Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1912-06-05
2S$!fcHAPTER Sxlv-(continued) J.

The stranger, mis- business Co ACluuut,
ed, swung about on his heel and
i quilted ethe ON ce. Mr. Saul, bending
h above his desk, was making an entry
p in one OF his ledgers. The judge shut 1;
4 fed to his side. -; Il t IA
Who was Sthat man?" he asked
thickly, resting shaking hand on
d the clerks arm. ,SiS;s S S
That !? Oh, that was Colonel Fen
tress i was Just telling you about"
Has he always lived here
r mo; he came into the county about
ten years ago. and bought place
called The Oaks .j ~ y, 4
i3 Has he--a family q The Judge APP
peared to be having difficulty with
4 his speech. f53 ssss III 81
mot that; any body knows $of. Some
say he's q. widower,. others again say
2 he's an old bache lor;; but he don't
Il say thing. The colonel's got his
/. friends, to be sure, but he don't mix
much with the real quality. One OF
his particular Antipates Is . gentle
man by the name Of MurrelL" ss
The judge nodded. 4. ~
4 i"I've met him, !" he said briefly.
: A citing son Y q sudden impulse, the
Judge muttered something about re-
turning later: and hastily Quilted the le
office. i:5s
In the hall me Judges steps dragged
B and his head swas bowed he was
4 busy with his memofies. Then pas
\ sion shook him,
Damn him may God for v ever
damn him." he VI cried under his
breath. In q fierce whisper. u
They finished supper. the dishes
were cleared away and the candles
lighted !. when the Judge produced Il q
mysterious leather.coyered case. This
U he opened, and Mahat1y and Hannibal
( saw that It held "a handsome pair OF
1 dueling pistols. 4. Ts 1
Where did you get 'em. Judge -
A oh, amt they beautiful! ~ cried Han.
.nibal, circling about the table IN his his
excitement XII IA
u :'My dear lad they were purchased
only few hours ago. Is said the judge
h quietly. as he began TO load them.
4 . 81 t5E IL ).
Norton had ridden down to Belle
plain, ostensibly y to view certain OF
. those improvements that went SO far
toward embittering Tom Wares ex'
Il istence. 4 35:;s 5- n IS 2s$
DO you think Belle Plain Is. ever
4 going to look as 1t did. Charley - as
1--WE remember 1t when we were chill
dren p asked Betty. s3 & n
3s why Of course, It is, dear. you are re
" doing wonders ~ IS 81 & s:s
Ware stalked toward them. Aay'
Ing dined with Betty 2as, recently as
the day before. he contented himself
Il with a nod in her direction. His
greeting to Norton was "a more am.
Ibitious undertaking III Il Il &
i Understand you've / a; new over.
seer?". a; LSss y ~. X ss Ss II
u Then you und erstand wrong Car
4 fington' 8 my guest" Ssaid Norton
....He's talking Of putting in q crop for
4 himself next season, SO he's. willing
to help me make mine Z Z < Il n 3
II Going to turn farmer, is he z
i asked Ware. I. ~. I ! & II
z Fl so he says" Norton was extreme
I " disappointed when the planter
/ manifested disposition to play the
host and returned to the house with
them, where his presence was such
"a hardship that Norton shortly tooR
his leave. ',jS q
II Issuing from the lane he turned his
I face In the direction OF home. He
was within two miles o. Thicket Point
VI when, passing turn In the road, he
I found himself confronted by three
men. One Of them seized his horse
by the bit. Norton had not even .
i riding-whip. IL .s Il {,