The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1912-06-01

| 49, AAo1oAu oCCompd uAeu Luc as III.
orderly. His grandson is back OF tina
curtain now-asleep-in my bed!'
Mahaffy put down his glass.
You were like this once before,
he said darkly. But at that instan,
the shuck tick ratified noisily at some
movement of the sleeping boy. Ma
haffy quilted his chair, and crossing
the room, drew the quilt aside. A
glance sufhced to assure him that IL
part, at least, the Judge spoke the
truth.
There was hoof-beat On the road
1t came nearer and nearer, and pres
emily sounded Just beyond the door
Then it ceased, and a voice said:
"Hullo. there!" The Judge scram.
bled to his feet, and taking up the
candle. staggered into the yard. Ma
haffy followed him.
What's wanted?" asked the Judge
holding his candle aloft. The light
showed a tall fellow mounted on a
handsome bay horse. It was Murreli.
Have either Of you gentlemen seen
a boy go through here today?" Muir
| rell glanced from one to the other.
Mr. Mahaffy's thin lips twisted them
selves into a sarcastic smile. He
turned to the Judge. who spoke up
quickly.
did he carry a bundle and rifie?''
he asked. Murrell gave eager assent.
WELL" 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, man rode by here last night on
big bay horse. He said he was
looking for boy about ten years old
"a boy with a bundle and rifle"
There was an awful pause. who was
that man, Hannibal?''
1T were Captain Murrell" The
Judge raised his fist and brought 1t
down with great crash on the ia
bic. I'VE don't know any boy ten
years old with a rifle and bundie!"
he said
"Please-you won't let him take mo
away. JUDGE want to stop with
you'll" cried Hannibal He slipped
from his chair, and passing about the
table. seized the judge by the hand.
The judge was visibly affected.
MOI" he roared. He shan't have
you. Is he kin to your"
Mo cafd Hannibal "uo triad RI
get me away from my Uncle Bob"
Where is your Uncle Bob?"
Hes dead" And the child began
to weep bitterly. The Judge bent
and lifted him into his lap.
There. my SON" he said sooth-
ingly. Now you tell me when he
died, and all about It."
He were killed. It were only yes
terday, and can't forget him. l
don't want to~but II hurts-it hurts
terrible!" Hannibal buried his head in
the judges shoulder and sobbed
aloud. Presently his small hands
stole about the judges neck, and that
gentleman experienced strange thrill
of pleasure.
Tell me how he died, Hannibal"
he urged gently. In a voice broken
by sobs, the child began the story
of their flight, a confused narrative.
The judge shuddered. Can such
things be-" he murmured at last. Then
he remembered what Mahaffy had
told him of the man on the raft.
Hannibal" he said, Solomon Ma
hairy, who was here last night, told
me he saw down at the river land
ing, man who had been fished up
out of the Elk-a man who had been
roughly handled"
Were 1t my Uncle Bob?" cried
Hannibal. lifting swollen face to
his.
Dear lad. don't know" said the
Judge alphabetically.
1T were Uncle Bob! know It
were my Uncle Bob! l must 60 md
hint" and Hannibal slipped from the
judges lap and ran for his rife and
bundle.
stop bit!" cried the judge. Nov,
II II was your Uncle Bob, he'll come
back the moment he 10 able to travel. |
you must remain under my
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 its corporate |
dignity the village had never boasted
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 site for the pro-
posed structure, and the scattered |
population of the region had assem-
bled for the raising.
To BE CONTINUED.)