The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1912-01-31
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b CHAPTER XVIII.
The Judge Takes Charge.

All work on the plantation had
stopped, and the hundreds of slaves
men, women and children-were gath
cred about the house. Among these
moved the members of the dominant
race. The Judge would have attached
himself to the first group, but he
heard q whispered question and tht
answer,
miss Malroys lawyer
Clearly it was not for him to mix
with these outsiders, these curiosity
seekers He crossed the lawn to the
house and mounted the steps. In the
doorway was big Steve, while groups
of men stood about in the hall, tho
hum of busy purposeless talk pervad
ing the place The judge frowned
This was all wrong
''Has Mr.. Ware returned from Mem
phis?" he asked of Steve.
mo, sab; not yet
s'Then show me into the library,
said the judge with bland authority
surrendering his hat to the butler
''Come along, Mahaffy,' he added
They entered the library and the
Judge motioned Steve to close the
door. "Now, boy, you'll kindly ask
those people to withdraw-you may
say it is Judge Prices orders. AL
low no one to enter the house unless
they have business with me or as
send for them-you understand? AT
ter you have cleared the house, you
may bring me a decanter of corn
whisky-stop bit-you may ask the
sheriff to step here"
Eyes. sah." And Steve withdrew.
The judge drew an easy chair up
to the fat topped desk that stood in
the center of the room and seated
himself.
''Are you going to make this the ex
cuse for another drunk, Price? If so
feel the greatest contempt for you,
said Mahaffy sternly.
The Judge WINGED at this.
You have made regrettable
choice of words, Solomon" he urgeC
gently.
Where's your feeling for the boy??'
"Here!" said the Judge with an elo
uuent gesture, resting his hand on his
heart.
IF you let whisky alone, I'll be
lieve you; otherwise what have sale
must stand"
The door opened and the sheriff
slouched into the room. He was chew
ing long wheat straw and his whole
appearance was one of troubled weak
ness.
Morning." he said briefly.
.Sit down, Sheriff." said the judge
dicating a meek seat for the ofticia
in distant corner. Have yol
learned anything?' he asked.
The sheriff shook his head.
"What you turning all these neigh
bors out of doors for?" he questioned
"We don't want people tracking il!
and out of the house, Sheriff. Import
ant evidence may be destroyed.
propose examining the slaves first
does that meet with your APPROVAL
ooh, I've talked with them; they
don't know nothing" said the sheriff
.sNo one don't know nothing"
please God, we may yet put oul
fingers on some villain who does,
said the Judge.
Outside it was noised about that
Judge Price had taken matters in
hand-he was the old fellow who haC
been warned to keep his mouth shut
and who had never stopped talking
since. A crowd collected beyond the
library windows and Toasted it's eyes
on the back of the heros bald head.
One by one the house servants We're
ushered into the judges presence
First he Intercepted little Steve, who
had gone to Miss Betty's door tina
morning to rouse her, as was his Gus
tom. Next he examined Betty's maid
then the cook and various house
servants, who had nothing especia
to tell, but told it at considerable
length; and lastly big Steve.
"Stop a Bit" the judge suddenl!
interrupted the butler in the mids
of his narrative. docs the overseel
always come up to the house the frs
thing in the morning."
'Why, not exactly, sab, but ne
come up this mo'ning. He was talk
ing to me at the back of the house
when the women run out with the
wbrd that Missy was done gone
away"
HE Joined in the search?'
Yes, sah."
"When was Miss Malroy seen
last?" asked the Judge.
''She and the young gemman you
fotohx,d baah were seen in the gyarden