The Lamar register. [volume] (Lamar, Colo.) 1889-1952, 1912-07-17
CHAPTER XIV.
Colonel Fentress.


The Judge had not forgotten his
ghost, the ghost he had seen in Mr..
SauPs office that day he went to the
court house on business for Charley
Norton. Working or idling-principaL
ly the latter-drunk or sOber-prin-
cipally the former-the ghost, other
wise Colonel Fentress, had preserved
a place in his thoughts. and now as
he moved stolidly up the drive toward
Fentress' big white house on the hill
with Mahaffy, 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 huddle Of white
washed cabins beyond; then with his
big list 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 tit" he asked.
Judge Price-Colonel Fentress,"
said the Judge
Judge Price," uncertainty, and still
advancing.
Il had fiattered myself that you
must have heard OF me-" said the
Judge.
Il think I have" said Fentress.
pausing now.
He thinks he hast" muttered the
Judge under his breath.
"Wil you come INF" 1t was more q
question than an invitation.
''f you are at liberty" The colonel
bowed. ALLOW me-" the Judge con-
tinued. Colonel Fentress-Mr. Ma
hairy. Mr.. Yancy and Mr.. Cavendish.' %
Again the colonel bowed.
"Will you step into the nbrary7"
Every good" and the Judge followed
the colonel briskly down the ball.
When they entered the library Fen.
tress turned and took stock OF his
guests. Mahaffy 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 a 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 q common
vagabond; and II his dress advertised
the state Of his finances, his face ex-
planned his habits. No misconception
was possible about either.
May offer you a glass of liquorY'
asked Fentress. breaking the silence.
He stepped to the walnut comfortable
| where there was a decanter and
| glasses. By q gesture the Judge de-
clined the invitation. Whereat the
colonel looked surprised. but not SO
surprised as Mahaffy. There was an
| other silence.
II don't think We ever met before?"
observed Fentress. There was some
thing in the fixed stare his visitor was
bending upon him that he found dis
quieting, Just why, he could not have
told.
But that fixed stare Of the judges
continued. No, the man had not
changed-he had grown older certain
| ~, but age had not come ungracefuI-
II, he became the glossy broadcloth