Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-02-21

orderly. His grandson is back OF that
curtain now-asleep-in my bed"
Mahaffy put down his glass.
"Yon were like this once before,
he said darkIy. But at that instant
the shuck tick ratified noisily at some
movement of the sleeping boy. Ma
haHy quilted his chair, and crossing
the room, drew the quilt aside. A
glance sutficed TO assure him that IN
part. al least. the judge spoke the
truth.
There was hoof-beat on the road.
It came nearer and nearer, and pres
emily sounded just beyond the door.
Then it ceased, and voice said:
"Hullo, there!" The judge scram-
bled to his feet, and taking. up the
candle. staggered into the yard; Ma
haffy followed him.
Whats wanted" asked the judge
holding his candle aIoft. The light
showed tall fellow mounted on
handsome bay horse. II was Murreil.
Have either OF !.ou gentlemen seen
a boy go through here today?" Muir
rell glanced from one to the other.
MIR. Mahaffy's thin lips twisted them
selves into a sarcastic smile. He
turned to the Judge. who spoke up
quickly.
Did he carry & bundle and rl1e?
he asked. Murrell gave eager assent.
We'll" said the Judge. he stopped
here along about four o'clock, and
asked his way to the nearest river
landing"
HANNIBAL" the judges voice and
manner were rather stern. "Hanni'
bal, Il man rode by here last night On
q big bay horse He said he was
looking for boy about ten years old
"a boy with a bundle and rifle. =
There was al awful pause. Who was
that man, Hannibal"
1T were Captain Murrell." The
Judge raised his fist and brought II
down with a great crash on the ia
bile. I'VE: don't know any boy ten
years old with a rife and bundle!'
I've said.
Flease-vou won't let him take me
away, judge-I want to stop with
you." cried Hannibal. He slipped
from his chair, and passing about the
table, seized the judge by the hand.
The fudge was yisibly affected.
No" he roared. He shan't have
you. Is he kin to you?"' f.
NO" said Hannibal. He tried to
get me away from my Uncle Bob" .
Where is your Uncle Bob"
He's dead" And the child began
10 weep bitterly. The judge bent
and lifted him into his lap.
There, my SON." he said sootn-
ingly. Now you tell nue. when he
died, and all about it, :;
He we're killed. 1t were only yea
terday, and | can't forget him. l
don't want to-but 1t hurts-it hurts
TERRIBLE" Hannibal buried his head in
the judges shoulder and sobned
aloud. Presently his small hands
stole about the judges neck. and that
gentleman experienced a strange thrill
of pleasure.
Tell me how he died. Hannibal
he urged gently. In voice broken
by sobs. the child began the story
of their fight, confused narrative.
The Judge shuddered. Can such
things be-" he murmured at last. Then
lie remembered what Mahaffy had
told him Of the man on the raft.
Hannibal" he said, Solomon Ma
huffy, who was here last light, told
me be saw down at the river land
ing, man who had been tished up
out of the Eliza man who. had been
roughly handled.
Were It my Uncle Bob?" cried
Hannibal, lifting a Swollen race to
his.
Dear lad, don't know" said the
Judge alphabetically.
1T were Uncle Bob! l know 1t
were my Uncle Bob" | must'go ind
MIN. ana f1duulUal SIlppcu loA @AS
Judges lap and ran for his rife ano
bundle.
stop Bit" cried the judge. Now,
IL it was your Uncle Bob, heiF: come
back the moment, he is able to travel.
Meantime, you must remain under nay
protection while we Investigate this
man Slosson.'
1t was Saturday, and in Pleasant
vile a jail-raising was in progress.
During all the years Of It's corporate
dignity the village had never boosted
any building where the evil-doer could
be placed under restraint; hence had
arisen its peculiar habit Of dealing
with crime; but leading citizen had
donated half an acre Of ground lying
midway between the town and the
river landing as a site for the pro-
posed structure, and the scattered
population OF the region had assem-
bled for the raising.
I'VE, don't want to get there toe
early" explained the judge. as they
united tho cabin eve want to miss