Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-03-07

small figure which had stolen up the
I path az he slept and now stood be.
fore him In the uncertain light. he
fell to rubbing his eyes with the
/ knuckies Of his plump hands.
who are your no demanded.
I'm Hannibal Wayne Hazard,
said the boy. The man quilted his
chair.
WELL am glad to know you,
Hannibal Wayne Hazard. am Slo.
cum Price-Judge Slocum Price,
sometime major-general of militia and
ex-member Of congress, to mention a
few of those honors my fellow coun-
trymen have thrust upon me-" He
made sweeping gesture with his two
hands outspread and bowed ponder.
ously.
The boy saw a man OF sixty, whose
gross and battered visage told its own
story. There was q sparse white
frost about his ears; and his eyes.
pale blue and prominent, looked out
from under beetling brows. He wore
shabby plum-colored coat and tight.
drab breaches. About his fat neck
was a black stock, with Just a sug-
gestion of soiled linen showing above
1t. His figure was corpulent and un-
wieldy.
You don't belong in these parts.
do your" asked the judge. when he
had completed his scrutiny.
mo, SIR" answered the boy. He
glanced on down tho road, where
lights were visible among the trees.
what town is that!'
"Pleasantville-whic Is . ne-but
I am neither sufficiently drunk nor
sufficiently sober to cope with the pos
sibilities your question offers. Have
you 50 much as fifty cents about
your" and the judges eyes narrowed
to slit above their folds OF pu1fy.
flesh. Hannibal, keeping his glance
fixed on the mans face, fell back q
step. Il can't let you 90 II you are
penniless-I can't do that" cried the
Judge. with sudden vshemence. "Youi
shall be my guest for the night:
They're a pack Of thieves at the tav-I
ern." he lowered his voice. II know.
'em, for they've plucked mel" He
rested q fat hand on the boys
shoulder and drew him gently but
firmly into tho shanty. With nint and
steel he made light. and presently
candle was suffering In his hands.
He fitted it into the neck Of q talf
bottle. and as the light aarsd up the
boy glanced about him.
The interior was mean enough,
with its rough wallis. dirt floor and
black. cavernous fireplace. A shake
down bed In one corner Of the room
was tastefully screened from the pub.
lie gaze by tattered quilt.
boy. don't be afraid. Look on mo
as friend" urged the Judge.
Il reckon I'll be glad to STOP" an
swered Hannibal.
such confidence is inspiring. Are
you hungry"
Eyes, sir" replied Hannibal.
What do you say to cold fsh?''
the Judge smacked his lips to tmpart
. relish to tho idea. II dare swear
can ind you some corn bread into
the bargain" He began to assemble
tho dainties he had enumerated.
Here you are!" he cleared his throat
impressively, while benignity shone
from every feature Of his face. "A
moment since you allowed me to think
you were solvent to the extent OF
nifty cents" Hannibal looked puz-
zled. II wonder II you could be in
duced to make temporary loan OF
that nifty cents? Tho sum involved
70 really such ridiculous trifle
don't need to point out to you the alb.
solute moral certainty Of my return.
ing It ut an early date
It was not the loss Of his money
that Hannibal most feared. and the
coin passed from his possession into
his hosts custody.
Thank you, my boy! I must step
down to the tavern-when l return,
please God. We shall know more OF
each other" While he was still
speaking, no had produced . tug from
behind the quilt that screened his
bed, and now took himself OF into the
night.
Left alone. Hannibal gravely seated
himself at the table. What the