The Red Cloud chief., 1912-05-30
CHAPTER xi-(contlnued).

The Judge gave q great start. and a
h0arse. inarticulate murmur stole
from between his twitching lips.
What do you know OF the Barony.
Hannibal"
II lived at the Barony once. until
Uncle Bob took me to Scratch Hill
20 be with him." said Hannibal.
"You-you lived at the BaronyY"
repeated the Judge. and dull wonder
struck through his tone. How long
agO-when:" he continued.
Il don't know how long It we're,
but until Uncle Bob carried me away
after the old general died."
The Judge slipped a. hand under the
child's chin and tilted his face back
SO that he might look into It. For q
long moment he studied closely those
small features. then with a shake OF
the head he handed the rife to Car
rington. and without q word strobe
forward. Darlington had been regard
ing Hannibal with q Quickened inter.
est"
"Hello!" he said. az the Judge moved
Oh. You're the boy I saw at Scratch
Hin!"
Hannibal gave him o frightened
glance. and edged to Mr.. MahaYy's
side. but did not answer.
The Judge plodded forward. his
shoulders dropped. and his head
bowed. For once silence had liked
its seal upon his lips. no inspiring
speech fell from them. He had been
suddenly swept back into a past he
had striven these twenty years and
moro to forget. and his memories
shaped themselves fantastically. Sure
ly II ever q man had quilted the world
that knew him, he was that man! He
had died and yet he lived-iived hor-
ribly. without soul or heart. the empty
shell Of man.
A turn In tho road brought them
within sight Of Boggs' race.track. a
wide. level meadow. The Judge
paused irresolutely. and turned his
bleared face on his friend.
"We'l stop here. Solomon" he said
rather wearily. for the spirit OF boast
and Jest was quite gone out of him.
lie glanced toward Darlington. Are
you resident Of these parts. sir?" he
asked.
I've been In Raleigh three days al
together" answered Darlington, and
they continued on across the meadow
In, silence.
Here we're men from the small
clearings In homespun and butternut
or fringed hunting-shirts, with their
women folk trailing after them. Here,
too. In lesser numbers, were the lords
of the soil. the men who counted their
acres by the thousand and their
slaves by the score. There was the
fiutter OF skirts among the moving
groups. the nOdding OF gay parasols
that shaded fresh young faces. while
occasionally a comfortable family car
riage with some planters wife OF
daughter rolled silently over the turf
The judges dull eye kindied, the
haggard lines that streaked his face
erased themselves. This was life. opu
lent and full. These swift.rolling car
riages with their handsome women
these well-dressed men on foot, ant
splendidly mounted, all did their par
toward lifting him out of his gloom.
A cry from Hannibal drew his at
tention. Turning, he was In time I,
see the boy bound away. An instan
later. to his astonishment. he saw
young girl who was seated with tw,
nnen In an open carriage. spring to tn,
ground. and dropping to her knee
put her arms about the tattered littl
figure.
why. Hannibal!" cried Betty MAJ
roy.
Miss Betty! Miss Betty" an,
Hannibal buried his head ON he
shoulder.
what IL II. Hannibal: what is I,
dear?"
Nothing. only I'm SO glad to I'M
you!"
II am glad to see you. tool" sal
Betty. as she wiped his tears ava.