Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1912-06-05
CHAPTER xvl-tcontlnuedl.


There you go. Price" began Ma
hairy.
Solomon. this is no time for me TO
hang back ! shall offer reward OF
I'VE thousand dollars for this informa-
ton" The judges tone was resoiute.
Yes, sir. | shall make the figure com
mensurate with the poignant grief |
feel. He was my frieL d and client"
The next morning II vas discovered
that some time during the night the
judge had tackled his anonymous COM
mupication on the court house door;
just below II was another sheet OF pa
per covered with bold script:
ITO Whom Il May Concern:
Judge Slocum Price assumes that
the above was intended for him since
he found 1t under his csice door on
the morning of the twenty-fifth inst
Judge Price begs leave TO state II
as his unqualified conviction that the
writer is a coward and a, cur and
offers a reward OF FIVE thousand dol
lars for any information that win lead
to bis 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 bis despair-what was the
use OF trying to sleep when sleep was
an impossibllity! He was about 10
quit the table when big Steve en-
tered the room to say there was a
white fellow at the door.
Fetch him along in here" said
Ware.
The white fellow delivered a pen.
ciled note from Murrell. When he
was gone. the planter ordered his
horse
AS Ware rode away from Belle
Plain he cursed Murrell under his
breath. His own inclination toward
evil was never robust; he could have
eonnived over long period OF years
to despoil Betty OF her property. but
murder and abduction was quite an.
other thing.
Three miles from Belle Plain he en-.
tered a bride path that led toward
the river. A growth OF small timber
was standing along the waters edge.
but as he drew nearer. those better.
ments which the resident OF that
lonely spot had seen At TO make for
his own convenience. came under his
scrutiny; these consisted OF a log
cabin and several lesser sheds.
s,ano ing. he advanced toward the
cabin AS he did so he saw two won.
en- al work heekIing flax under an
opon shed. They were the wife and
daughter OF George Hicks. his over.
seer's brother.
Morning. Mrs. Hicks" be said. ad.
dressing himself to the mother. a
ihslking rufiian of q woman. ANY.
body with the eaptain?"
Colonel Fentress Is"
"Humph!" muttered Ware. He
moved to the door OF the cabin and
entered the room where Murren and
Fentress were seated facing each
other across the breakfast table.
We'll. what the devil do you want
OF me. ahyhowG" demanded the
planter
"How's your sister, Tom9" inquired
Murrell.
Il reckon she's the way you'd ex-
pect her TO be" Ware dropped his
voice to a whisper.
John. you'll ruin yourself with
your damned crazy infatuation,~ II
WAS Fentress who spCae.
mo, won't. colonel, but I'm not
going to discuss that. All want is
for Tom to go to Memphis and stay
there for a couple of days. When he
comes back Belle Plain and fits mig.
gers viii be as good as his. | am 90
ing to take the girl away from there
tonight How soon can you r.. away
from here, Tom2" he asked apruptly.
by God. | can't so too soon!" cried
the planter. staggering to his feet he
gave Fentress a hopeless beaten look.
You're my witness that iirst and last
I've no part in this!"
The colonel shrugged his shoulders.
Murrell reached out a hand and rest.
/ ed IL on Wares arm.