Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1912-05-02
CHAPTER XVI.

The Judge Offers a Reward
The news OF Charley Norton's muir
der spread quickly over the county.
For two or three days bands OF armed
men secured the woods and roads,
and then this activity quite unpro-
ductive OF any tangible results ceased,
matters we're allowed 10 rest with the
constituted authorities. namely Mr..
Belts. the sheriff. and his deputies.
No private citizen had shown
greater real than Judge 5locum Price.
One morning he found under his door
a folded paper:
you talk too much. Shut up, or
you1l so where Norton went"
A few moments later he burst In
on Mr.. Saul.
Glance at that. my friendi" he
cried. as he tossed the paper on the
clerks desk. what do you mako OF
II. sirY'
well. ia keep stili"
The Judge laughed dorisivaiy ~ he
bowed himself out.
He established himself IN his Of
Gee. He had scarcely done so when
Mr.. Belts knocked nj the door. The
sheriff came direct from Mr.. Saul ana
arrived out OF breath. but the letter
vas not mentioned BY the fudge. Ho
spoke Of the crops. the chance OF
rain. and the intricacies OF county
politics. The sheriff withdrew mysti.
fed, wondering why II was he had
not felt at liberty to breach the sub
lect which was uppermost In his
mind.
His place was taken by Mr.. Pegloe
and on tho heels OF the tavern-keepor
came Mr. Bowen. Judge Price re-
ceiyed them with condescension, but
back OF the condescenslon was an air
OF reserve that did not invite ques-
lions. The Judge discussed the extern
sion OF the national roads with MIR.
Pegloe, and the religion Of the Per-
sian fire-worahipers with Mr.. Bowen;
he permitted never a pause and they
retired az the sheriff had done with
out slight OF the letter.
The judges Office became per
feet Mecca for the idle and the curl
GUS, and while he overnowed with
high-bred courtesy hs had never
seemed 30 nnapproachable--n so
remote from matters OF local and con-
temporary interest
why don't you show EN- the let
teri" demanded Mr. Mahaffy, when
they were alone. Cant you see they
are suffering for a sight OF itT'
"All in good time, Solomon" lie
became thoughtful Solomon, / am
thinking OF Offering a reward for any
information that win lead to the dis
covery OF my anonymous correspond
ent," he at length observed with q
finely casual air, as II the idea had
Just occurred to him, and had not
been seething IN his brain all day.
There you so, Price" began Ma
hairy.
Solomon, this lie no time for me to
hang back. / shall offer a reward OF
I'VE thousand dollars for this informa-
ton" The judges tone was resolute
yes, SIR. shall make the figure com.
mensurate with the poignant grief
feel. He was my friend and client"
The next morning It was discovered
that some time during the night the
Judge had tackled his anonymous com
munication on the court house door;
just below 1t was another sheet OF pa
per covered with bold script:
ITO Whom It May Concern:
"Judge Slocum Price assumes that
the above was intended for him since
he found 1t under bis Office door on
the morning Of the twenty-tifth inst.
Judge Price begs leave to state IL
as his unqualified conviction that the
writer is a coward and a cur, and
offers reward of five thousand dol
lars for any information that will lead
to his identification"
.
Tom Ware was seated alone over
his breakfast. He had left his bed
as the pale morning light crept across
the great fields that were alike his
pride and his despair--what was the
use OF trying to sleep when sleep was
an impossibiIityl He was about to
quit the table when big Steve en-
tered the room to say there was q
white fellow at the door.
Fetch him along in here" said
Ware.
The white fellow delivered q pen-
ciled note from MurreIl. When ne
was gone, the planter ordered his
horse.
An Wara roda away from BELLE