Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1912-03-28
sl4la Grandson 10 Back Of That Cur
tain, Now--AsIeep In My Bed"

tain, Now-Asleep In MY Bed"
but there was a guilty deepening OF
the flush on his face. Mr.. Mahany
glanced at the jug. at the halEemptied
glass, lastly at the Judge himself.
"You seem to be raising first-rate
hell all by yourself"
-Oh, be reasonable, Solomon. You'd
some down to the steamboat land
Ing" said the Judge plaintively. BY
way of answer, Mahaffy shot him
contemptuous glance. Take q chair
do, Solomonl" entreated the Judge.
when did / ever sneak jug into
my shantyT asked Mahafry sternly,
evidently conscious Of entire recti-
tude in this matter.
81 deplore your choice OF words,
Solomon" said the Judge. you know
damn well that If you'd been here /
couldn't have got past your place
with that jug! But let's deal with
conditions. Here's the jug, with some
| liquor left in there's glass. Now
what moro do you want?"
Mr.. Mahaffy drew near the table.
"Sit down." urged the judge.
81 hope you feel mean7 said Ma,
hairy.
IF it's any satisfaction to you, 1
do" admitted the Judge.
''You ought to-" Mahaffy drew for
ward a chair. The Judge filled his
glass.
What's the news from the land
ing?"
Mahafy brought his list down on
the table.
81 heard the boat churning away
round back of the bend, then saw
the lights, and she tied up and they
tossed on the freight. 1nen 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 | was left with the half
dozen miserable loafers who'd crawled
out to see the boat come in. That's
! the news six days a 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
| hairy, 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
acls OF regeneration.
At the judges elbow Mr. Mahafry
changed his position with nervous
suddenness. Then he folded his long
arms.
You asked II there was any news,
Price; while we were waiting for the
boat a raft tied up to the bank; the
fellow aboard OF IL had a man he'd
fiBhed up out of the river. man
who'd been pretty we'll cut TO pieces"
who was her. asked the Judge.
Nobody knew, and he wasn't con
scious. ! shouldn't be surprised II 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 lie must
account for the boys presence,
While you've been taking your
Whit Of life down at the steamboat
landing. MahaiTy, I've been expert
encinE q most extraordinary coinci-
depce. When I went to the war OF
~. Hazard accompanied me as my
orderly. His grandson is back OF that
curtain now-asleep-in my bed!"
Mahahy put down his glass.
You were like this once before"
he said dRrkly. But at that instant
the shuck tick ratified noisliy at some
movement OF the sleeping boy. Ma
hairy quilted his chair, and crossing
the room, drew tho quilt aside. A
glance suflced TO assure him that In
part, at least. the Judge spoke the
truth.
There was hoof-beat on the road.
II came nearer and nearer, and pres
emily sounded just beyond the door.
Then It ceased. and voice said:
"Hullo, therel" The Judge BerAm-
bled to his feet, and taking up the
candle. staggered into the yard. Ma
hsffy followed him.
whats wanted2' asked the Judge
holding his candle aloft- The light
showed a tall fellow mounted on n.
handsome bay horse. II was Murrell.
Have either OF you gentlemen seen
boy go through here todayT" Muir
rell glanced from one to the other.
Mr.. Mahaffy's thin lips twisted them
selves into a sarcastic smile. He,
turned TO the Judge. who spoke up
quickly.
ibid he carry a bundle and ritter
he asked. Murrell gave eager assent.
We'll" said the judge. "he stopped
here along about four O'Clock, and
asked his way to the nearest river
| landing"