Cheraw chronicle. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1896-2005, 1912-07-04

You mean she needs q lawyer,
Price?" insinuated Mahaffy.
That slap at me, Solomon, Is un-
worthy of you. Just name some one,
will you, who has shown an interest
comparable to mine? l may say l
have devoted my entire energy to her
affairs, and with disinterestedness. i
have made myself felt. VIII you men,
tion who else these cutthroats have
tried to browbeat and frighten? They
know that my theories and conclu-
sions are a menace to them! / got
'em In a panic, sir-presently some
fellow will lose his nerve and light
out for the tall timber-and 1t Will
be just Judge Slocum Price who's
done the trick-no one else!"
Are you looking for some one to
take a pot shot at you?" inquired Ma
haffy, sourly.
Your remark uncovers my fondest
hope, Solomon-Td give five years OF
my life just to be shot at-that would
round out the episode Of the letter
nicely; again the judge beamed on
Mahaffy with that wide and sunny
smile Of his.
why don't you let the boy go
alone, Price?" suggested Mahafry. He
lacked that sense Of sublime conf
dence in the judges tact and discre-
tion Of which the judge, himself, en-
tertained never a doubt.
II shall not obtrude myself, Solo
mon; l shall merely walk out to Belle
Plain and leave civil message. /
know what's due Miss Malroy in her
bereaved state-she has sustained no
ordinary loss, and In no ordinary
fashion. She has been the center OF
a striking and profoundly moving
tragedy! / woulc siveTa good deal to
know II my late client left will"
You might ask her." said Mahafry
cynically. Nothing like going to
headquarters for the news!"
Solomon, Solomon, give me credit
for common sense-go further, and
give me credit for common decency!
Don't let us forget that ever since we
came here she has manifested
charmingly hospitable spirit where we
are concerned"
Wouldn't charity hit nearer the
mark, Price,"
Il have never so regarded 1t, Solo,
mon," said the Judge mildly. Il have
read different meaning in the beef
and flour and potatoes she's sent here.
| expect if the truth could be known
to us she is wondering in the midst
of her grief why | haven't called, but
she'll appreciate the considerate del
icacy of a gentleman. | wish it were
possible to get cut flowers in this
cussed Wilderness"
The judge had been occupied with
a simple but ingenious toilet. He
had trimmed the frayed skirts OF his
coat; then, by turning his cuffs in
side out and upside down fresh sur
face made its fiXt public appearance.
Next his shoes had engaged his at
tention. They might have we'll dis
couraged q less resolute and resource
full character, but with the contents
OF his ink-well he artfully colored his
white yarn socks where they showed
through the riffs in the leather. This
the judge did gaily, now humming
snatch of song, now listening civilly
to Mahaify, now replying with undis-
turbed cheerfulness. Last Of all he
clapped his dingy beaver on his head,
giving it an indescribably jaunty
slant, and stepped to the door.
"Well, wish me luck, Solomon, I'm
off-come, Hannibal" he said.
At heart he cherished small hope OF
seeing Betty, advantageous as he felt
an interview might prove. However,
on reaching Belle Plain, he and Han
nibal were shown into the cool parlor
by little Steve. 1t was more years
than the judge cared to remember
since he had put his foot inside such
house, but with true grandeur OF
soul he rose to the occasion; a
sublimated dignity shone from every
battered feature, while he fixed little
Steve with SO fierce a glance that the
grin froze on his lips.
You are to say that Judge Slocum
; Price presents his compliments and
, condolences to Miss Malroy-have
you got that straight, you pinch OF
soot?" he concluded affably. Little
Steve, impressed alike by the judges
air of condescension and his easy
flow of words, signitied that he had.
You may also say that Judge Prices