Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-03-15
CHAPTER XVI.

The Judge Offers . Reward.
The news of Charley Norton's muir.
der spread quickly over the county
For two or three days bands of armed
men secured the woods and roads.
and then this activity quite unpro-
ductive of any tangible results ceased,
matters were allowed to rest with the
constituted authorities. namely Mr..
Belts. the sheriff, and his deputies.
No private citizen had shown
greater zeal than Judge Slocum Price.
One morning he found under his door
folded paper:
"You talk too much. Shut up. or
you'll 60 where Norton went"
A few moments later he burst in
ON MIR. Saul.
Glance at that, my friend!" he
cried, as he tossed the paper on the
clerks desk. What do you make OF
1t, sir?"
well, I'd keep STILL"
The judge laughed derisively as he
bowed himself out.
He established himself In his Of
flee. He had scarcely done SO when
.Ir. Belts knocked at the door. The
sheriff came direct from Mr.. Saul and
arrived out of breath, but the letter
was not mentioned by the judge. He
spoke of the crops, the chance OF
rain, and the intricacies of county
politics. The sheriff withdrew mysti.
fed, wondering why 1t was he had
not felt at liberty to breach the sub
ject which was uppermost in his
mind.
His place was taken by Mr.. Pegloe
and on the heels of the tavern-keeper
came Mr.. Bowen. Judge Price re-
ceived them with condescension, but
back of the condescension was an air
of reserve that did not invite Ques-
tons. The Judge discussed the extern
sion of the national roads with Mr..
Pegloe, and the religion of the Per
sian flre-worshipers with Mr.. Bowen;
he permitted never a pause and they
!, retired as the sheriff had done with
out sight Of the letter.
The judges Office became q per
feet Mecca for the idle and the curl
Gus, and while he overflowed with
high.bred courtesy he had never
seemed SO unapproachable-never so
remote from matters Of local and con-
temporary interest.
why don't you show 'em the let.
ter?" demanded Mr. Mahahy. when
they were alone. Cant you see they
are suffering for sight of it,"
"All in good time, Solomon" He
became thoughtful. Solomon, I am
thinking of Offering reward for any
information that will lead to the dis
covery of my anonymous correspond
ent," he at length observed with q
finely casual air, as II the idea had
just occurred to him, and had not
been seething in his brain all day.
There you go, Price" began Ma
haffy.
Solomon, this is no time for me to
hang back. shall offer a reward OF
five thousand dollars for this informa-
ton" The judges tone was resolute.
Eyes, sir, shall make the figure COM
mensurate with the poignant grief l
feel. He was my friend and client"
The next morning it was discovered
that some time during the night the
Judge mad tackled his anonymous com.
munication on the court house door;
just below 1t was another sheet of pa
per covered with bold script:
ITO Whom 1t May Concern:
Judge Slocum Price assumes that
the above was intended for him since
he found it under his office door on
the morning of the twenty-fifth inst.
Judge Price begs leave to state it
as his unqualified conviction that the
writer is a coward and cur, and
offers a reward Of five thousand dol.
lars for any information that will lead
to his 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 his despair-what was the
use of trying to sleep when sleep was
an impossibiity! He was about to
quit the, table when big Steve en-
tered the room to Gay there was q
white fellow at the door,
Fetch him along In here" said
Ware.
The white fellow delivered pen
ciled note from Murrell. When he
was gone, the plantsr ordered his
horse.
Al Ware rode away from Belle
Plain he cursed Nurrell under his
breath. His own Inclination toward
evil was never robust; he could have
connived 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 no en-
tered = bride path that led toward
the river. A growth Of small timber
was standing alopg the waters edge.
but 10 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 conststed5 Of . log
cabin and several lesser sheds.
Landing, he advanced toward the
cabin. Az he did 20 he NV two wom-
On Ut work heckling max under IN
open she'd. Thsy.were the wife and
daughter sof Gsdtga Hicks. his over
sssr's brother.