The Richmond climax. (Richmond, Ky.) 1897-1914, 1912-03-06


I'm Hannibal Wayne Hazard,
said the boy. The man quilted his
chair.
WELL am glad to know you,
Hannibal Wayne Hazard. l am $40
cum Price-Judge Slocum Price,
sometime major-general of militia and
ex-member of congress, to mention a
few of those honors my fellow coun-
trymen have thrust upon me-" He
made sweeping gesture with his two
hands outspread and bowed ponder
ously.
The boy saw man of sixty, whose
gross and battered visage told its own
story. There was a sparse white
frost about his ears; and his eyes,
pale blue and prominent, looked out
from under beetling brows. He wore
a shabby plum-colored coat and tight,
drab breeches. About his fat neck
was a black stock, with just a sug-
gestion of soiled linen showing above
it. His figure was corpulent and I'M
wieldy.
You don't belong in these parts,
do your" asked the judge, when he
had completed his scrutiny.
mo, sir" answered the boy. He
glanced of down the road, where
lights were visible among the trees.
What town is that?"
decentralization is a Iie-but
l am neither sufficiently drunk nor
sufficiently sober to cope with the pos
sibilities your question offers. Have
you so much as fifty cents about
your" and the judges eyes narrowed
to slit above their folds of puffy
flesh. Hannibal, keeping his glance
fixed on the mans face, fell back a
step. Il can't let you go if you are
penniless-I can't do thatI" cried the
judge, with sudden vehemence. You
shall be my guest for the night.
They're pack of thieves at the tav-
ern," he lowered his voice. Il know
'em, for they've plucked mel" He
rested a fat hand on the boys
shoulder and drew him gently but
firmly into the shanty. With flint and
a
a candle was sputtering in his hands.
He fitted it into the neck OF a tall
bottle, and as the light fiared up the
boy glanced about him.
The interior was mean enough,
with its rough walls, dirt floor and
black, cavernOus fireplace. A shake
down bed in one corner of the room
was tastefully screened from the pub
lie gaze by tattered quilt.
boy, don't be afraid. Look on me
as friend" urged the judge.
Il reckon I'll be glad to STOP" an
swered Hannibal
Such confidence is inspiring. Are
you hungry"
Yes, sir" replied Hannibal.
What do you say to cold fish?"
the judge smacked his lips to impart
relish to the idea. Il dare swear
1 can find you some corn bread into
the bargain" He began to assemble
the dainties he had enumerated.
Here you are!" he cleared his throat
impressively, while benignity shone
from every feature Of his face. "A
moment since you allowed me to think
you were solvent to the extent OF
fifty cents" Hannibal looked puz-
zled. Il wonder If you could be in
duced to make a temporary loan OF
that fifty cents? The sum involved
is really such a ridiculous trife 1
don't need to point out to you the abb
solute moral certainty Of my return
ing it at an early date"
1t was not the loss of his money
that Hannibal most feared, and the
coin passed from his possession into
his hosts custody.
Thank you, my boyi 1 must step
down to the tavern-when return,
please God, We shall know more OF
each other" While he was still
speaking, he had produced a jug from
behind the quilt that screened his
bed, and now took himself on into the
night.
Left alone, Hannibal gravely seated
himself at the table. What the
judges larder lacked in variety it
more than made up for in quantity,
and the boy was grateful for this fact.
Presently he heard the judges heavy,
shutting step as he came up the path
from the road, and a moment later
his gross bulk of body filed the door
way. Breathing hard and perspiring,
the judge entered the shanty, but his
eagerness kept him silent until he
had established himself in his chair
beside the table, with the jug and
glass at his elbow. Then,
bland and smiling. he turned toward
his guest.
MY tenderest regards, Hannibal"
and he nodded over the rim OF the
cracked glass his shaking hand had
carried to his lips. Twice the glass !
was filled and empued, and then !
again, his rowing. watery eyes rested
on the child. Have you
a father?" he asked suddenly. Han
nibal shook his head. "A mother?"
They both of them done died |
years and years ago." answered the
boy. Il can't tell you how long back
It was. but l reckon l don't know