Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-01-05
the head he handed the rife to Car

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Did you come alone, Hannibal?" she
asked.
mo, ma'am; the judge and Mr.. Ma
haffy, they fetched me-"
The judge had drawn nearer as Bet
ty and Hannibal spoke together, bu
Mahaffy hung back. There were CULTS
not to be crossed by him. 1t was diff
ferent with the judge; the native mag
nificence of his mind fitted him for any
occasion. He pulled up his stock ant
coaxed a half-inch Of limp linen dowr
about his wrists, then very splendidlJ
he lifted his napless hat from his
shiny bald head and pressing 1t asains
his fat chest with much fervor, ele.
gantly inclined himself from the hips
Allow me the honor to present my.
self, ma a'am-Price Is my name-Judge
Slocum Price. May I be permitted tc
assume that this is the Miss Betty OF
whom my young protese so often
speaks?" The Judge beamed benevo-
lently, and rested ponderous hand on
the boys head.
Tom Ware CAV? him a glance OF
undisguised astonishment, while Nor
ton regared him with an expression OF
stunned and resolute gravity. Ma
haffy seemed to be undergoing a ter
rible moment of uncertainty. He was
divided between two purposes: one
was to seize Price by the coat tails
and drag him back into the crowd;
the other was to kick him, and him
self fly that spot. This singular i'm
pulse sprang from the fact that he
firmly believed his friends appearance
was sufficient to blast the boys
chances in every quarter; nor did he
think any better Of himself.
Betty looked at the judge rather in
quiringly.
Il am glad he has found friends,
she said slowly. She wanted to be-
lieve that Judge Slocum Price was
somehow better than he looked, which
should have been easy, since it was
incredible that he could have been
worse.
He has indeed found friends" said
the Judge with mellow JUNCTION, and
swelling visibly. These prosperous ap-
pearing people should be Of use to him,
God willing"-he made a sweeping
gesture. Il have assumed the respon-
sibility of his future-he is my care. "
Now Betty caught sight Of Caring
ton and bowed. Occupied with Hanni-
bal and the judge, she had been una
ware of his presence. Darlington
stepped forward.
Have you met Mr.. Norton, and my
brother, Mr. Carrington?" she asked.
The two young men shook hands,
and Ware improved his opportunity to
inspect the newcomer. But as his
glance wandered over him, 1t took In
more than Darlington, for 1t included
the fine figure and swarthy face of
Captain Murrell, who, with his eyes
fixed on Betty, was thrusting his eager
way through the crowd.
Murrell had presented himself at
Belle Plain the day before. For upward
Of a year, Ware had enjoyed great
peace of mind as a direct result
of his absence from West Tennes-
at all he had invariably put a
period to his meditations with, II hope
to hell he catches it wherever he Isl"
1t had really seemed pernicious thing
to him that no one had shown suffi-
cient public spirit to knock the captain
on the head, and that this had not been
done, utterly destroyed his faith in the
good intentions Of Providence.
More than this, Betty had spoken
of the captain in no uncertain terms.
He was not to repeat that visit. Tom
must make that point clear to him.
Tom might entertain him If he liked
at his office, but the doors Of Belle
Plain were closed against Captain
Murrell; he was not to set his foot
inside Of them.
AS Murrell approached, the hot COL
or surged into Betty's face. AS for
Hannibal, he had gone white to the
lips, and his small hand clutched hers
desperately; he was remembering all
the terror of that hot dawn at Slos-
sons.
Murrell. with all his hardihood,
realized that a too great confidence
had placed him in an awkward posi-
ton, for Betty turned her back on him
and began an animated conversation
with Darlington and Charley Norton;
only Hannibal and the judge continu-
ed to regard him; the boy with a
frightened, fascinated stare, the judge
with a wide sweet smile.
Hicks the Belle Plain overseer
pushed his way to Murrells side.
Here, John Murrell, amt you 60
ing to show US a trick or two?" he
inquired.
Murrell turned quickly with a sense
Of relief.
IF you can spare me your rifle,
he said, but his face wore bleak
look. Glancing at Betty, he took up
his station with the other contestants
whereupon two or three young plant
ers silently withdrew from the firing
line.
Don't you think you've seen about
enough, Bet?" demanded Tom. You
don't care for the shooting, do you?"
That's the very thing I do care
for; l think I'd rather see that than
the horse-racing, sail Betty per-
versely. This had been her first ap-
pearance in public since her home
coming. and she felt that it had been
most satisfactory. She had met every
body she had ever known, and scores
of new people; her progress had been
quite triumphal in spite of Tom, and
in spite of Charley Norton, who was
plainly not anxious to share her with
any one. his devotion being rather OF
the monopolizing sort
Betty now seated herself in the
carriage, with Hannibal beside her
quietly determined to miss nothing
The judge. feeling that he had come