The Mena weekly star., 1913-02-13

turned to the door. To say that he Nds amazed when he found it locked would have most inadequately de- scribed his emotions. Breathing deep. he fell back step or two, and then with all the vigor he could muster launched himself at the door. But it resisted him.
 It's bolted on the other side!" be muttered, the full measure of Peg loe's perfidy revealing itself to his mind. He was aghast. It was plot to discredit him. Pegloe's hospitality had been inspired by his enemy, for Pegloe was Fentress' tenant.
 Again he attacked the door; he be- lieved it might be possible to force 1t from it's hinges, but Pegloe had done his work too well for that, and at last, spent and breathless, the judge dropped down on the edge of his bed to consider the situation. He was without clothes and he was a pris- oner, yet his mind rose splendidly to meet the difficulties that beset him His greatest activities were reserved for what appeared to be only sea son of despair. He armed himself with a three-legged stool he had found and turned once more to the door, but the stout blanks stood firm under his blows.
 Unless I get out of here in time I'm a ruined man!" thought the judge. After this Fentress will refuse to meet mel"
 The window next engaged his at- tention. That, too, Pegloe had taken the precaution to fasten, but single savage blow Of the stool shattered glass and sash and left an empty space that framed tho dawn's red glow. The judge looked out and shook his head dubiously. It was twelve feet or more to the ground, risky drop for gen. tleman of his years and build. The judge considered making rope of his bedding and lowering himself to the ground by means of it; he remem- Lered to have read of captives in that interesting French prison, the Bas- tile, who did this. However, an equal ly ingenious but much more simple use for his bedding occurred to him; it would form a soft and yielding sub stance on which to alight. He gath cred it up into his arms, feather-tick and all, and pushed it through the window, then he wriggled out across the ledge, feet first, and lowering him. Call of dropped.
 He landed squarely on the rolled-up bed with a jar that shook him to his center. Almost gaily he snatehed up a quilt, draping it about him after the manner of a Roman toga. and thus lightly habited, started across MT. Pegloe's truck-patch. his one thought Boggs' and the sun. It would have served no purpose to have gone home. since his entire wardrobe, except for the shirt on his back, was in the tav- ern-keeper's possession. besides he had not a moment to lose, for the sun was peeping at him over the horizon.
 Unobserved he gained the edge of the town and the highroad that led past Boggs' and stole fearful glance over his shoulder. The sun was clear of the treetops, he could even feel the lifeless dust grow warm beneath his feet; and wrapping the quilt closer about him he broke into labored run.
 Some twenty minutes later Boggs' came in sight. He experienced a mo ment of doubt-doubtless Fentress had been there and gonel It was a bideous thought and the judge groaned. Then at the other end of the meadow near the woods he distin- guished several men. Fentress and his friends beyond question. The judge laughed aloud. In spite of everything he was keeping his engagement, he was plucking his triumph out of the very dregs of failure. The judge threw himself over the fence. cor ner of the quilt caught on one of the rails; he turned to release it, and in that instant two pistol shots rang out sharply in the morning air.
 Continued in next issue)