubt
less Pegloe had put him to bed. Well,
that had been thoughtful Of Pegloe-
he would not forget him-the City
Tavern should continue to enjoy his
patronage. 1t would be something Tor
Pegloe to boast Of that Judge Slocum
Price Turberville always made his
place headquarters when in Raleigh.
Feeling that he had already conferred
wealth and distinction on the fortu-
nate Pegloe the judge thrust his lat
legs over the side OF his bed and stood
erect. STOPPING he reached for his
clothes. lie confidently expected to
find them on the floor, but his hand
merely swept an uncarpeted waste.
The Judge was profoundly astonished.
Maybe I've got EN- on. don't re-
call taking them off," he thought
hopefully. He moved uncertainty in
the direction OF the window, where
the light showed him his own bare en-
tremities. He reverted to his orig
inal idea that his clothes were scat
tered about the floor.
He was beginning to experience
great sense of haste; it was two miles
to Boggs' and Fentress would be there
at sun.up. Finally he abandoned his
ouest OF the missing garments and
turned to the door. TO say that he
was amazed when he found 1t locked
would have most inadeQuately de-
scribed his emotions. Breathing deep,
he fell back step or two, and then
with all the vigor he could muster
launched himself at the door. But II
resisted him.
IFS boIted on the other side!' he
muttered, the full measure OF Peg
loe's perfidy revealing itself to his
mind. He was aghast. 1t was a plot
TO discredit him. Pegloe's hospitality
had been inspired by his enemy, for
Peeloe was Fentress' tenant.
Again he attacked the door; he be-
lieved it might be possible to force It
from its hinges. but PegIoe had done
his work too we'll for that. and at
last, spent and breathless. the judge
dropped down on the edge OF his bed
to consider the situation. He was
without clothes and he was a prls-
oner vet his mind rose splendidly to
meet the difficulties that beset him.
His greatest activities were reserved
for what appeared to be only sea
son OF despair. He armed himself with
a three-legged stool he had found ana
turned once more to the door, but the