Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-03-25
CHAPTER XXI.
Tho judge Takes Charge.

All work on the plantation ne0
stopped, and the hundreds OF slaves
men, women and children-were gath
cred about the house. Among these
moved the members of the dominant
race. The Judge would have attached
himself to the first group. but he
heard whispered question, and the
answer:
miss Malroy's lawyer"
Clearly it was not for him to mix
with these outsiders, these curiosity
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 Men,
phis?" he asked of Steve.
mo, sab; not yet"
Then show me into the library"
said the Judge with bland authority.
surrenderfng his hat to the butler.
Come along, Mahany!" he added.
They entered the library. and the
Judge motioned Steve to close the
door. Now, boy, you'll kindly ask
those people to withdraw-you may
say 1t is Judge Prices orders. Allow
no one to enter the house unless they
have business with me, or as send
FOR tAcc.-vnn understand! After you
have cleared the house, you may
bring me a decanter of corn whisky
stop bit-you may ask the sheriff
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, feel the greatest contempt for
you," said Mahany sternly.
The Judge WINGED at this.
You have made negotiable
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
III you let whisky alone. Ill believe
you; otherwise what have said must
stand"
The door opened. and the sheriff
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 ofncial
in distant corner. Have you learned
anything?" he asked.
The sheriff shook his head.
What you turning all these neigh
bors out of doors for?" he questioned.
I'VE don't want people tracking in
and out the house, sheriff. Important
evidence may be destroyed. propose
examining the slaves first-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 1t was noised about that
Judge Price had taken matters In
hand-he was tho old fellow who had
been warned to keep bis mouth shut.
and who had never stopped talking
since. A crowd collected beyond the
library windows and feasted it, eyes
on the back Of this hero's bald head.
One by ono 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. AZ was his Gus
tom. Next he examined Betty's maid;
then the cook, and various house seIv-
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
kts narrative. Does the overseer al.
ways come up to the house the first
thing In the morning"
Why. not exactly, sab. but he como
up this mo'ning. sab. He was talking
10 me at the back Of the house. when
the women run out with the word that
Missy was done gone away"
HE Joined in the searchl"
Yes, sab"
when was Miss Malroy seen last?''
asked the Judge.
She and the young gsmman you
fetched heGh were seen In the syar-
den along about oupdoWn. ssan than
myself"
They had had support"
Yes. sab"
"vysc sleeps he1e?"
"Just little Steve and three Of tho
wofnsn: they sleeps 1t the back OF
the bouse. sab"
NO sounds were heard during the
nightT
mo, sab"
iii so tho oversser-whars his
nansf-Hicksf Suppose you 70 for
him!" aid tbs Judge. addressing the
shss1A.
The sheriff was zone from the room
only . few moments. ana returned
With khs information that Hicks was
dawn at the bayou. which was 70 be
dragged.
sWhyT inquired tho Judge.
Hicks says Miss Malr0y's been act.
fnE mighty qussr ever sinco Charley