The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1912-04-11

His Face Went White and the Book
Slipped From His Fingers.
forward a chair as he spoke, and the
! Judge, seating himself began to pol
=, ish his spectacles with great delibera-
ton.
you've set on the bench, sir?" sug-
gested Mr. Saul.
| In one of the eastern counties, but
my inclination has never been toward
| the Judiciary" He was turning the
| leaves of the ledger as he spoke. Sud-
! denly the movement OF his hand was
arrested.
Found it," asked Mr.. Saul But
| the judge gave him no answer; he
| was staring down at the open pages
of the book Found the entry?" re-
peated Mr.. Saul.
"Eh-what's that? No" he ap-
peared to hesitate. who is this man
Quintard?"
He's the owner of hundred-thou-
sand-acre tract in this and abutting
countless" said Mr.. Saul.
who has charge of the land?'
Colonel Fentress; he was old Cen
eral Wares law partner. I've heard it
was the general who got this man
Quintard to make the investment, but
that was before my time"
The Judge lapsed into silence.
A step sounded in the narrow hall.
An instant later the door was pushed
open, and grateful for any Interrupt
| ton that would serve to take MIR.
SauIs attention from himself, the
judge abruptly turned his back on
the clerk and began to examine the
record before him. Insensibly, how
ever, the cold, level tones OF the voice
that was addressing itself to Mr.. Saul
quickened the beat of his pulse, the
throb of his heart, and struck back
through the years to a day from
which he reckoned time. He turned
slowly, as if in dread.
What he saw was a man verging
! on sixty, lean and dark, with thin,
shaver cheeks of blush cast above
| the jaw, and a strongly aquiline pro-
file. Long, black locks swept the col
lar of his coat, while his tall, spare
figure was habited in sleek broadcloth
i and spotless linen. For moment the
judge seemed to struggle with doubt.
then his face went white and the book
slipped from his fingers to the WIN
dow ledge.
The stranger, his business conclud-
ed, swung about on his heel and
quilted the Office. Mr.. Saul, bending
above his DESK was making an entry
in one of his ledgers. The judge shut
fled to his side.
Who was that man." he asked
thickly, resting a shaking hand on
the clerks arm.
"That?-Oh, that was Colonel Fen
tress was just telling you about"
HAS he always lived here?"
mo; he came into the county about
called The Oaks"
HAS he-a family?" The judge ap-
peared to be having difficulty with
his speech.
Not that anybody knows OF. Some
say he's a widower, others again say
he's a2 old bachelor but he don't
say nothing. The colonels got his
friends, to be sure, but he don't mix
much with the real quality. One OF
his particular intimates Is a gentle
man by the name of Murrell.'
The judge nodded.
1--WE met him. he said briefly.
Acting on a sudden impulse, the
Judge muttered something about re-
turning later, and hastily quilted the
Office.
In the hall the judges steps dragged
and his head was bowed. He was
busy with his memories. Then pas
sion shook him.
Damn him-may God-for ever
damn him!" he cried under his
breath, in fierce whisper.
They finished supper, the dishes
were cleared away and the candles
lighted, when the judge produced a
mysterious leather-covered case. This
he opened, and Mahaf1y and Hannibal
saw that it held handsome pair OF
dueling pistols.
where did you get 'em, judge?-
Oh, amt they beautiful" cried Han.
nibal, circling about the table In his
excitement.
my dear lad, they we're purchased
only q few hours ago." said the Judge
quietly. % he began to load them. q