The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-07-22

AZ
CHAPTER XII.
The Patrol Of Hspe.
This" the speaker was Judge
Price; "this- is the place for me.
They are warm-hearted people,
sir; prosperous people. and pa
trfotic people with an unstinted
love Of country. I'd like to hang
out my shingle here and practice
law"
The Judge and Mr.. Mahaffy were
camped in the woods between
Boggs' and Raleigh. Betty had car
ried Hannibal on to spend the night
at Belle Plain. ,5.
Il crave opportunity, Solomon
the Endorsement of my own class.
feel that shall have it here" re-
sumed the judge pensively. will
you stroll into town with me, Solo
mon" he asked. Mahaffy shook his
head. Then let your prayers fol-
low me, for I'm OFF, said the
judge.
Ten minutes walk brought him
to the door Of the city tavern, where
he found Mr.. Pegloe directing the
activities of a small colored boy
who was hopping out his bar. To
him the Judge made known his
| needs.
Coin to locate, are your said
Mr.. Pegloe.
my friends urge it, sir, and
have taken the matter under con-
sideration," answered the Judge.
well, the only empty house in
town is right over yonder; it be-
longs to young Charley Norton out
at Tricket Point Plantation"
The house Mr.. Pegloe pointed on,
was small frame building; i,
stood directly on the street, with q
narrow porch ACROSS the front, and
a shed addition at the back. The
judge scuttled over to it. The
judges pulse quickened. What {
location and what a fortunate
chance that Mr.. Norton was thu
owner of the most desirable tene
ment! He must see him at once
AS he turned away to recross tn,
street and learn from Mr.. Peglo,
by what road Thicket Point nigh
be reached, Norton himself gal
loped into the village. Catchin,
sight of the judge, he refined in hi
i horse and swung himself from tn
:. saddle.
+ Il was hoping, sir, I might fin'
YOU" he said.
"A wish l should have echoe,
had / been aware of it," responde,
the judge. Il was about to do my
self the honor to wait upon you a
your plantation"
Then l have saved you a lon
i. walk" said Norton. He surveye
: the judge rather obviously, but lis,
ened with kindness as he explaine
: the business that would have take
him to Thicket Point.
"The house is quite at your sery
ice, sir" he said, at length.
! 1.-THE rent" began the Judge.
| But Mr.. Norton, with a delicac
: equal to his own, entreated hil
not to mention the rent. The hous
> had come to him as boot in trad
= 1t had been occupied by a docto
;. and a lawyer; these gentlemen ha
. each decamped between two day
= heavily in debt at the stores an
taverns, especially the taverns. An
!, thus handsomely did Charley MOI
= ton acquit himself of the missio
Z he had undertaken at Betty Ma
d roy's request.
~ That same morning Tom Wal
! and Captain Murrell were seate
in the small detached building /:
Belle Plain, known as the offic
\ where the former spent most of h
time when not in the saddle.
so your sister doesn't like m
Tom-that's on your mind tn
morning, is it," Murrell was sa,
y ing.
Make it worth my while and r
take her off your hands," and Mu
J. rell laughed.
y Tom favored him with a sullle
!. stare.
:, There was a brief silence, durir
+ ! which Murrell studied his friend
: face. When he spoke, it was to gi,
F. the conversation a new direction.
!. Did she bring the boy here la
, night? l saw you drive off wit
: him in the carriage"
E Yes, she makes a regular pet
the little ragamuffin.
is the boy going to stay at Bel
= Plain?" inquired Murrell.
THAT notion hasn't struck h,
!. yet, for l heard her say at breal
q fast that she'd take him to Raleis
q this afternoon"
nj That's the boy travelled all IL
n way to North Carolina to get f,
Fentress."
Il "Eh-you don't say~ cried Wal
tom, what do you know abo
, the Quintard lands; what do "
- know about Quintard himself?" CO
!. tinued Murrell.
4 He was rich planter; lived
4 North Carolina. My father m
4 him when he was in congress al
got him to invest in land here. TIL
: had some colonization scheme ,
y foot-this was upward of TWEEN
. years ago-but nothing came of
)" Quintard lost interest"
:. "And the land"
. "Oh, he held on to that"
> "Quintard has been dead t,
years. Tom, and back yonder
10 NoHh Carolina they told me he Ii
Al nothing but the hoIae plantatic
= The boy lived there up to the tir
g of Quintard's death, but what rel
"a ton he was to the old man no o
NJ knew. Offhand, Tom, I'd say th
r by getting hold of the boy Fentre
ID expects to get hold Of the Qui
tard land"