The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1912-09-06
THE
pRODICAL<
JUDGE
( By XAUGHAnKEST
ILLUSTRATORS ByDMEZ
Coe,po-Z IoI Ar 6csA5 ,<eaeul Co-1e<oy

their sockets. There across the sun.
Lit stretch of water was Betty-the
thought of her brought him to quick
choking t. rs. The whole fabric OF
crime by which he had been benefited
in che past or had expected to profit
in the future seemed toppling in upon
him, but his mind clutched one i'm
portant fact. Hues, If he knew OF
Betty's disappearance, did not con-
meet Murrell with 1t. Ware sucked in
COMFORT between his twitching lips
Stealing niggers! No one would be-
lieve that he, planter, had a hand in
that, and for brief instant he con-
sidered signaling Bess to return. Slos-
son must be told Of Murrell's arrest;
but he was sick with apprehension,
some trap might have been prepared
for him, he could not know; and the
impulse to ect forsook him.
He smote his hands together in a
hopeless, beaten gesture. And Muir
rell had gone weak-with his own
eyes he had seen Decentralization
he believed without fear! He felt that
he had been grievously betrayed in
his trust and hot rage poured
through him. At last he climbed in
to the saddle, and, swaying like
drunken man, galloped Off
When he reached the river road
he paused and scanned it's dusty sur
face. Hues and his party had turned
south when they issued from the wood
path. No doubt Murrell was being
taken to Memphis. Ware laughed
harshly. The outlaw would be free
before another dawn broke.
He had halted near where Jim had
turned his team the previous night
after Betty and Hannibal had left the
carriage; the marks of the wheels
were as plainly distinguishable as the
more recent trail left by the four men,
and as he grasped the significance OF
that wide half circle his sense of in
jury overwhelmed him again. He
hoped to live to see Murrell hanged!
He was SO completely lost in his
bitter reflections that he had been an
aware of mounted man who was
coming toward him at a swift galIop,
but now he heard the steady pounding
of hoofs and, startled by the sound,
looked up. A moment later the horse
man drew rein at his side.
"Ware!" he cried.
the planter.
You are wanted at Belle Plain" be-
gan Darlington, and seemed to hesi |
tate.
"Yes-yes, l am going there at once
now" stammered Ware, and gath
cred up his reins with shaking hand.
You've heard, take it?" said Car
rington slowly
YES" answered Ware. in a hoarse
whisper. MY God, Darlington, I'm |
heart sick; she has been like a daugh-
ter to mel" he fell silent, mop
ping his face.
Il think | understand your feeling"
said Darlington, giving him a level
glance.
Then you'll excuse me- and the
planted clapped spurs to his horse. |
Once he looked back over his shouI- |
der; he saw that Darlington had not
moved from the spot where they had
met
At Belle Plain, Ware found his |
neighbors in possession of the place |
They greeted him quietly and spoke
in subdued tones of their sympathy.
When he could he shut himself in
his room. He had experienced day
of maddening anxiety; he had not
slept at all the previous night; In
mind and body he was worn out; and
now he was plunged into the thick OF
this sensation. He must keep control |
of himself.
He sought to forecast the happen
ings of the next few hours. Murrelrs
friends would break Jail for him, that
was a foregone conclusion; but the
he had planned was at
an end Hues had dealt its death
blow. Moreover, though the law
might be impotent to deal with Muir
rell, he could not hope to escape the |
of the powerful class he
had plotted to destroy; he would have
to quit the country. Ware gloated in |
this idea of craven flight. Thank
God, he had seen the last of him.
But. as always, his thoughts came
back to Betty. Slosson- would wait at
Hicks place for the man MurreII had |
promised him, and, failing the mes
senger, for the signal fire, but there |
would be neither; and Slosson would |
be left to determine his own course of |
action. Ware felt certain that he
would wait through the night, but as /
sure as the morning broke. If no word |
had reached him, he would send one