The Mena weekly star., 1913-01-02

uoWn at Snanty Hill whar Milly, his wife, is carryin on something scan dalous cause George ain't never come home!" Steve was laboring under in- tense excitement, but he ignored the presence of the overseer and ad- dressed himself to Slocum Price
 Well, what of that?" cried Hicks quickly.
 Thar warn't no George, mind you, Mas'r, but dar was his team in de stable this mo'ning and lookin mighty nigh done up with hard driving"
 Yes" interrupted Hicks uneasily; put pair of lines in a nigger's hands and he'll run any team of it's legs!"
 An the kerriage all scratched up from bein' thrashed through the bushes," added Steve.
 There's nigger for you!" said Hicks. "She took the rascal out of the field, dressed him like he was a gentleman and pampered him up, and now first chance he gets he runs off!"
 "Ahl" said the judge softly. Then you knew this?"
 "Of course I knew-wan't it my business to know? I reckon he was off skylarking, and when he'd seen the mess he'd made, the tritiing fool took to the woods. Well, he catches 1t when I lay hands on him!"
 Do you know when and under what circumstances the team was stabled, MT. Hicks?" inquired the judge.
 No, I don't, but I reckon 1t must have been long after dark" said Hicks unwillingly. T seen to the feeding just after sundown like I always do, then I went to supper" Hicks vouch- safed to explain.
 And no one saw or heard the team drive in?"
 Not as know of," said Hicks.
 "Mas'r Ca'ington's done gone of to get pack of dawgs-he lows hits might important to find what's come of George" said Steve.
 Hicks started violently at this piece of news.
 ''I reckon he'll have to travel a right smart distance to find pack of dogs" he muttered q don't know of none this side of Colonel Bates down below Girard."
 The judge was lost in thought. He permitted an interval of silence to elapse in which Hicks glance slid round in a furtive circle.
 "When did MT. Ware set out for Memphis?" asked the judge at length.
 Early yesterday. He goes there pretty often on business"
 You talked with MT. Ware before he left?" Hicks shook his head. Did he speak of Miss Malroy?" Hicks shook his head. Did you see her dur ing the afternoon?"
 'No-maybe you think these nig- gers ain't enough to keep a man stir ring?" said Hicks uneasily and with a
 The judge noticed both the uneasiness and the scowl.
 ''I should imagine they would ab- sorb every moment of your time, Mir. Hicks" he agreed affably.
 "A mans got to be hog for work to hold job like mine," said Hicks sourly.
 But it came to your notice that Miss Malroy has been in a disturbed mental state ever since MT. Norton's murder? 1 am interested in this point, MT. Hicks, because your experience is so entirely at variance with my own. It was my privilege to see and speak with her yesterday afternoon; 1 was profoundly impressed by her natural ness and composure." The judge smiled, then he leaned forward across the desk. What were you doing up here early this morning-hasn't a hog for work like you got any business of his own at that hour?" The judges tone was suddenly offensive.
 Look here, what right have you got to try and pump me?" cried Hicks.
 For no discernible reason MT. Cav endish spat on his palms
 MT. Hicks," said the judge, urbane and gracious, q believe in frankness.-
 Sure" agreed Hicks, modified by the judges altered tone,
 Therefore l do not hesitate to say that l consider you a damned scoun- drel!" concluded the judge.
 MT. Cavendish, accepting the judges ultimatum as something which must debar Hicks from all further consid- eration, and being, as he was, exceed ingly active and energetic by nature, if one passed over the various forms of gainful industry, uttered loud whoop and threw himself on the over seer. There was a brief struggle and Hicks went down with the Earl of Lambeth astride of him; then from his boot leg that knightly soul flashed a horn-handled ticker of formidable dimensions.
 The judge. Yancy and Mahaffy. sprang from their chairs. Mr. Ma haffy was plainly shocked at the spec tacls of Mr. Cavendish's lawlsss vio- ience. Yancy was disturbed. too. but not by the moral aspects of the case; he was doubtful as to how his friends act would appeal to the judge. He need not have been distressed on that score. since the judges one idea was to profit by it. With his hands on his knees he was now bending above the two men.
 What do you want to know, judge?" cried Cavendish, panting from his exertions. ''Tll learn this parrot to talk upl"
 Hicks sSid the judge, fit is in your power to tel us few things we ara hara to find oitt " Hicks Iookad