Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-03-06
CHAPTER XXI.
The JUDGE Takes Charge.

stopped, and the hundreds OF slaves
men. women and children-Were gain
cred about the house. Among these
moved the members OF the dominant
race. The judge would have attached
himself to the first group, but ne
heard a whispered question. and the
answer:
miss Malroy's lawyer"
Clearly It was not for him to mix
with these outsiders, these curiosity
seekers. He crossed the lawn to the
house, and mounted the steps. In the
doorway was big Steve, while groups
of men stood about In the hall, the
hum of busy purposeless talk perVad'
ing the place. The judge froWled.
This was all wrong.
Has Mr.. Ware returned from Men,
phis?" he asked OF Steve.
mo, sab; not yet
Then show me into the library"
said the judge with bland authority,
surrendering his hat to the butler
Come along, Mahaffy!" he added.
They entered the library, and the
Judge motioned Steve to close the
door. Now, boy, you'll kindly ask
those people TO withdraw-you may
say It is Judge Prices orders. Allow
no one to enter the house unless they
have business with me, or az | send
for them-you understand? After you
have cleared the house, you may
bring me decanter Of corn WHISKY
stop a bit--you may ask the sherin
to step here"
Eyes. sah.' And Steve withdrew.
The Judge drew an easy-chair up to
the iat-topped desk that stood In the
center of the room, and seated him.
self
Are you going to make this the
excuse for another drunk. Price? Ii
so, feel the greatest contempt TOT
you,' said Mahaffy sternly.
The Judge WINGED at this.
You have made q regrettaDle
choice of words. Solomon" he urged
gently.
Where's your feeling for the boy?"
mere. Sdiu WIN CO. Wv
Guent gesture, resting his hand on bis
heart.
If you let whisky alone. I'll believe
you; otherwise what have said must
stand"
The door opened. and the sherir
slouched into the room. He was chew
ing long wheat straw, and his whole
appearance was one or troubled weak
ness.
Morning" he said briefly.
sit down, sheriff" and the judge
Indicated a meek seat for the official
in distant corner. Have you learned
anything" he asked.
The sheriff shook his head.
What you turning all these neigh
bors out OF doors for?" he questioned.
I'VE don't want people tracking in
and out the house. sheriff Important
evidence may be destroyed. propose
examining the slaves tirst-does that
meet with your approval?'
"Oh. I've talked with them; they
don't know nothing" said the sherifr.
mo one don't know nothing"
please God, we may yet put our
fingers on some villain who does-'
said the Judge.
Outside 1t was noised about that
Judge Price had taken matters IN
hand-he was the old fellow who had
been warned to keep his mouth shut,
and who had never stopped talking
since. A crowd collected beyond the
library windows and Toasted its eyes
on the back OF this heros bald head.
One by one the house servants were
ushered into the judges presence.
First he interrogated little Steve. who
had gone to Miss Betty's door that
morning to rouse her, as WAS his Gus
tom. Next he examined Betty's maid;
then the cook, and various house serV-
ants, who had nothing especial to TELL,
bat told it at considerable length; and
lastly big Steve.
stop Bit" the Judge suddenly IN.
terrupted the, butler in the midst OF
his narrative. Does the overseer al
ways CuLuo up " lAC hobSS eA@O 49, ~
thing In the morning."
Why, not exactly. sab, but he come
up this mo'ning. sab. He was talking
to me at the back Of the house, when
the women run out with the word that
Missy was done gone away"
He Joined In the search?'
Eyes. sah."
when was Miss Malroy seen last?"
asked the judge.
She and the young gemman you
fotched heah were seen in the gyar-
den along about shutdown. seen them
myself"
They had had support"
Yes. sab"
"Who sleeps here?"
lust little Steve and three OF the
women: they sleeps at the back CT
the house, sab"
mo sounds were heard during the
night?"
mo, sab"