The Lamar register., 1912-08-14

they promised to be back at Belle
Plain within an hour.
By very nature an alien, Mahaffy
sought out a dark corner on the wide
porch that overlooked the river to
been thrown open, and supper was be-
ing served to whoever cared to stay
and partake OF 1t. The murmur OF
idle purposeless talk drifted out to
him; he was irritated and offended by
1t. There was something garish in
this indiscriminate hospitality in the
very home of tragedy. AS the mo-
ments slipped by his sense OF dis
pleasure increased. with mankind in
general. with himself. and with the
GEOGRAPHICALLY with the Judge
himself in the morning. He was 60
ing to give the man who had wrecked
his life a chance to take 1t as well.
Mahaffy's cold logic dealt cynically
with the preposterous situation his
friend had created.
In the midst OF his angry medita-
lions he heard a clock strike in the
hall and counted the strokes. 1t was
nine O'Clock. Surely Yancy and Cav
endish had been gone their hour! He
quilted his seat and strolled restless
ly about the house. He felt deeply
indignant with everybody and every
thing. Human Intelligence seemed
but a pitiable advance on brute IN
stinct. A whole day had passed and
what had been accomplished? Car
rington. the Judge. Yancy. Cavendish
tho four men who might have
worked together to some purpose
here was the duel, the very climax Of
absurdity. He resumed his dark cor.
ner and waited another hour. Still
no Darlington, and Yancy and Caven-
dish had not cous up from the raft.
"Fools!" thought Aahafy bitterly.
IAN Of them foolDi"
At last he deG1Asd to 20 back to
the Judge: and Q moment later was
hurrying down - lane in the direc-
ton OF the higAssaA. but. faded as he
was by the e1ogt ~ had already put
for that day. - walk to Raleigh
made tremendouD demands on him.
and 1t was miAAi0Ak when he entered
the little town.
1t cannot b ~ that he was alto
gether surprised WHEN he found their
cottage dark ~ apparently desert.
ed. He had Aa6 expected this. En-
tering. and not stopping to secure a
candle. he grops1 Ais way upstairs to
the room On - second noor which
he and the js1Oo shared.
"Price!" he eA1lsd. but this gained
him no response and he cursed soft.
ly under his breath
He hastily descended to the kitch-
en-. lighted . eaA1la. and stepped into
the adjoining roe0. On the table was
. neat pile Of Daosfs. and topping the
pile was the pFoa1dsat's letter. Be-
ing burdened ~ no false scruples.
and thinking 4 might afford some
clue to the Judges whereabouts. Ma
hairy took It up and read 1t. Having
mastered its coatsuts he instantly
glanced in the direction OF the City
Tavern. but II was wrapped in dark.
ness.
Price IL drunk somewhere" was
his definite conclusion. But he'll be
at Boggs' the frst thing in the morn
ing-most likely 70 far gone he can
hardly stand!"
The letter. with it, striking news.
made little or NO impression on him
just then; It merely furnished the
clue he had sought. The Judge was
OF somewhere marketing his pros
poets.
After . time Mahany went up
stairs. and. without removing his
clothes, threw himself on the bed. lie
was worn down to the point OF ex
haustion. yet he could not sleep.
though the deep silence warned him
that day was not far on. What If
but he would not let the thought
shape itself in his mind. He had wit
messed the judges skin with the PTS
toll. and he had even . certain IRA
tional faith in that gentleman's des-
tiny. He prayed God that Fentress
might die quickly and decently with
the judges bullet through his brain
Over and over In savage supplication
he muttered his prayer that Fentress
might die.
Mahaffy watched for the coming OF
the dawn. but before the darkness
lifted he had risen from the bed and
gone downstairs, where he made him.
self a cup of wretched coffee. Then
he blew out his candle and watched
the gray light spread. He was i'm