Delaware Register. (Delaware, Okla.), Vol. 3, No. 3, Ed. 1 Thursday, July 18, 1912 Page: 2 of 8
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THE
PRODIGAL
JUDGE
^By V^UOHAH KESTER^
lutrsr/yurar/s By D. Mel v/ju
Co0rm9*r. /9". *** Aom$ i Co~**»r*r
iym
old
6YNOP8IS.
The ecene at the opening of the atory Is
laid In the library of an old worn-out
southern plantation, known as the Bar-
ony. The place la to be aold. and Ita
history and that of the owners, the
Qulntard*. lit the subject of dlucunnlon by
Jonathan Crenshaw, a business nrian, a
stranger known as Bladen. and Bob
Yancy. a farmer, when Hannibal Wa
Haaard. a mysterious child of the
southern family, makes his appearance.
Yancy tells how he adopted the boy. Na-
thaniel Ferris buys the Barony, but the
Qulntards deny any knowledge of tne
hoy. Yancy to keep Hannibal. Captain
Murrell, a friend of the Qulntarda. ap-
pears and asks questions about the Bar-
ony. Trouble at Scratch Hill, when Han-
nibal is kidnaped by Dave Blount. Cap-
lain Murrell's agent. Yancy overtakes
Blount, gives hlrn a thrashing and secures
the boy. Yancy appears before Squire
Balaam, and Is discharged with coats for
the plaintiff. Betty Malroy. a friend of
I he Ferrises, has an encounter with Cap-
tain Murrell, who forces his attentions on
her. and Is rescued by Bruce Qarrington.
Betty sets out for her Tennessee home.
Carrington takes the same stage. Yancy
and Hannibal disappear, with Murrell on
their trail. Hannibal arrives at the home
of Judge Slocum Brice. The Judge recog^
nixes In the boy. the grandson or an oin
time friend. Murrell arrives at Judge s
home. Cavendish family on raft rescue
Yancy. who Is apparently dead. 1 rice
breaks Jail. Betty and Carrington arrive
at Belle Plain. Hannibal's rllle discloses
some startling things to the Judge. Han-
nibaJ and Betty meet again. Murrell ar-
rives In Belle Plain. Is playing for big
■takes. Yancy awakes from long dream-
less sleep on board the raft. Judge I rice
makes startling discoveries in looking up
land titles. Charley Norton, a young
planter, who assists the Judge. Is iTiy»*
teriously assaulted. Norton Informs c ar-
rington that Betty has promised to nriarry
him. Norton Is mysteriously shot. More
light on Murrell’s plot. He plans upris-
ing of negroes. Judge Price, with Hanni-
bal. visits Betty, and she keeps the boy
as a companion. In a stroll Betty takes
with Hannibal they meet Bess Hicks,
daughter of the overseer, who warns
Betty of danger and counsels her to
leave Belle Plain at once. Betty, terrt-
way their carriage It stopped by Hlosson.
fled, acts on Bess' advice, and on their
the tavern keeper, and a confederate, and
Betty and Hannibal are made prisoners.
The pair are taken to Hicks' cabin, in an
almost Inaccessible spot, and there Mur-
rell visits Betty and reveals his part In
Che plot and his object. Betty spurns
his proffered love and the Interview Is
ended by the arrival of Ware, terrified
at possible outcome of the crime. Judge
Price, hearing of the abduction, plans ac-
tion.
CHAPTER XXII.
The Judge Takes Charge.
All work on the plantation had
■topped, and the hundreds of slaves—
men, women and children—were gatd-
ered about the house. Among these
moved the members of the dominant
race. The Judge would have attached
himself to the first group, but he
heard a whispered question, and the
answer:
"Miss Malroy's lawyer."
Clearly It was not for him to mix
with these outsiders, these curiosity
seekers. He crossed the lawn to the
house, and mounted the steps. In the
doorway was big Steve, while groups
of men stood about In the hall, the
hum of busy purposeless talk pervad-
ing the place. The Judge frowned.
This was all wrong.
"Has Mr. Ware returned from Mem-
phis?" he asked of Steve.
"No, sah; not yet.”
“Then show me into the library,"
said the Judge with bland authority,
surrendering his hat to the butler.
"Come along, Mahaffy!" he added.
They entered the library, and the
Judge motioned Steve to close the
door. "Now, boy. you’ll kindly ask
those people to withdraw—you may
say It Is Judge Price s orders. Allow
no one to enter the house unless they
have business with me, or as 1 send
for them—you understand? Af ter you
have cleared the house, you may
bring me a decanter of corn whisky—
■top a bit—you may ask the sheriff
to step here."
"Yes, sah.” And Steve withdrew.
The Judge drew an easy-chalr up to
the flat-topped desk that Blood In the
center of the room, and seated hlm-
aetf.
"Are you going to make this the
excuse for another drunk, Price? If
so. I feel the greatest contempt for
you," said Mahaffy sternly.
The Judge winced at this.
"You have made a regrettable
choice of words, Solomon,” he urged
gently.
