Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1912-05-02
CHAPTER XVI.

The Judge Offers Reward.
The news OF Charley Norton's muir
der spread quickly over the county.
For two or three days bands OF armed
men secured the woods and roads,
and then this activity quite unpro-
ductive Of any tangible results ceased,
matters we're allowed to rest with the
constituted authorities, namely Mr..
Belts, the sheriff, and his deputies.
No private citizen had shown
greater zeal than Judge Slocum Price,
One morning he found under his door
a folded paper:
you talk too much. Shut up, or
you1l go where Norton went"
A few moments later he burst in
on Mr.. Saul
Glance at that, my friendi" he
cried. as he tossed the paper on the
clerks desk. what do you make OF
Il, sirT'
We'll, I'd keep still"
The Judge laughed derisively as he
bowed himself out
He established himself In his Of
nee. He had scarcely done 10 when
Mr.. Belts knocked at the door. The
sheriff came direct from Mr.. Saul and
arrived out Of breath. but the letter
was not mentioned by the Judge. he
spoke OF the crops, the chance OF
rain, and the fntricaciea OF county
politics. The sheriff withdrew mysti-
fed, wondering why II was he had
not felt at liberty TO breach the sub
ject which was uppesmost in his
mind.
His place was taken by Mr.. Pegloe
and on tho heels OF the thvern-keeper
came hr. Bowen. Judge Price re
eeived them with condescenslon, but
back OF the condoscension was an air
OF reserve that did not invite ques-
tons. The Judge discussed the extern
sion OF the national roads with Mr.,
pegloe, and the religion OF the Per
sian fire-worshIpers with Mr.. Bowen ;
no permitted never pause and they
retired as the sheriff had done with
out sight OF the letter.
The judges Office became a per
feet Mecca for the idle and the curl
GUS, and while he overhowed with
high-bred courtesy he had never
seemed so unapproaohabIe--n sc
remote from matters OF local and con
temporary interest.
why don't you show 'em the let
teri" demanded Mr.. Mahany, when
they were alone. Cant you see they
are suffering for sight OF itT''
"All in good time, Solomon" He
became thoughtful Solomon, / am
thinking OF Offering a reward for any
information that will lead to the dis
covery OF my anonymous correspond
ent," ho at length observed with q
finely casual air. as II the idea had
Just occurred TO him, and had moi
been seething in his brain all day.
There you go, Price" began Ma
hairy.
Solomon, this is no time for me- II
hang back ! shall offer a reward Of
Eve thousand dollars for this informG
ton" The judges tone was resolute
yes, sir. shall make the figure com
mensurate with the poignant grief
feel. He was my friend and client
The next morning It was discovered
that some time during the night the
| Judge had tackled his anonymous com
munIcation on the court house door
| just below II was another sheet OF pa
per covered with bold script:
ITO Whom It May Concern:
"Judge Slocum Price assumes tina
the above was intended for him sinc'
he found It under his Office door OF
the morning Of the twenty-fifth inst.
Judge Price begs leave to state I
as his unqualified conviction that the
writer is coward and cur, ana
offers q reward OF five thousand dol
lars for any information that win lea
to his Identification"
Is
Tom Ware was seated alone owe
his breakfast. He had left his bee
as the pale morning light crept across
the great fields that we're alike hi
pride and hiR despair--what was thu
use OF trying TO sleep when sleep wa
an impossibilityl He was about Il
quit the table when big Steve en-
tered the room to say there was |
white fellow at the door.
Fetch him along In here" salt
Ware.
The white fellow delivered pen
ciled note from Murrell. When h
was gone, the planter ordered hi
horse.