The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1912-05-09
HZHszR4ZzuXS RyAM

seekers. He crossed the lawn to the
house. and mounted the steps. In the
doorway was big Steve. while groups
Of men stood about in the hall, the
hum of busy purposeless talk pervad
ing the place. The judge frowned
This was all wrong.
HAS Mr.. Ware returned from Mem,
phis?" he asked Of Steve.
mo, sab; not yet"
Then show me into the library"
said the judge with bland authority,
surrendering his hat to the butler.
"Come along, Mahaffy!" he added.
They entered the library, and the
Judge motioned Steve to close the
door. "Now. boy, you'n kindly ask
those people to withdraw-you may
say it is Judge Prices orders. Allow
no one to enter the house unless they
have business with me, or as I send
for them-you understand After you
have cleared the house, you may
bring me decanter of corn whisky
stop a bit-you may ask the shertn
to step here"
Eyes, sah." And Steve withdrew.
The Judge drew an easy-chair up to
the fat-topped desk that stood in the
center OF the room, and seated him
self.
Are you going to make this the
excuse for another drunk, Price? II
so, l feel the greatest contempt Tor
you." said Mahaffy sternly.
The judge WINGED at this.
"You have made regrettable
choice of words, Solomon he urged
gently.
where's your feeling for the boy?"
"Here!" said the judge, with an elO-
quent gesture, resting his hand on his
heart. q
IF you let whisky alone, I'll believe
you; otherwise what have said must
stand"
The door opened. and the sheriff
slouched into the room. He was chew
ing long wheat straw, and his whole
appearance was one Of troubled weak
ness.
Morning." he said briefly.
"Sit down, sheriff. and the Judge
indicated a meek seat for the official
in distant corner. Have you learned
anything?" he asked.
The sheriff shooA his head.
What you turning all these neigh
bors out of doors for?" he questioned.
1--WE don't want people tracking in
and out the house, sheriff. Important
evidence may be destroyed. l propose
examining the slaves flrst-does that
meet with your approval?"
"Oh, I've talked with them; they
don't know nothing" said the sheriff.
mo one don't know nothing"
please God, We may yet put our
fingers on some villain who does"
said the Judge.
Outside it was noised about that
Judge Price had taken matters in
hand--he was the old fellow who had
been warned to keep his mouth shut,
and who had never stopped talking
since. A crowd collected beyond the
library windows and Toasted its eyes
on the back Of this her0's bald head.
One by one the house servants were
ushered into the judges presence.
First he Intercepted little Steve, who
had gone to Miss Betty's door that
morning to rouse her, as was his GUS
tom. Next he examined Betty's maid:
then the cook, and various house serv-
ants, who had nothing especial to tell.
but told it at considerable length; and
lastly big Steve.
"Stop bit," the judge suddenly in
terrupted the butler in the midst OF
his narrative. Does the overseer al
thing in the morning?"
why, not exactly, sab, but he come
up this mo ming, sab. He was talking
to me ct the back of the house, when
the women run out with the word that
Missy was done gone away"
He Joined In the search?"
Eyes, sah."
when was Miss Malroy seen last?"
asked the Judge.
'She and the young gemman you
fetched heah were seen In the gyar-
den along about shutdown. l seen them
myself"
They had had support"
Eyes, sah.''
"Who sleeps here?"
"Just little Steve and three of the
women; they sleeps at the back OF
the house, sah.''
mo sounds were heard during the
night?" -
mo. sah.'' r ~,
"Z'll see the overseer-what's his
name?-Hicks? Suppose you go for
him." said the judge, addressing the
sheriff.
The sheriff was gone from the room
only few moments, and returned
with the information that Hicks was:
down at the bayou, which was to be-
dragged.
'why?" inquired the Judge. as
Hicks says Miss Malroy's been act
ing mighty oueer ever since Charlov