The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1912-03-20


lions he heard clock strike in the
hall and counted the strokes. It 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
pitiable advance on brute instinct.
a whole day mad passed and what had
been accomplished? Darlington, the
judge, Yancy, Cavendish-the four men
who might have worked together to
some purpose had widely separated
themselves; and here was the duel, the
very climax of absurdity. He resumed
his dark corner and waited another
hour. Still no Darlington, and Yancy
and Cavendish had not come up from
the raft.
"Fools!" thought Mahaffy bitterly.
All Of them fools!"
At last he decided to go back to the
Judge; and moment later was hurry
ing down the lane in the direction of
the highroad, but, jaded as he was by
the effort he had already put forth that
day, the walk to Raleigh made ire
mendous demands on him, and it was
midnight when he entered the little
town.
1t cannot be said that he was alto
.gether surprised when he found their
cottage dark and apparently deserted.
He had half expected this. Entering,
and not stopping to secure candle, he
CROPPED his way upstairs to the room
on the second floor which he and the
Judge shared.
"Price!' he called, but this gained
him no response, and he cursed softly
under his breath.
He hastily descended to the kitchen,
lighted candle, and stepped into the
adjoining room. On the table was a
neat pile of papers, and topping the
pile was the presidents letter. Being
burdened by no false scruples, and
thinking it might afford some clue to
the judges whereabouts, Mahaffy took
it up and read it. Having mastered
it's contents he instantly glanced in
the direction of the City Tavern, but
it was wrapped in darkness.
Price is drunk somewhere" was
his definite conclusion. But he'll be at
Boggs' the first thing in the morning
most likely so far gone he can hard
~ stand"
The letter, with its striking nesW,
made little or no impression on him
just then; it merely furnished the clue
he had sought. The judge was off
somewhere marketing his prospects
After a time Mahaffy went upstairs,
and, without removing his clothes, he
threw himself on the bed. He was
worn down to the point of exhaustion,
yet he could not sleep, though the
deep silence warned him that day was
not far Off What if-but he would not
let the thought shape itself in his
mind. He had witnessed the judges
skill with the pistol, and he had even
a certain irrational faith in that gen.
tleman's destiny He prayed God that
Fentress might die quickly and de-
Gently with the judges bullet through
his brain Over and over in savage
supplication he muttered his prayer
that Fentress might die.
CHAPTER XXXIX.
The Duel.
Mahaffy watched for the coming oil
the dawn, but before the darkness lift
ed he had risen from the bed and gone
downstairs, where he made himself a
cup of wretched coffee. Then he blew
out his candle and watched the gray
light spread He was impatient now to|
be off, and fully an hour before the oun
set our for Boggs'. a tall, gaunt figure
in the shadowy uncertainty of that Oc-
sober morning He was the first to
reach the place of meeting, but he
had scarcely entered the meadow when
Fentress rode up, attended by Tom
Ware. They dismounted and the col
,onel lifted his hat. Mahaffy barely
acknowledged the salute; he was in
no mood for courtesies that meant
nothing. Ware was clearly of the
same mind.
There was an awkward pause, then
Fentress and Ware spoke together in
a, low tone. The planters speech. was
broken and hoarse, and his heavy,
bloodshot eyes were the eyes of a
haunted man; this was all part OF
Fentress' scheme to face the world,
and Ware still believed that the fires
Hicks had kindled had served his des-
perate need.
When the first long shadows stole
out from the edge OF the woods Fen
sress turned to Mahaffy, whose glance
was directed toward the distant corner
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