The state herald. (Holyoke, Logan County, Colo.) 1887-1921, 1912-05-10

encing most extraordinary coinci
dence. When l went to the war OF
IL. a Hazard accompanied me as my
orderly His grandson is back of thai
curtain now-asleep-in my bed!'
Mahaffy put down his glass.
You were like this once before,
he said darkly. But at that instan,
the shuok 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 sufiiced to assure him that in
part. at least. the Judge spoke the
truth.
There was hoof-beat on the road.
1t 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 his feet, and taking up the
candle. staggered into the yard. Ma.
haffy followed him.
What's wantedH" asked the Judge
holding his candle aloft. The light
showed tall fellow mounted on a
handsome bay horse. 1t was Murrell.
Have either of you gentlemen seen
boy go through here today?" Muir
rell glanced from one to the other.
Mr.. Mahaffy's thin lips twisted them
selves into sarcastic smile. He
turned to the Judge. who spoke up
quickly.
Did he carry bundle and rifie?"
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. n 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 bundle and rife. !"
There was an awful pause, Who was
that man. Hannibal?'
1T were Captain Murrell." The
Judge raised his fist and brought 1t
down with great crash on the Ia
Bile. I'VE don't know any boy ten
, years, old with rife and bundled!
he said.
'Please-you won't let him take me
away. judge-I want to stop with
you!" cried Hannibal. lie slipped
from his chair. and passing about the
table. seized the Judge by the hand.
The Judge was visibly affected.
MOI" he reared. "He shan't have
you. Is he kin TO you?"
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. II were only yes
terday and can't forget him.
don't want to-but 1t hurts-lt 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 a 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 night. confused narrative.
The Judge shuddered. Can such
things be" he murmured at last. Then
he remembered what Mahafy had
told him of the man on the raft
Hannibal" he said. Solomon Ma
hafiy. who was here last night. told
ing. "A man who had been ilshed up
out OF the Elk-a man who had been
roughly handled"
Were It my Uncle Bobg" cried
Hannibal, hitting a swollen face TO
his.
Dear lad. don't know" said tho
Judge alphabetically.
1T were Uncle Bobl know II
were my Uncle Bobl must no ma
hint" and Hannibal slipped from tho
Judges lap and ran for his rife and
bundle.
stop Bit" cried the Judge, Now.
n II was your Uncle Bob. he'll como
back the moment he Is able to travel.
Meantime, you must remain under my
protection while We investigate this
man Sloason."
Il was Saturday. and In Pleasant.
yillo n jailraising was In progress.
During all tho years OF Its corporate
dignity tho village had never boosted
any building where tho cyil-docr could
be placed under restraint. hence had
arisen It's peculiar habit OF dealing
with crime; but leading citizen had
donated half nm aero OF ground lying
midway between tho town and tho
river landing m n site for the pro-
posed structure, and tho scattered
population OF tho region had eaaetn.
blod for tho raising.
.srA mn EnNTIktiIlDl