The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1912-10-04

need ever to pay IL back! Ii were
Captain Murrell gave 1t to me-"
Il consecrate myself to his destruc-
toni Judge Slocum Price cannot be
humiliated with impunityl"
II should think you would save
your wind. Price, until you'd wad-
died out of danger!" Mahafry spoke
grufIly.
How are you going to get me out
| OF this, Solomon-for / suppose you
are here TO break jail for me-" said
the Judge.
We'll, Price, guess all we can do
is to go back to town and see IL
can get into my cabin-I've got an
| old saw there. IL can find It, | can
come again tomorrow night and cut
away one OF the logs, or the cleats OF
| the door"
In heavens name, do that tonight,
Solomon" implored the Judge. Why
procrastinate"
Price, there's a pack OF dogs in
| this neighborhood. and we must have
a full night to move in, or they'll pull
us down before we've gone ten
| miles!"
You're right. Solomon; I'd forgot
! ten the dogs"
Mahaffy closed and fastened the
| shutters, then he and Hannibal stole
across the clearing and entered the
woods. The Judge went to bed. lie
was aroused by the arrival of his
breakfast, which the sheriff brought
| about eight o'clock.
We'll, II | was in your boots
couldn't sleep like you!" remarked
that official admiringy. But | reckon.
| sir, this amt the first time the peni-
| tentiary has stared you in the face"
IL was nearing the noon hour when
| the judges solitude was again in
vaded. He first heard the distant MUIR
mur OF voices on the road and passed
an uneasy and restless ten minutes.
with his eye to a crack In the door
| He was soothed and reassured. how
ever, when at last he caught sight or
the sheriff.
We'll, Judge, / got company for
you," cried the sheriff cheerfully. as
n
thief"
lie pushed into the building a man.
hatless and coatless, with a pair OF
pale villainous eyes and a tobacco
stained chin. The Judge viewed the
newcomer with disfavor. AS for the
horse-thief, he gave his companion in
misery a coldly critical stare, seated
himself on the stool, and with quite
fierce air devoted all his energy to
mastication. He neither altered his
position nor changed his expression
until he and the Judge were alone.
then, catching the judges eye. he
made what seemed casual move
ment with his hand, the three fingers
raised; but to the Judge this clearly
was without significance, and the
horse-thief manifested no further In
terest where he was concerned. lie
did not even condescend to answer
the one or two civil remarks the
Judge addressed to him.
AS the long afternoon more itself
away, the judge lived through the
many stages of doubt and uncertain
ty, for suppose anything had hap
pened TO Mahaffy!
Standing before the window. the
Judge watched the last vestige OF light
fade from the sky and the stars ap-
pear. Would Mahany come? The
suspense was intolerable. Suddenly
out of the silence sounded long
drawn whistle. Three times 1t was
repeated. The horse-thief leaped TO
his feet
"Neighbor. that means me-" he
cried.
The moon was rising now. and by
horsemen appear on the edge OF the
woods They entered the clearing.
picking their way among the stumps
without haste or confusion. When
quite close, five OF the band dis
mounted: the rest continued on about
the Jail or cantered of toward the
road.
Look out inside. there" cried
voice. and log was dashed against
the door: once-twice-it rose and
fell on the clapboards. and under
those mighty thuds grew up n wide
gap through which the moonlight
streamed splendidly. The horse-thief
stepped between the dangling cleats
and vanished.
The Judge tossed away the stool.
lie understood now. with conf
dent. not to say jaunty step. the Judge
emerged from the jail
Your servant. gentlemen" he
said. lifting his hat.
"Gitl" said one OF the men brief
ly, and the Judge moved nimbly away
toward the woods
Now to find Solomon and the boy.
and then 10 put the miles between
himself and Pleasantville with all
diligence. AS he thought this. almost
al his elbow Mahaffy and Hannibal
rose from behind n fallen log. The
Yankee motioned for silence ano