Putnam patriot., 1912-03-01


 Hannibal" the judges voice and manner were rather stern. "Hanni- bal, a man rode by here last night on a big bay horse. He said he was looking for boy about ten years old "a boy with a bundle and rife. ' There was an awful pause. Who was that man. Hannibal?'
 Tt were Captain Murrell." The judge raised his fist and brought it down with a great crash on the ta- ble. We don't know any boy ten years old with a rife and bundlel" he said.
 "Please-you won't let him take me away. judge-I want to stop with you," cried Hannibal. He slipped from his chair. and passing about the table. seized the judge by the hand. The judge was visibly affected.
 "No!" he roared. He shan't have you. Is be kin to your"
 No" said Hannibal. He tried to get me away from my Uncle Bob."
 Where is your Uncle Bob?"
 He's dead" And the child began to weep bitterly. The judge bent and lifted him into his lap.
 There. my son" he said sooth- ingly. Now you tell me when he died. and all about it.''
 He were killed. It were only yes terday, and 1 cant forget him. don't want to-but 1t hurts-it hurts terrible!" Hannibal buried his head in the judges shoulder and sobbed aloud. Presently his small hands stole about the judges neck, and that gentleman experienced strange thrill of pleasure.
 Tell me how he died, Hannibal he urged gently. In a voice broken by sobs, the child began the story of their flight, confused narrative. The judge shuddered. Gan such things be-" he murmured at last. Then he remembered what Mahaffy had told him of the man on the raft. Hannibal" he said, Solomon Ma haffy, who was here last night, told me he saw down at the river land ing. a man who had been fished up out of the Elk-a man who had been roughly handled"
 Were 1t my Uncle Bob?" cried Hannibal, lifting swollen face to his.
 Dear lad, I don't know said the judge sympathetically.
 Tt were Uncle Bob. I know 1t were my Uncle Bobl I must gc find him," and Hannibal slipped from the judges lap and ran for his rife and bundle.
 Stop a bit," cried the judge. Now, if it was your Uncle Bob, he'll come back the moment he is able to travel. Meantime, you must remain under my protection while We investigate this man Slosson."
 It was Saturday, and in Pleasant vile jail-raising was in progress. During all the years of it's corporate dignity the village had never boasted any building where the evil-doer could be placed under restraint; hence had arisen it's peculiar habit of dealing with crime; put leading citizen had donated half an acre of ground lying midway between the town and the river landing as a site for the pro- posed structure, and the scattered population of the region had assem- bled for the raising.
 We don't want to get there too early" explained the judge, as they quilted the cabin. We want to miss the work, but be on hand for the celebration"
 'I suppose we may confidently look to you to favor us with a few elo- quent words?" said Mir Mahaffy.
 And why not, Solomon?" asked the judge.
 The opportunity he craved was not denied him. The crowd was like most southwestern crowds of the pe- rfod, and no sooner did the judge ap- pear than there were clamorous de- mands for speech. He cast q glance of triumph at Mahany. and nimbly mounted Q convenient stump. He extolled the climate of middle Tennessee. the unsurpassed fertility of the soil; he touched on the future that awaited Plessantville; he apos- trophized the jail.
 Presently the crowd drifted away in tho direction of the tavern. han- nibal meantime had gone down to the river. He haunted its banks as though he expected to sec his Uncle Bob appear any moment. The judge and Mahany had mingled with the others in the hope of free drinks. but in this hope there lurked the germ of . bitter disappointment. After . period of mental anguish Mahary parted with his last stray coin. and while his flask was being filled the judge indulged in certain winsome gallantries with the fat landlady.
 La, Judge. Price, how you do run onl" she said with coquettish toss of her curls.
 That's the charm of you, ma'a 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 limited credit?"
 Now. Judge Price, you know a heap better than to ask me thati' she answered, shaking her head.
 No ofTense. mas 'am," said the judge, hiding his disappointment. and with Mahaffy he quilted the bar.
 The sudden noisy clamor of many voices, high pitched and excited, float ed out to them under the hot sky. Il wonder" began the judge. and paused as he saw the crowd stream into the road before the tavern Then a cloud of dust enveloped 1t. cloud