Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1912-09-11
CHAPTER XXX.
soIomon.a Laat Nioht.

IL mad been with no little reluctance
that Solomon MahafIy accompanied
Yancy and CavenGish to Belle Plain:
he would have preferred to remain In
Raleigh In attendance upon Judge
Price. Intimately acquainted with the
judges mental processes, he could fol-
low all the devious workings OF that
magnificent mind; he could fathom
the simply hellish ingenn-ty he was
capable OF putting forth TO accom-
pEs4 temporary benefits. Permitting
his thoughts to dwell upon the min
gled strength and weakness which
was so curiously blended in Slocum
Prices character, he had horrid vi
sions of that great soul, freed from
the trammels of restraint. contding
his melancholy history to Mr.. Pegloe
In the hope Of boistering his fallen
credit at the City Tavern
Always where the Judge was con-
cerned he fiuctuated between extremes
of doubt and confidence. He felt that
under the urgent spur OF occasion his
friend could rise to any emergency,
while sustained activity made de-
mands which he could not satisfy;
then his efforts were discounted by
his insane desire to realize at once on
his opportunities; in his haste he was
tor ever plucking unripe fruit; and
though he might keep one eye on the
main chance the other was fixed just
as resolutely on the nearest tavern.
With the great stake which tate
had suddenly introduced into their los
ing game, he wished earnestly to be-
lieve that the judge would stay quiet
ly In his office and complete the task
he had set himself; that with this on
his hands the promise of excitement
at Belle Plain would compel his pres
ence there, when he would pass some
what under the restraining influence
which he was determined to exert;
in short, to Solomon, life embraced
just the one viz consideration,
which was TO main n the judge in a
state Of sobriety until after his meet
ing with Fentress.
The purple of twilight was stealing
over the land when he and his two
companions reached Belle Plain. They
learned that Tom Ware had returned
from Memphis, that the bayou had
been dragged but without results. and
that as yet nothing had been heard
from Darlington or the dogs he had
gone for.
Presently CsEendish and Yancy set
off across the fields. They were go-
ing on to the raft, to Polly and the
six little Cavendishes. whom they had
not seen since early morning; but
they promised to be back at Belle
Plain within an hour.
BY very nature an alien. Mahary
sought out a dark corner Oh the wide
porch that overlooked the river to
await their return. The house lad
been thrown open, and supper was be-
ing served to whoever cared to stay
and partake OF it. The murmur of
idle purposeless talk drifted out to
him; be was irritated and offended by
it. There was something garish in
this indiscriminate hospitality in the
very home of tragedy. AS the mo-
ments slipped by his sense of dis
pleasure increased. with mankind in
general, with himself. and with the
| Judge principally With the Judge
who was to make foolish target of
| himself in the morning. He was go
| ing TO give the man who had wrecked
his life a chance to take II as well.
| Mahaffy's cola logic dealt cynically
with the preposterous situation his
/ friend had created.
| In the midst OF his angry media.
/ lions he heard a clock strike in the
/ hall ana counted the strokes. II was
! nine o'clock. Surely Yancy and Cav
( endish had been gone their hour! lie
/ Quilted his seat and strolled restless
| ly about the house. He felt deeply
| indignant with everybody and every
thing. Human intelligence seemed
| but pitiable advance on brute In
stinct. A whole day had passed and
| what had been accomplished? Car.
rington. the Judge. Yancy. Cavendish
the four men who might have
worked together to some purpose
had widely separated themselves: and
here was the duel. the very climax of
absurdity. He resumed his dark cor
| ner and waited another hour. Still
no Darlington. and Yancy and Caven.
dish had not come up from the raft.
Fools" thought Mahaffy bitterly,
IAN OF them fools."
tTo BE coNTINUED9