Cheraw chronicle. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1896-2005, 1912-05-30

couldn't nave got past 9Oui Pioeo
with that jug! But let's deal Win
conditions. Here's the jug, with some
liquor left in there's glass. NO"
what more do you want?'
Mr. Mahaffy drew near the table.
"Sit down." urged the judge
81 hope you feel mean?" said Ma
haffy.
..If it's any satisfaction to you, l
do" admitted the Judge.
"You ought to-" Mahaffy drew for-
ward a chair. The judge filled his
glass.
whats the news from the land
ing?"
Mahaffy brought his fist down on
the table.
II heard the boat churning away
round back OF the bend, then l saw
the lights, and she tied up and they
tossed off the freight. linen she
churned away again and her lights
got back of the trees on the bank.
| There was the lap of waves on the
shore, and l was left with the half
! dozen miserable loafers who'd crawled
out to see the boat come in. That's
the news six days week."
By the river had come the judge,
tentatively hopeful, but at heart eX-
pecting nothing, therefore immune to
disappointment and equipped for fail
ure. BY the river had come Mr.. Ma
haffy, as unfit as the judge himself,
and for the same reason, but sour and
bitter with the world, believing al
ways in the possibility OF some mir
acle Of regeneration.
| At the judges elbow Mr.. Mahaffy
changed his position with nervous
suddenness. Then he folded his long
arms.
You asked If there was any news,
I Price; while we were waiting for the
boat a raft tied up to the bank; the
fellow aboard of it had man he'd
flshed up out of the river, a man
who'd been pretty we'll cut to pieces"
"Who was he?" asked the judge.
Nobody knew, and he wasn't con-
scious. l shouldn't be surprised if he
never opens his lips again. When
the doctor had looked to his cuts, the
fellow on the raft cast of, and went
on down the Elk"
It occurred to the Judge that he
himself had news to impart. He must
account for the boys presence.
while you've been taking your
Whit Of VIE down at the steamboat
landing, Mahaffy, I've been expert
encing a most extraordinary coinci-
dence. When l went to the war OF
70 q Hazard accapnnspied me az my.
orderly. His grandson ID back Of that
curtain now-asleep-in my bed!"
Mahaffy put down his glass.
"You were like this once before"
he said darkly. But at that instant
the shuck tick ratified noisily at some
movement of the sleeping boy. Ma
haffy quilted his chair, and crossing
the room, drew the quilt aside. A
glance sufficed to assure him that IN
part, at least, the judge spoke the
truth.
There was a hoof-beat on the road
It came nearer and nearer, and pres
emily sounded just beyond the door.
Then it ceased, and voice said:
"Hullo, there!" The Judge scram-
bled to bis feet, and taking up the
candle. staggered into the yard. Ma
haffy followed him.
What's wanted?" asked the Judge
holding his candle aloft. The light
showed a tall fellow mounted on
handsome bay horse. 1t was Murrell.
Have either of you gentlemen seen
a boy go through here today?' Muir
rell glanced from one to the other.
Mr.. Mahaffys thin lips twisted them
selves into a sarcastic smile. He
turned to the Judge, who spoke up
quickly.
Did he carry bundle and rifle"
he asked. Murrell gave eager assent.
well" said the judge, he stopped
here along about four o'clock, and
asked his way to the nearest river
landing"
"Hannibal-" the judges voice and
manner were rather stern. "Hanni-
bal, a man rode by here last night on
big bay horse. He said he was
looking for boy about ten years old
"a boy with bundle and rifle"
There was an awful pause. who was
that man, Hannibal?"
1T were Captain Murrell." The
| Judge raised his fist and brought 1t