Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1912-03-28
''rou Shall Be MY Guest for Ehs
Nlpht.R

"You Shall BE MY Guest for the
Night
than this. there was his terrible sense
OF loss, and the grief he could not
master. Marking the court OF the
road westward, he chung to the woods,
where his movements were as stealthy
Rs the very shadows themselves.
Presently, as he stumbled forward,
he came to q small clearing in the
center of which stood a log dwelling
The place seemed deserted.
Tilted back In q chair by tho door
Of this house q man was sleeping
The boot Of an owl from a nearby
oak reused him. He yawned and
stretched himself. thrustihg out his
fat legs and extending his great
arms. Then becoming aware of that
small figure which had stolen up the
path as he slept and now stood be-
fore him in the uncertain light, he
fell to rubbing his eyes with the
lnuokles Of his plump hands.
who are your" he demanded.
''Tm Hannibal Wayne Hazard"
said the boy. The man Quilted his
chair.
we'll am glad TO know you.
Hannibal Wayne Hazard. l am slo
cum Prioe-Judgs Slocum Price,
sometime major-general Of militia and
ex-member of congress, to mention
few OF those houors my fellow cnun,
trymen have thrust upon me- lie
made a sweeping gesture with his two
hands outspread and bowed ponder
ously.
The boy saw a man Of sixty. whose
gross ana battered yisago 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
q shabby pium-colored coat and tight,
drab breeehea. About his fat neck
was a black stock, with Just sug
gestion OF soiled linen showing above
II 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 thotY"
-PleasantYille--which is a iie-bue
am neither sufficiently drunk nor
sufficiently sober to cope with the pos.
abilities your question offers. Have
you 90 much as fifty cents about
your" end the judges eyes narrowed
to a si!t above their folds OF pufIy
flesh. Hannibal, keeping his glance
fixed ON the man'a AGA, fell back Al
step. Il can't let you 80 n you are
penniless-I can't co thatl" cried the
judge, with sudden Yehemenos. "You
shall be my guest for the night.
They're pack OF thieves at the tav-
ern," he lowered HIS voice. II know
EN-, for they've plucked mels he
rested a fat hand on the boys
shoulder and drew him gently but
firmly into the shanty. With flint and
steel he made light, and presently
a candle was suffering In his handa-
He fitted II into the neck OF a tall
bottle, and as the light tiared up the
boy glanced about him.
The interior was mean enough.
with its rough walls, dirt floor ana
black, oayernous fireplace. A SHAKER
down bed in one corner Of the room
was tastefully screened from the pub
lilo gaze by { tattered quilt.
"Boy, don't be afraid. Look OF me
a. q friend" urged the Judge.
Il reckon I'll be glad to stops" ans
swered Hannibal.
"such confidence Is inspiring. Are
you hungry"
Eyes, sir" replied Hannibal.
what do you say to cold flshY"
the judge smacked his lips to impart
a relish to the idea. Il dare swear
I can find you some corn bread into
the bargain" He began to assemble
the dainties he had enumerated.
Here you arei" he cleared his throat
impressively, while benignity shone
from every feature OF his face. "A
moment since you allowed me to think
IWu 89AO o0AfGAA W NAAO S1tSAs -
fifty cents" Hannibal looked puE.
sled. Il wonder If you could be I'M
duced to make temporary loan OF
that nifty cents7 The sum involved
is really such ridiculous triie !
don't need to point out to you the alb.
solute moral certainty Of my returns
Eng II at an early date"
It was not the loss Of his money
that Hannibal most feared, and the
coin passed from his possession into
his hosts custody.
''rhank you, my boyl ! 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 OF into the
night.
Left alone. hannibal gravely seated
himself ct the table. What tbs