Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-02-09
Rettv insisted that he should be


ing, the judge gracefully yielded the
point, and a few moments later rolled
away from Belle Plain behind pair
of sleek coated bays, with a negro IN
livery on the box. He was conscious
of a great sense of exaltation. He felt
that he should paralyze Mahaffy. He
even temporarily forgot the blow his
hopes had sustained when Betty spoke
of returning to North Carolina This
was life-broad acres and niggers-
principally to trot after you toting
liuuor-and such liquor!-he lolled
! back luxuriantly with half-closed eyes
Twenty years in the wood II an
hour!" he muttered. I'D like to have
lust such q taste in my mouth when
I come to die-and probably she has
barrels of it," he sighed deeply, and
searched his soul for words with which
adequately to describe that whisky to
Mahaffy.
But why not do more than paralyze
Solomon-that would be pleasant but
not especially profitable. The Judge
came back quickly to the vexed prob
lem of his future. He desired to make
some striking display of Miss Malroy's
courtesy. He knew that his credit was
experiencing the pangs Of an early
mortality; he was not sensitive, yet
for some days he had been sensible OF
the fact that what he called the COM
mercial class was viewing him with
open disfavor, but he must hang on in
Raleigh a little longer-for him 1t had
become the abode Of hope. The judge
considered the matter. At least he
could let people see something Of that
decent respect with which Miss Malroy
treated him.
They were entering Raleigh now. and
he ordered the coachman to pull his
horses down to a walk. He had decid-
ed to make use Of the Belle Plain turn
out in creating an atmosphere Of con-
fidence and trust-especially trust.
To this end he spent the best part OF
an hour interviewing his creditors. 1t
amounted almost to a mass meeting
of the adult male population, for he
had no favorites. When he invaded
virgin territory he believed in starting
the largest possible number Of ac-
counts without delay. The advantage
of his system, as he explained its
workings to Mahaffy, was that 1t bred
a noble spirit Of emulation.
He let 1t be known In a general way
that things were looking up with him;
Just in what quarter he did not specify,
but there he was, seated in the Belle
Plain carriage and the inference was
unavoidable that Miss Malroy was to
recognize his activities in substan-
tial manner.
Mahaffy, loafing away the afternoon
In the county clerks office. heard OF
the Judges return. He heard that
Charley Norton had left will; that
Thicket Point went to Miss Malroy;
that the Norton cousins in middle
Tennessee were going to put up a
fight; that Judge Price had been re-.
tanned as counsel by Miss Malroy;
that he was authorized to begin an
independent search for Charley Nor
tons murderer, and was to spare no
expense; that Judge Price was going
to pay his debts. Mahaffy grinned at
this and hurried home. He could be-
lieve all but the last, that was the
crowning touch of unreality.
The Judge explained the situation.
81 wouldn't withhold hope from any
man. Solomon; it's the cheapest thing
in the world and the one thing we are
most miserly about extending to our
fellows. These people all feel better
and what did 1t cost me?-just little
decent consideration; just the know
ledge of what the unavoidable asso-
Citations of ideas in their own minds
would do for them!"
What had seemed the corpse Of cred
it breathed again, and the Judge and
Mahaffy Immediately embarked upon
a characteristic celebration. Early
candlelight found them making a be-
ginning; midnight came-the gray
and purple Of dawn-and they were
still at it, back Of closed doors and
shuttered windows.
To Be Continued.