The Pleasantville press., 1912-05-15

black cavernous fireplace. A shakei
down bed in one corner of the room
was tastefully screened from the pub
lie gaze by tattered quilt.
boy, don't be afraid. Look on me
as a friend urged the judge.
II reckon I'll be glad to STOP" an
swered Hannibal.
Such confidence is inspiring. Are
you hungry"
Yes, sir" replied Hannibal.
What do you say to cold fish,"
the judge smacked his lips to impart
a relish to the idea. Il dare swear
l can find you some corn bread into
the bargain" He began to assemble
the dainties he had enumerated.
Here you are!" he cleared his throat
impressively, while benignity shone
from every feature of his face "A
moment since you allowed me to think
you were solvent to the extent of
fifty cents" Hannibal looked puz-
zled. Il wonder if you could be in
duced to make a temporary loan of
that fifty cents? The sum involved
Is really such ridiculous tritie {
don't need to point out to you the abb
soIute moral certainty of my return
ing it at an early date"
1t was not the loss of his money
that Hannibal most feared, and the
coin passed from his possession into
his hosts custody
sfrrIor,lx Won NV howl r1111Ct stan
down to the tavern-when I return,
please God, we shall know more OF
each other" While he was still
speaking, he had produced jug from
behind the quilt that screened his
bed, and now took himself off into the
night
Left alone, Hannibal gravely seated
himself at the table. What the
judges larder. lacked in variety it
more than made up for in quantity,
and the boy was grateful for this fact.
Presently he heard the judges heavy,
shuffiing step as he came up the path
from the road, and a moment later
his gross bulk of body filled the door
way. Breathing hard and perspiring,
the judge entered the shanty, but his
had established himself in his chair
beside the table, with the jug and a
cracked glass at his elbow. Then,
bland and smiling, he turned toward
his guest.
my tenderest regards, Hannibal!"
and he nodded over the rim of the
cracked glass his shaking hand had
carried to his lips. Twice the glass
was filled and emptied, and then
again, his rowing, watery eyes rested
meditatively on the child. Have you
a father?" he asked suddenly Han
nibal shook his head. "A mother?"
They both of them done died
years and years ago. answered the
boy. 81 can't tell you how long back
it was, but l reckon I don't know
much about it. / must have been a
small child"
aHo-a small child" cried the
judge, laughing. He cooked his head
on one side and surveyed Hannibal
Wayne Hazard with a glance OF COM
ic seriousness. In Gods name what
do you call yourself now?"
Pm most ten," said Hannibal, with
dignity.
4 can well believe it." responded
the judge. where did you come
from?"
From across the mountains"
And where are you going?"
''To west Tennessee"
Have you any friends there?"
Yes, sir
you've money enough to see you
through" and what the judge intend
ed for a smile of fatherly affection
became leer of infinite cunning.
> Il got ten dollars"
''Ten dollars" the judge smacked
his lips once. Ten dollars" he re-
peated, and smacked his lips twice.
The purple flush on the judges
face, where the dignity that belonged
to age had gone down in wreck, deep
ened.
He quilted his chair and, lurching
somewhat as he did SO, began to pace
the floor.
Take me for your example, boy!
You may be poor, you may possibly
be hungry-you'n often be thirsty,
but through 1t all you will remain
that splendid thing-a gentleman!
Perhaps you'll contend that the old
order is overthrown, that family has
gone to the devil? You are right, and
there's the pity of it! The social
fabric is tottering-I can see 1t tot
ter" and he tottered himself as he
said this.
We'll, I'm an old mantle spec
tacle won't long offend me. I'll die
presently He was so profoundly
moved by the thought that he could
not go on. His voice broke, and he
buried his face in his arms. A SYM
pathetic moisture had gathered in the
child's eyes. He slipped from his
chair and stole to the judges side.
Pm mighty sorry you're going to
die"
Bless you, Hann1pal!" cried the
judge, looking wonderfully cheerful,