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


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 stc"y
of their flight. confused narrative.
The judge shuddered. Can such
things be-" he murmured at last. Then
he remembered what Mahaffy had
told him of the man on the raft.
Hannibal" he said, Solomon Ma
haffy, who was here last night, told
me he saw down at the river land
ing, a man who had been tished up
out of the Elk-a man who had been
roughly handled"
Were it my Uncle Bob?" cried
Hannibal, lifting a swollen face to
his.
Dear lad, l don't know" said the
Judge sympathetically.
1T We're Uncle Bob! / know 1t
were my Uncle Bob. l must go find
him!" and Hannibal slipped from the
Judges lap and ran for his rifle and
bundle.
stop a Bit" cried the judge. Now,
IL it was your Uncle Bob, he'll come
back the moment he is able to travel.
Meantime, you must remain under my
protection while We investigate this
man Slosson.'
1t was Saturday, and in Pleasant
vile a jail-raising was in. progress.
During all the years Of its colporatH
dignity the village had never boasted
any building where the evil-doer could
be placed under restraint; hence had
arisen its peculiar habit Of dealinG
with crime; but leading citizen had
donated half an acre OF ground lying
midway between the town and the
river landing as site for the pro-
posed structure, and the scattered
population of the region had assem-
bled for the raising.
1--WE don't want to get there too
early" explained the judge, as they
Quilted the cabin. I'VE want to miss
the work, but be on hand 1or tho
celebration"
II suppose We may confidently look
to you to favor us with few elc-
quent words?" said Mr.. Mahaffy.
"And why not, Solomon asked
the judge.
The opportunity he craved was not
denied him. The crowd was Hl.e
most southwestern crowds OF the pc
riod, and no sooner did the Judge az
pear than there were clamorous de-
mands Tor speech. He cast a
glance of triumph at Mahafry, and
nimbly mounted a convenient stump.
He extolled the climate Of middle
Tennessee, the unsurpassed fertility
Of the soil; he touched on the future
that awaited rleasantville; he apos-
trophized the JAIL
Presently the crowd drifted away
in the direction of the tavern. Han
nibal meantime had gone down to the
river. He haunted its banks as
though he expected to see his Uncle
Bob appear any moment The Judge
and Mahaffy had mingled with the
others in the hope OF free drinks, but
in this hope there lurked the germ
of a bitter disappointment. After a
period of mental anguish Mahaffy
parted with his last stray coin, and
while his flask was being filled the
Judge INDUCED in certain winsome
gallantries with the fat landlady.
LA, Judge Price, how you do run
on" she said with coquettish toss
of her curls.
That's the charm Of you, maam,"
said the judge. He leaned across the
bar and, sinking his voice to husky
whisper. asked: would it be perfect
ly convenient for you to extend me a
limited credit?"
Now, Judge Price, you know a
heap better than to ask me that"
she answered, shaking her head.
mo offense, ma am" said the judge,
hiding his disappointment, and with
Mahaffy he quilted the bar.
The sudden noisy clamor OF many
voices, high pitched and excited, float
ed out to them under the hot sky. Il
wonder" began the Judge, and
paused as he saw the crowd stream
into the road before the tavern. Then
a cloud of dust enveloped 1t, cloud
of dust that came from the tramping
of many pairs of feet, and that swept
toward them, thick and impenetrable,
and no higher than q tall mans head