Morgan County republican. (Versailles, Mo.) 1906-1914, 1912-05-30
(CHAPTER XVi-(Continued).

(CHAPTER xVi-(Continued).
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 infprma-
ton" The judges tone was %resolute.
Yes. sir. | shall make the figure com
mensurate with the poignant grief !
feel. lie was my friend and client"
The next morning 1t was discovered
that some time during the night the
Judge had tackled his anonymous COM.
municatiOn on the court house door;
Just below IT was another sheet OF pa.
PER covered with bold script:
"To Whom It May Concern:
Judge Slocum Price assumes that
the above was intended Tor him since
he found II under his office door on
the morning OF the twenty.tiith inst.
Judge Price hegs leave to state II
as his unqualified conviction hat the
writer Is a coward and a cur, and
offers a reward OF five thousand dol
lars for any information that will lead
10 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 impossibility! lie was about 10
quit the table when big Steve en-.
tered the room to cay here was a
white fellow at the door.
Fetch him along In here" said
Ware.
The white fellow delivered a pen.
ciled note from Murrell. When he
was gone, the planter ordered his
horse.
AS Ware rode away from Belle
Plain he cursed Murrell under his
breath. His own inclination toward
evil was never robust; he could have
%,onnlved over a long period of years
to despoil Betty OF her property, but
murder and abduction was quite an.
other thing.
Three miles from Bello Plain he en-.
tered a bride path that led toward
the river. A growth Of small timber
was standing along the waters edge
but as he drew nearer, those better.
mcnts which the resident OF that
lonely spot had seen fit to make for
his own convenience, came under his
scrutiny; these consisted of q log
cabin and several lesser sheds.
Landing, he advanced toward the
cabin. AS he did so he saw two won.
on at work heckling fax under an
open shed. They were the wife and
daughter OF George Hicks, his over.
secr's brother.
Morning. Mrs. Hicks" he said. nd.
dressing himself to the mother. n
hulking rufian OF n woman. Amy.
body with the captain?"
Colonel Fentress Is"
"Humph!" muttered Ware. He
moved to the door Of the cabin and
entered the room where MurreIl and
Eentress were seated facing each
other across the breakfast table.
well. what the devil do you want
OF me. aAyhow?" demanded the
planter.
W % yout p'otSip ioih. injured
Murrell.
Il reckon she's the way you'd ex
pect her to be-" Ware dropped hi,
voice to n whisper.
John. you'll ruin yourself Will
your damned crazy infatuation!"
was Fentress who spoke,
mo. | won't. colonel. but I'm no
going to discuss that. All ! want 4
for Tom to go to Memphis and sta,
there for a couple OF days, When n
comes back Belle Plain and its mis-
gers will be as good as his. | am &c
ing to take the girl away from Their
tonight. How soon can you get W
from here. Tom?" he asked abrupt,
by God. ! can't go too soon!" erie
the planter. staggering TO his feet. II
gave Fentress a hopeless beaten lool
You're my witness that first and las
I've no part in this!"
The colonel shrugged his shoulder
Murreil reached out q hand and res
ed Il ON Wares arm.