The Richmond climax. (Richmond, Ky.) 1897-1914, 1912-04-03
CHAPTER XXI.
soIomon,a Lao Nlnht.


1t had been with no little reluctance
that Solomon Mahaffy accompanied
Yancy and Cavendish to Belle Plain;
he would have preferred to remain in
Raleigh in attendance upon Judge
Price. Intimately acquainted with the
judges mental processes, he could fol-
low all the devious workings OF that
magnificent mind; he could fathom
the simply hellish ingenuity he was
capable of putting forth to accom-
plish temporary benefits. Permitting
his thoughts to dwell upon the min
gled strength and weakness which
was so curiously blended in Slocum
Prices character, he had horrid VI
sions Of that great soul, freed from
the trammels of restraint, contiding
his melancholy history to Mr.. Pegloe
in the hope of bolstering his fallen
credit at the City Tavern.
Always where the Judge was con-
cerned he fiuctuated between extremes
of doubt and confidence. He felt that
under the urgent spur OF occasion his
friend could rise to any emergency,
while a sustained activity made de-
mands which he could not satisfy;
then his efforts were discounted by
his insane desire to realize at once on
his opportunities; in his haste he was
tor ever plucking unripe fruit; and
though he might keep one eye on the
main chance the other was fixed Just
as resolutely on the nearest tavern.
With the great stake which fate
had suddenly introduced into their los
ing game, he wished earnestly to be-
neve that the judge would stay quiet
ly in his Office and complete the task
he had set himself; that with this on
his hands the promise of excitement
at Belle Plain would compel his pres
ence there, when he would pass some
what under the restraining influence
which he was determined to exert;
in short, to Solomon, life embraced
Just the one vital consideration,
which was to maintain the judge in
state of sobriety until after his meet
ing with Fentress.
The purple of twilight was stealing
over the land when he and his two
companions reached Belle Plain. They
learned that Tom Ware had returned
from Memphis, that the bayou had
been dragged but without results, and
that as yet nothing had been heard
from Darlington or the dogs he had
gone for.
Presently Cavendish and Yancy set
of across the fields. They were go
ing on to the raft, to Polly and the
six little Cavendishes, whom they had
not seen since early morning; but
they promised to be back at Belle
Plain within an hour.
By very nature an alien, Mahaffy
sought out dark corner on the wide
porch that overlooked the river to
await their return. The house had
been thrown open, and supper was be-
ing served to whoever cared to stay
and partake of It. The murmur OF
Idle purposeless talk drifted out to
him; he was irritated and offended by
it. There was something garish in
this indiscriminate hospitality in the
very home OF tragedy. As the mo-
ments slipped by his sense OF dis
pleasure increased, with mankind in
general, with himself, and with the
judge-principally with the judge
who was to make foolish target OF
himself in the morning. He was go
ing to give the man who had wrecked
his life chance to take it as well.
Mahaffy's cold logic dealt cynically
with the preposterous situation his
friend had created.
In the midst of his angry medita-
tions he heard clock strike in the
hall and counted the strokes. 1t was
nine o'clock. Surely Yancy and Cav
endish had been gone their hourl He
quilted his seat and strolled restless
ly about the house. He felt deeply
indignant with everybody and every
thing. Human intelligence seemed
but a pitiabIe advance on brute In
stiuct. A whole day had passed and
what had been Accomplishment Car
rington. the judge. Yancy. Cavendish
1.-The four men who might have
worked together to some purpose
had widely separated themselves; and
here was the duel. the very climax OF
absurdity. He resumed his dark cor
ner and waited another hour. SulI
no Darlington, and Yancy and Caven-
dish had not come up from the raft.
''Fools." thought Mahany bitterly.
"An Of them foolsl"
At last he decided to go back to
the judge: and~a moment later was
hurrying down the lane in the direc-
ton Of the highroad. but. jaded as he
was By the effort he had already put
for that day. the walk to Raleigh
made tremendous demands on him,
and It was midnight when he entered
the little town.
It cannot be said that ne was alto
gether surprised VIXEN he found their