Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1913-01-03
CHAPTER XVI.
The Judge oners a Reward.

For two or three days bands OF arme
men secured the woods and road
and then this activity quite unpr,
ductive of any tangible results ceased
matters were allowed to rest with tn
constituted authorities, namely Nj
Belts. the sheriff. and his deputies.
No private citizen had show
greater zeal than Judge Slocum Price
One morning he found under his doc
folded paper:
you talk too much. Shut up, O
you'll go where Norton went"
A few moments later he burst II
on Mr.. Saul.
Glance at that, my friend!" b,
cried. as he tossed the paper on tn,
clerks desk. What do you make O
II, sir?"
We'll, I'd keep still"
The Judge laughed derisively as b,
bowed himself out
He established himself in his OF
flee. He had scarcely done so wher
Mr.. Belts knocked at the door The
sheriff came direct from Mr. Saul and
arrived out of breath, but the letter
was not mentioned by the judge. He
spoke OF the crops, the chance OF
rain, and the fntricacies OF county
politics. The sheriff withdrew mysti.
fed. wondering why 1t was he had
not felt at liberty to breach the sub
ject which was uppermost in his
mind
His place was taken by Mr.. Pegloe
came Mr.. Bowen. Judge Price re-
ceived them with condescension, but
back OF the condescension was an air
OF reserve thGt did not invite ques-
tions. The Judge discussed the extern
sion OF the national roads with Mr..
Pegloe, and the religion OF the Per-
sian fire-worshipers with Mr.. Bowen;
he permitted never pause and they
retired as the sheriff had done with
out sight of the letter.
The judges office became a per
feet Mecca for the idle and the curl
Gus, and while he overfiowed with
high-bred courtesy he had never
seemed SO unapproachable-n so
remote from matters of local and con-
temporary interest.
why don't you show 'em the let
ter?" demanded Mr.. Mahaffy, when
they were alone. Cant you see they
are suffering for a sight of it?"
"All in good time, Solomon" He
became thoughtful. Solomon, l am
thinking of Offering a reward for any
information that will lead to the dis
covery OF my anonymous correspond
ent." he at length observed with a
finely casual air, as IL the idea had
Just occurred to him, and had not
been seething In his brain all day.
There you go. Price" began Ma
haffy.
Solomon, this is no time for me to
hang back. shall offer reward OF
five thousand dollars for this inf0rma.
ton" The judges tone was resolute. |
Yes, sir, shall make the figure COM
with the poignant grief |
feel He was my friend and client"
The next morning 1t was discovered |
that some time during the night the
Judge had tackled his anonymous COM
on the court house door;
Just below 1t was another sheet OF pa
per covered with bold script:
ITO Whom 1t May Concern:
Judge Slocum Price assumes that
he above was intended for him since
he found 1t under his office door on
ne morning of the twenty-tifth inst.
Judge Price begs leave to state 1t
Is his unqualified conviction that the
writer is coward and cur, and
pliers q reward OF five thousand dol
airs for any Information that will lead
o his Identification"
Tom Ware was seated alone over
lis breakfast. He had left his bed
IS the pale morning light crept across
he great fields that were alike his
ride and his despair-what was the
Use of trying to sleep when sleep was
N impossibility, He was about to
uit the table when big Steve en-
cred the room to say there was a
7hite fellow at the door.
Fetch him along in here" said
Ware.
The white fellow delivered a pen
lied note from Murreil. When be
Tas gone, the planter ordered his :
orse.
AS Ware rode away from Belle
lain he cursed Murrell under his
reath His own inclination toward !
vii was never robust: be could have
onnivsd over long period of years /
, despoil Betty OF her property. but
,urder and abduction was quite an Z
Their thing. :
Three miles from Belle Plain be en- ,
,red q bride path that led toward ,
10 river. A growth OF snail timber
a. standing along tho waters edge,
ut as he drew nearer, those better +,
ents which the resident OF that >
nelly spot had seen at to make Tor
q own convenience. came under bis
,rutiny; these consisted of log
sbin and several lesser sheds.
Landing. he advanced toward the :
.bin. As he did so he saw two wom-
/, nj work heckffDr fay under an