Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1912-04-04

'Hannihal--" the judges voice anG
manner we're rather stern. "Hanni-
bal, man rode b. here last night on
big bay horse lie said he was
| looking for a boy about ten years old
IA boy with a bundle and rife"
There was an awful pause, who was
| that man, Hsnnibal7'
1T we're Captain Murrell." The
| Judge raised HIS fist and brought It
down with great crash on the Ia
bile. I'VE don't know any boy ten
years old with a rife and bundlel'
he said
"Piease--you won't let him take me
away, iudge--I want to stop with
youl" 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 ahant have
you Is he hin to your
NO." said Hannibal lie tried 70
get me away from my Uncle Bob"
Where Is your Uncle BobF"
Hes dead And tho child began
/ ~ NHFR AtAEAAAgH a AN HA1MB AeAiA
and lifted him into his lap.
There. my son" he said sooth-
inRly Now you tell me when he
died. and ali about t."
"i3a we're allied. 1t were only yes.
| tcrdsy, and / cant forget him, I
| don't want to--but Il hurts-lt hurts
| terrible!" Hannibal buried his head In
the judges shoulder and aobbed
aloud. Presently his small hands
stole about the Judges neck and that
gentleman experienced a strange THRU
Of pleasure.
Tell me how he died. Hannibal"
no urged gently, IN a voice broken
hy aoba, the child began the story
/ 81 tAelF alsnt. 5oafgsrd narrative.
| The Judge Rhuddcrcd. Can such
/ things be-" he murmuTed al last Then
| he remembered what MahHfTy had
! told him Of the man on the raIt
Hannibal" be said, Solomon Ma
| haay. who was here last night, told
4 mo be SAW down at the river land
Ing, Il man who had been tlshod up
out OF the Eikr-n man who had been
roughly handled
! ~ ere II my Uncle BobY" cried
Hannibal, lifting a swollen face TO
hia.
Dear lad, don't know" said the
/ Judge sympathoticaI.y.
1T we're Uncle Bobi know Il
we're my Uncle Bobi must 20 find
4 mimi" and Hannibal slipped from the
Judges lap aud ran for bis rlao and
bundle.
stop bitl" cried the judge Now,
it It vas your Uncle Bob. he.u come
back the moment be Is able to travel.
| Meantime, you must remain under my
| protection while we Investigate this
man slosaon,"
II was Saturday, and In Pleasant
Vile a lailraising vas IN progress.
During all the years OF tie corporate
dignity the village had never boaAted
any building where the evitdoer could
be placed under restraint, hence had
arisen It's peculiar habit OF dealing
with crime but q leading citizen had
donated half an acre OF ground lying
midway between the town and tho
] river landing as site for the pro-
posed structure, and the scattered
population Of tho region had assem-
| BLEED for the raising.
I'VE don't want to get there too
early" explained the Judge, as they
Quilted the cabin. We want to miss
tho work, but be on hand for the
celebration"
Il suppose we may confidently look
TO you to favor us with few elo-
quent words?" said Mr.. Mahaffy.
And why not, Solomon" asked
the judge.
The opportunity he craved was noa
most southwestern crowds OF the Pc
Rod. and no sooner did the Judge ap-
pear thur there weFe olamorous de-
mands for a speech. lie cast a
glance Of triumph at MahafHy, and
nimbly mounted convenient stump.
He extolled the climate OF middle
Tennessee, the unsurpassed fertility
of the soil; no touched on the future
that awaited Pleasantyille; he apos.
| trophized the jail.
Presently the crowd drifted away
in the direction of the tavern. Han
nlbal meantime had gone down to the
river. He haunted It's banks as
though he expected to see his Uncle
Bob appear any moment. The Judge
and Mahaffy had mingled with the
others in the hope of free drinks. but
In this hope there lurked the germ
OF a bitter disappointment. After a
period Of mental anguish MahafYy
parted with his last stray coin, and
while his flask was being filled the
Judge INDUCED in certain winsome
gallantries with the fat landlady.
ia, Judge Price, how you do run
onl" she said with coquettish toss
Of her curls.
That's the charm OF you, ma'am, =
said the Judge. He leaned across the
bar and, sinking his voice to husky
whisper asked: would it be perfect.
| ly convenient for you to extend me a