Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-03-07
siopless and as rigid.

By the door stood Mahaffy with
Yancy and Cavendish; they under
| stood that what was obscure and
meaningless to them held a tragic
Significance to these two men. The
Judges heavy face, ordinarily battered
and debauched, but infinitely good
natured, bore now the markings OF
deep passion, and the voice that rum
bled forth from his capacious chest
came to their ears like distant thun-
der.
This friend Of Gatewood's had
wife" The judges voice broke, emo.
ton shook him like leaf; he was
tearing open his wounds. He reached
over and poured himself drink, suck
ing it down with greedy lips. There
was q wife" he Whirled about on his
heel and faced Fentress again. There
| was wife, F'entress-" he fixed Fen
tress with his blazing eyes. "A wife
| and child. Well. one day Gatewood
and the wife were missing. Under the
| circumstances Gatewood's friend was
we'll rid OF the pattA-ho should have
been grateful, but ~ wasn't, for dis
wife took his child. daughter: and
Gatewood tribe Of thirty thousand
dollars his friend had intrusted TO
him."
There was another silence.
AT later day ! met this man who
had been betrayed by his wife and
| robbed by his friend. He had fallen
out Of the race-drink had done for
him-there was just one thing he
seemed to care about. and that was
the fate of his child, but maybe he
was only curious there. He wondered
If she had lived. and married." Once
more the judge paused
What's all this to me-" asked Fen.
tress.
Are you sure It's nothing to you?"
demanded the judge hoarsely. I'm
derstand this, Fentress, Gatewood's
treachery brought ruin to al least TWO
lives. 1t caused the Woman'S father
to hide his face from the world: 1t
wasn't enough for him that his
friends believed his daughter dead; he
knew differently, and the shame or
that knowledge ate into his soul. 1t
cost the husband bis place in the
world, too-in the end il made OF him
vagabond and penniless wan
derer."
This Is nothing TO me-" said Fen
tress.
Wait" cried the judge. About six
years ago the woman was seen at her
fathers home in North Carolina. l
reckon Gatewood had cast her Or.
had run away from her husband with
a child--a girl; after lapse OF TWEEN
ty years she returned to her father
with q boy OF two or three. There
are two questions that must be an
sWered when ! find Gatewood: what
became or the woman, and what be-
came OF the child; are they living or
dead; did the daughter grow up and
marry and have son? When | get
my answer it will be time enough 10
think Of Gatewood's punishment"
The Judge leaned forward across the
table, bringing his face close to Fen
| tress' face. Look at ne--do you
know me now?"
But tentress' expression never al
tered. The Judge fell back step.
"Fentress, want the boy" he said
quietly.
What boy?"
MY grandson!"
You are mad! What do / know
OF him-or you" Fentress was gain
ing courage from the sound OF his
own voice.
You know who he is and where he
is. Your business relations with this
man Ware have put you on the track
of the Quintard lands in this state.
You intend TO use the boy to gather
them in"
You're mad." repeated Fentress.
unless you bring him to me inside
OF twenty-four hours III smash you."
roared the judge. Your name isn't
Feptress, it's Gatewood; you've stolen
the name OF Fentress, just as you
have stolen other things. What's
come OF Turberville's money? Damn
your soul! / want my grandson! III
pull you down and leave you stripped
and bare! III tell the world the false
| friend you've been-the thief you are.
III strip you and turn you out OF
| these doors as naked rs when you en-
tered the world" The judge seemed
to tower above Fentress; the man
had shot up out OF his deep debase-
ment. Choose! Choose!" he thun-
dered, his shaggy brows bent In
meracing frown.
~ know nothing about the boy"
| said Fentress slowly.
by God. you lie!" stormed the
judge.
II know nothing about the boy"
and Fentress took step toward the
door.