The Richmond climax. (Richmond, Ky.) 1897-1914, 1912-03-13
CHAPTER XIII.
The JUDGE Finds Allies.

ted Darlington and the two men or
whom the sheriff had spoken.
"A shocking condition of affairs,
Mr.. Carrington!" said the judge by
way of greeting.
yes" said Darlington shortly.
"You left these parts some time ago,
1 believer" continued the judge.
THE day before Norton was shot.
1 had started home for Kentucky. L
heard of his death when l reached
Randolph on the second BLUM" ex-
planned Darlington, from whose cheeks
the weather beaten bloom had faded.
He rested his hand on the edge OF
the desk and turned to the men who
had followed him into the room. This
is the gentleman you wish to see,' he
said, and stepped to one of the win
dows; it overlooked the terraces
where he had said good-by to Betty
scarcely a week before.
The two men had paused by the
door. They now advanced. One was
gaunt and haggard, his face distigured
by great red scar; the other was a
shock-neaded individual who moved
with a shambling gait. Both carried
rifles and both were dressed in coarse
homespun.
Morning, sir" said the man with
the scar. "Yancy's my name, and
this gentleman lows he'd rather be
known now as Mr.. Cavendish."
The judge started to his feet
Bob Yancy?" he cried.
"Yes, sir, that's me-" The judge
passed nimbly around the desk and
shook the Scratch Hitler warmly by
the hand. Where's my nevvy, sir?-
what's all this about him and Miss
Betty?" Yancys soft drawl was sud
denly eager.
please God Wen recover him
soonl" said the judge.
By the window Darlington moved
impatiently. No harm could come to
the boy, but Betty-a shudder went
through him.
They've stolen him." Yancy spoke
with conviction. Il reckon they've
started back to Moth Carolina with
him-only that don't explain what's
come of Miss Betty, does it," and he
dropped rather helplessly into a chair
Bob are just getting of a sick bed
He's been powerful pOrely in conse
quence of having his head laid oper
and then being throwed into the ELI
river, where | fished him out" ex
| planned Cavendish, who still contin
ued to regard the judge with unmixeC
establishment, first cooking his shaggy
head on one side and then on thu
| other, his bleached eyes narrowed to
slit. Now and then he favored thu
austere Mahaffy with a tieetin!
| glance. He seemed intuitively to un
derstand the comradeship OF thei
degradation.
Mr.. Cavendish fetched me here OF
his raft. We tied up to the sho' thi
morning. 1t was there We met MI
Carrington-Id knowed him slight,
back yonder in Moth Carolina" cor
tinued Yancy. He said I'd find Han
nibal with you. was counting a hea
on seeing my nevvy."
Darlington, no longer able to cor
troll himself, swung about on his hee
whats been done?" he asked, wit
fierce repression. whats going to b
done? Don't you know that ever
second is precious?"
Il am about to conclude my invei
LEGATIONS, sir" said the judge wit
dignity.
| rorrfpotO,, etaDpod m tho dOO-
After all, what was there to expect {
these men? Whatever their interes
it was plainly centered in the boy. h
passed out into the hall.
AS the door closed on him the judg
turned again to the Scratch Hitler.
Mr.. Yancy, Mr.. Mahafy and hol
your nephew in the tenderest regard
he has been our constant companio
ever since you were lost to him.
this crisis you may rely upon us; "
are committed to his recovery, n
matter what it involves" The judge
, tone was one of unalterable resoli
ton.
81 reckon you-all have been might
, good and kind to him." said YanC
huskily.
I'VE have endeavored to be, NJ
} Yancy-indeed l had formed the res
/ luton legally to adopt him should yc
J not come to claim him. / should hay
! given him my name, and made hi
. my heir His education has alreaC
begun under my supervision" and Il
I Judge, remembering the high use
1 which he had dedicated one OF Pc
loe's trade labels, fairly glowed wi
" philanthropic fervor.
v Think of that" murmured YAM
softly. He was deeply moved. So vi
Mr.. Cavendish, who was gifted wi
wealth of ready sympathy. /
|. thrust out a hardened hand to Il
4 judge.
= "Shake!" he said. You're a hei
: better than you look" A thin ripp
Il of laughter escaped Mahaffy, but Il
K Judge accepted Chills and Fevel
+ proffered hand. He understood tn
; here was a simple genuine soul.
+ Price, isn't it important for us
q know why Mr.. Yancy thinks the b
has been taken back to North Car
l lina?" said Mahaffy.
4 Just what kin is Hannibal to yc
4 Mr.. Yancy?" asked the judge resu
ing his seat.
l Strictly speaking, he amt mol
That he come to live with me is
i owing to Mr.. Crenshaw, who's a go
! man when left to himself, but b.
4 got wife, so body may say he new
is left to himself" began Yancy; a
then briefly he told the story OF
Il woman and the child much as ne b
told it to Bladen at the Barony I
II day of General Quintard's funeral
II The Judge, his back to the light a
his face in shadow, rested his left
y bow on the desk and with his Oh
4 sunk in his palm, followed the Scrat
Killers narrative with the closest
J tention.
"And General Quintard never s.
z him-never manifested any inter-
I, in him." the words came slowly FRI
II the judges lips; he seemed to g
Z down something that rose In
throat. Poor little ladl" he m
tered. and again. Poor little ladl'
y Never once, sir. He told
," slaves to keep him out Of his sig
Veal wondered, To- you know b
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