The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1912-05-31
stool, which. with shake-down bed,


| stool, which, with a shake-down bed
| furnished the Jail
Where was Solomon Mahaffy, and
where Hannibal? He felt that Ma
haffy could fend for himself. but he
experienced a moment Of genuine
concern when he thought Of the child.
Then-there was a scarcely audi
BILE rustic OF the margin OF the woods,
a dry branch snapped loudly. Next
stealthy step sounded in the clear
ing. The Judge had an agonized
vision of regulators and Iynchers.
The cautious steps continued to. ap-
proach. A whisper stole into the
Jail.
Are you awake, Prtce?' 1t was Ma
haffy who spoke.
God bless you, Solomon Mahaffy!"
cried the judge unsteadily.
I've got the boy-he's with me-"
said Mahaffy.
God bless you BOTH" repeated the
| Judge brokenly. Take care of him,
! Solomon. I feel better now, knowing
he's in good hands"
please, judge" 1t was Hannibal.
Yes, dear lad?"
I'm mighty sorry that ten dollars
| loaned you was bad-but you don't
| need ever to pay it back! 1t were
| Captain Murreu gave it to me-"
| Il consecrate myself to his destruc-
ton! Judge Slocum Price cannot be
hunliliated with tmpuntty!"
81 should think you would save
your wind, Price, until you'd wad-
died out of danger!" Mahaffy spoke
gruffly
How are you going to get me out
of this, Solomon-for 1 suppose you
are here to break jail for me-" said
the judge.
well, Price, l guess all We can do
is to go back to town and see If l
can get into my cabin-Pve got an
old saw there. If l can find it, l can
come again tomorrow night and cut
| away one Of the logs, or the cIeats OF
the door,"
In h .ven's name, do that tonight,
Solomo I" implored the judge. why
procrf inate?"
"P .e, there's a pack of dogs in
this neighbcrhood, and we must have
a full night to move in, or they'll pull
US down before we've gone ten
mtles!"
You're right, Solomon; I'd forgot
ten the dogs"
Mahafy closed and fastened the
shutters, then he and Hannibal stole
across the clearing and entered the
woods. The judge went to bed. He
was aroused by the arrival of his
breakfast, which the sheriff brought
about eight o'clock.
We'll, il l was in your boots l
couldn't sleep like you!" remarked
that official admiringly. But reckon.
sir. this amt the first time the pen1-
tentiary has stared you in the face"
1t was nearing the noon hour when
the judges solitude was again in
vaded He first heard the distant muir
mur of voices on the road and passed
an uneasy and restless ten minutes.
with his eye to a crack in the door.
He was soothed and reassured, how
ever, when at last he caught sight OF
the sheriff.
We'll, judge, 1 got company for
YOU cried the sheriff cheerfully, as
he threw open the door. "A hoss-
thief"
He pushed into the building man,
hatless and coatless, with pair OF
pale villainous eyes and tobacco
stained chin.
AS the. long afternoon wore itself
away, the judge lived through the
many stages Of doubt and uncertain
ty, for suppose anything had hap
pened to Mahafy!
Standing before the window, the
judge watched the last vestige of light
fade from the sky and the stars ap-
pear. Would Mahaffy come? The
suspense was intolerable. Suddenly
out Of the silence sounded a long
drawn whistle Three times it was
repeated. The horse-thief leaped to
his feet
'Neighbor, that means mel" he
cried.
The moon was rising now, and by
it's light the judge saw a number OF
horsemen appear on the edge of the
woods. They entered the clearing, |
picking their way among the stumps
without haste or confusion. When |
quite close, five of the band dis
mounted; the rest continued on about
the Jail or cantered off toward the |
road.
Look out inside, there!" cried
voice. and log was dashed against
fell on the clapboards, and under |
those mighty thuds grew up a wide |
gap through which the moonlight |
streamed spendidly. The horse-thier |
stepped between the dangling cleats
and vanished.
He understood now. With conf |
dent not to say jaunty step. the judge
emerged from the jail.
Your servant. gentIemen!" he
said. Gripg his hat.
"Giti" said one of the men brief
ly, and tie judge moved n!nbly away
toward tk4 woods.
Now tc End Solomon and the boy !
and then ~ put the miles between |
himself a1s<t Pleasantville with all |
diligence .xs he thought this. almost |
at his elbow Mahary and Hannibal
rose from btAind~ < fallen log, The
Yankee motIoned for silence and
poiIEed west
CTO Be CONTINUED)