The Pleasantville press., 1912-08-07

1t when / lay hands on hffn!"
do you know when and under
what circumstances the team was
stabbed, Mr.. Hicks?'' inquired the
judge.
mo, I don't, but I reckon it must
have been long after dark" said Hicks
unwillingly. Il seen to the feeding
just after sundown like l always do.
then went to supper" Hicks vouch-
safed to explain.
And no one saw or heard the team
drive in?"
Not as know Of" said Hicks.
"Mas'r Ca'ington's done gone on to
get pack of dawgs-he lows hits
might important to find what's come
of George" said Steve.
Hicks started violently at this piece
of news.
Il reckon he'll have to travel q
right smart distance to find pack OF
dogs" he muttered Il don't know OF
none this side Of Colonel Bates down
below Girard."
The judge was lost in thought He
permitted an interval of silence to
elapse in which Hicks glance slid
round in a furtive circle.
"When did Mr.. Ware set out for
Memphis?" asked the judge at length.
"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
shook his head. Did you see her dur
Ing the afternoon?
q "No-maybe you think these mig
gers amt enough to keep man stir
ring?" said Hicks uneasily and with a
scowl. The judge noticed both the
uneasiness and the scowl.
81 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 i'll disturbed
mental state ever since Mr.. Norton's
murder? am interested in this point,
Mr.. Hicks, because your experience is
so entirely at variance with my own.
1t was my privilege to see and speak
with her yesterday afternoon; was
profoundly impressed by her natural-
ness and composure" The judge
smiled, then he leaned forward across
the desk. what were you doing up
here early this morning ng-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.
For no discernible reason Mr.. Cav
endish spat on his palms.
'sMr. Hicks" said the judge, urbane
and gracious, Il believe in frankness. :
Sure agreed Hicks, mollitied by
the judges altered tone.
Therefore / do not hesitate to say
that / consider you damned scoun-
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 vio-
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 1t. With his hands on his
knees he was now bending above the
two men.
What do you want to know,
judge?" cried Cavendish, painting from
his exertions. "FIl learn this parrot
to talk up!"
Hicks" said the judge, 1T is in
your power to tell us a few things we
are here to ind out" Hicks looked
up into the judges face and closed
his lips grimly. Mr.. Cavendish.