The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1912-05-09

Early yesterday. He goes there.
pretty often on business"
"You talked with Mr.. Ware before
he left?" Hicks shook his head. Did
he speak of Miss Malroy?" Hicks
shock his head. did you see her dur
ing the sfternoon?"
gers amt enough to keep man STIR
ring?" said Hicks uneasily and with q
scowl. The judge noticed both tho
uneasiness and the scowl.
! II should imagine they would abb
sorb every moment of your time, Mr..
Hicks he agreed affably.
! "A mans got to be hog for work
to hold job like mine," said Hicks
sourly.
; But it came to your notice that
Miss Malroy has been in disturbed
mental state ever since Mr.. Norton's
murder? am interested in this point.
Mr. Hicks, because your experience isi
so entirely at variance with my own.
1t was my privilege to see and speak
with her yesterday afternoon; l was
profoundly impressed by her natural
u0SS anu 4AC Juuoo
smiled, then he leaned forward across
the desk. What were you doing up
here early this morning-hasn't hog
| for work like you got any business OF
his own at that hour?" The judges
tone was suddenly offensive.
Look here, what right have you
got to try and pump me?" cried Hicks
Mr. (tQv-
endish spat on his palms.
Mr.. Hicks" said the judge, urbane
and gracious, Il believe in frankness."
Sure" agreed Hicks, notified by
the judges altered tone.
Therefore l do not hesitate to say
that 1 consider you damned scoun-
4 drel!" concluded the judge.
Mr.. Cavendish, accepting the judges
ultimatum as something which must
: debar Hicks from all further consid-
Grafton, and being, as he was, exceed
ingly active and energetic by nature,
/ If one passed over the various forms
Of gainful industry, uttered loud
whoop and threw himself on the over
seer. There was a brief struggle and
Hicks went down with the Earl OF
Lambeth astride of him; then from
his boot leg that knightly soul flashed
a horn-handled ticker of formidable
! dimensions.
The judge, Yancy and Mahaffy,
sprang from their chairs. Mr.. Ma
haffy was plainly shocked at the spec
tacle of Mr.. Cavendish's lawless vto-
lence. Yancy was disturbed, too, but
not by the moral aspects of the case;
he was doubtful as to how his friends
act would appeal to the judge. He
need not have been distressed on that
score, since the Judges one idea was
to profit by it. With his hands on his
knees he was now bending above tho
; two men.
What do you want to know,
judge?" cried Cavendish, painting from
his exertions. I'll learn this parrot
to talk up"
"Hicks," said the judge, 1T is In
your power to tell us few things We
are here to find out" Hicks looked
up into the judges face and closed
his lips grimly. 'Mr. Cavenddsh.
kindly let him have the point of that
large knife where he'll feel 1t most!~
ordered the judge.
Talk quick" said Cavendish, with
feroeious scowl. 'Talk-Or what's
to hinder me slicing open your WOOL
en-" and he pressed the blade Of his
| knife against the overseer's throat.
Il don't know anything about Miss
Betty" said Hicks In a sullen whfs-
/ per.
Maybe you don't. but what do you
know about the boy?" Hicks wa1
silent, but he was grateful for the
judges question. From Tom Ware he
had learned Of Fentress' interest I'M
the boy Why should he shelter the
colonel at risk of himself? If you
please, Mr. Cavendish!" said the
judge, noddtng toward the knife.
"You didn't ask me about him." said
Hicks quickly.
Il do now said the Judge.
"He was here yesterday"
"Mr. Cavendish-" again the judge
glanced toward the knife.
"Wait!" cried Hicks. you 60 to-
Colonel Fentress.'
Let him up, Mr.. Cavendish; that's
all we want to know" said the judge.
(TO be cOntinued.)