Meade County news. [volume] (Meade, Kan.) 1900-1918, 1912-04-25

enciJg most extraordinary coinci-
dence. When | went to the war OF
IL, Hazard accompanied me as my
orderly. His grandson is 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
hafy 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.
| 1t came nearer and nearer, and pres
emily sounded just beyond the door.
Then it ceased, and a voice said:
"Hullo, there!" The judge scram-
bled to his feet, and taking up the
candle. staggered into the yard. Ma
haffy followed him.
whats wanted?" asked the Judge
holding his candle aloft. The light
| showed a 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 a sarcastic smile. He
turned to the judge, who spoke up
quickly.
did he carry bundle and ritle?"
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, 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 a bundle and rifle"
There was an awful pause. Who was
that man, Hannibal?"
1T were Captain Murrell." The
Judge raised his fist and brought it
down with a great crash on the ia
BILE. I'VE don't know any boy ten
years old with a rifle and bundle!"
he said
"Please-you won't let him take me
away. judge-I want to stop with
you!" cried Hannibal. He slipped
from his chair and passing about the
table. seized the judge by the hand.
The judge was visibly affected.
mol" he roared. HE shan't have
you Is he kin to your"
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 1t were only yes
terday, and | can't forget him. [
don't want to-but 1t hurts-it 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 strange thrill
of pleasure.
Tell me how he died, Hannibal,
he urged gently. In voice broken
by sobs, the child began the story
of their flight a 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, man who had been tished up
out of the Eliza man who had been
roughly handled"
Were 1t my Uncle Bob?" cried
Hannibal, lifting swollen face to
his.
Dear lad. don't know" said the
Judge sympathetically.
1T were Uncle Bob! know it
were my Uncle Bob! must go find
him!" and Hannibal slipped from the
Judges lap and ran for his rifle and
bundle.
stop Bit" cried the Judge. Now,
If 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 jail-raising was in progress.
During all the years Of its corporate
dignity the village had never boosted
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 a site IT, the pro-
posed structure, and the scattered
population of the region had assem-
bled for the raising.
Din CONyTTNITIrnN