The Mena weekly star., 1913-02-20
CHAPTER XXI.
SoIomon's Last Night.

It had been with no little reluctance that Solomon Mahaffy accompanied Yancy and Cavendish to Belle Plain; he would have preferred to remain in Raleigh in attendance upon Judge Price. Intimately acquainted with the judge's mental processes, he could fol- low all the devious workings of that magnificent mind; he could fathom the simply hellish ingenuity he was capable of putting forth to accom- plish Temporary benefits. Permitting his Thoughts to dwell upon the min xIed strength and weakness which vas so curiously blended in Slocum Pfice's Character, he had horrid vi- sI0ns of that great soul, freed from <He trammels of restraint, contiding lis melancholy history to MT. Pegloe 6 the hope of bolstering his fallen credit at the City Tavern.
 Always where the judge was con- earned he fiuctuated between extremes IT doubt and confidence. He felt that 1fder the urgent spur of occasion his y, 4IIIIe a sustained activity made de- f1ands which he could not satisfy; f6en his efforts were discounted by Ills insane desire to realize at once on his opportunities; in his haste he was for ever plucking unripe fruit; and though he might keep one eye on the main chance the other was fixed just aa res0Iutely on the nearest tavern.
 With the great stake which fate tad suddenly introduced into their los IllE game, he wished earnestly to be- fAve that the judge would stay quiet
 in his office and complete the task Ie had set himself; that with this of IS hands the promise of excitement < Belle Plain would compel his pres re there, when he would pass some 1at under the restraining influence Naich he was determined to exert; Q short, to Solomon, life embraced nEf the one vital consideration, hich was to maintain the judge in a Eate of sobriety until after his meet. X with Fentress.
 The purple of twilight was stealing -Fer the land when he and his two reached Belle Plain. They armed that Tom Ware had returned om Memphis, that the bayou had zen dragged but without results, and at as yet nothing had been heard 1om Burlington or the dogs he had l,ne for.
 Presently Cavendish and Yancy set across the fields. They were go- S on to the raft, to Polly and the --glittle Cavendishes, whom they had
 vseen since early morning; but oa promised to be back at Belle jain within an hour.
 By very nature an alien, Mahaffy rnght out dark corner on the wide
 rch that overlooked the river to sss.s sssss ttshseir return. The house had sen thrown open, and supper was be- 'D g served to whoever cared to stay --1d partake of it. The murmur of -Ie purposeless talk drifted out to m; he was irritatod and offended by
 There was something garish in
 indiscriminate hospitality in the ~ home of tragedy. As the mo- \ <6n{s Slipped by his sense of dis
 24sufa increased, with mankind in z7ezsl. with himself, and with the
 Principally with the judge
 4 vas to make a foolish target of in the morning. He was go-
 ZIG the man who had wrecked a lze D chance to take it as well. ! HaNf's cold logic dealt cynically
 j the preposterous situation his
 zuz had created.
 A n the midst of his angry medita- " 4f he heard a clock strike in the nI $ and counted the strokes. It was
 ezo'clock. Surely Yancy and Cav
 ish had been gone their hour! He
 1l<fed his seat and strolled restless r about the house. He felt deeply .eHIEnaut with everybody and every
 Ing Human intelligence seemed
 pitiable advance on brute in
 nt(. A whole day had passed and ails Ha< had been accomplished? Car uA Aeton. the judge, Yancy, Cavendish kHae tour men who might have .h!s Mked Together to some purpose ,s widely separated themselves, and
 vas the duel, the very climax of
 Fdlty. He resumed his dark cor |, and waited another hour. Still tss &arr1ngton, and Yancy and Caven- md a had not come up from the raft. ,itr f0oIs!" thought Mahaffy bitterly. of them fools!"
 ,nn ~ Ia6t he decided to go back to hs 1udGe; and a moment later was
 f{1nE down the lane in the direc- rn q the highroad, but, jaded as he
 bx <he effort he had already put
 that day. the walk to Raleigh DC Hae tremendous demands on him.
 < Vas midnight when he entered
 lit<Ie town.
 E4nnot be said that he was alto
 Hher nnrprised when he found their
 [a4e Dark and apparently desert ad L19 bad half expected this. En-
 and not stopping to secure a V aqIe, ne groped his way upstairs to 0I foem on the second floor which l;s, and the judge shared.
 ff1ee{' he called, but this gained { 10 response, and he cursed soft tO und=f his breath.
 .os e=Stily descended to the kitch-