"Where’s your feeling for the boy?"
“Here!” said the Judge, with an elo-
quent gesture, resting his hand on his
heart.
"If you let whisky alone. I’ll believe
you; otherwise what I have said must
stand.”
The door opened, and the sherllf
slouched Into the room. He was chew-
ing a long wheat straw, and hiB whole
appearance was one of troubled weak
Dess.
■ Morning.” he said briefly.
"Sit down, sheriff." and the Judge
Indicated a meek seat for the official
In a distant corner. "Have you learned
anything?” he asked.
The sheriff shook his head.
"What you turning all these neigh-
bors out of doors for?" he questioned.
"We don’t want people tracking In
and out the house, sheriff, important
evidence may be destroyed. 1 propose
examining the slaves first—does that
meet with your approval?”
"Oh, I’ve talked with them; they
don't know nothing," said the sheriff.
“No one don’t know nothing"
"Please God. we may yet put our
fingers on some villain who doea,"
said the Judge.
Outside It was noised about that
Judge Price bad taken matters In
hand—be was the old fellow who bad
been warned to keep bis mouth shut,
and who had never Btopped talking
since. A crowd collected beyond the
library windows and feasted Its eyes
on the back of this hero’s bald head.
One by one the house servants were
ushered Into the Judge’s presence,
hirst he Interrogated little Steve, who
had gone to MIbs Betty’s door that
morning to rouse her, as was his cus-
tom. Next he examined Betty's maid;
then the cook, and various house serv-
ants, who had nothing especial to tell,
but told it at considerable length; and
lastly big Steve.
"Stop a bit,” the Judge suddenly In-
terrupted the butler In the midst of
his narrative. "Does the overseer al-
ways come up to the house the first
thing in the morning?"
"Why, not exactly, sah, but he come
up this mo'nlng, sah. He was talking
to me at the back of the house, when
the women run out with the word that
Missy was done gone away."
"He joined In the search?”
“Yes, sah.”
"When was Miss Malroy seen last?”
asked the judge.
"She and the young gemman you
fotched heah were seen In the gyar-
den along about sundown. I seen them
myself.”
"They had had supper?”
"Yes, sah."
"Who sleeps here?”
"Just little Steve and three of the
women; they sleeps at the back of
the house, sah.”
“No sounds were heard during the
night?"
*"No, sah.”
from the room and the Judge dismissed
the servants.
"Well, what do you think. Price?”
asked Mahaffy anxiously when they
were alone.
"Rubbish! Take my word for It,
Solomon, this blow Is leveled at me.
I have been too forward In my at-
tempts to suppress the carnival of
crime that Is raging through west
Tennessee. You’ll observe that Miss
Malroy disappeared at a moment
when the public Is disposed to think
she haB retained me as her legal ad-
viser; probably she will be set at lib-
erty when she agrees to drop the mat-
ter of Norton's murder. As for the
boy. they'll use him to compel my si-
lence and Inaction." The Judge took
a long breatji. "Yet there remains one
point where the boy Is concerned that
completely baffles me. If we knew
just a little more of his antecedents
It might cause me to make a startling
and radical move."
Mahaffy was clearly not Impressed
by the vague generalities In which
the Judge was dealing.
"There you go. Price, as usual, try-
ing to convince yourself that you are
the center of everything!" he said. In
a tone of much exasperation. "Let's
get down to business! What does this
man Hicks mean by hinting at sui-
cide? You saw Miss Malroy yester-
day?"
"You have put your Anger on a
point of some significance,’’ said the
Judge. ’’She bore evidence of the
shock and loss she had sustained;
aside from that she was quite as she
has always been.”
"Well, what do you want to see
Hicks for? What do you expect to
learn from him?”
"I don't like his Insistence on the
Idea that Miss Malroy is mentally un-
balanced. It's a question of some
"Hicks Says
Miss Malroy's Been Acting Queer Since Charley
Was 8hoL"
Norton
"I’ll see the overseer—what’s his
name?—Hicks? Suppose you go for
him!" said the Judge, addressing the
sheriff.
The sheriff was gone from the room
only a few moments, and returned
with the Information that Hicks was
down at the bayou, which was to be
dragged.
"Why?” Inquired the Judge.
"Hicks says Miss Malroy's been act-
ing mighty queer ever since Charley
Norton was shot—distracted like! He
says he noticed It, and that Tom Ware
noticed It.”
"How does he explain the boy’s dis-
appearance?”
"He reckons she throwed herself In,
and the boy tried to drag her out, like
he naturally would, and got drawed
In.”
"Humph! I'll trouble Mr. Hicks to
step here,’’ said the Judge quleUy.
•There’s Mr. Carrington and a
couple or strangers outside who’ve
been asking about Miss Malroy and
the boy; seems like tbe strangers
knowed her and him back yonder In
No'th Carolina." said the sheriff as he
turned away.
•TU see them.” The sheriff went
delicacy—the law, sir, fully recog-
nizes that. It seems to me be Is over-
anxious to account for her disappear
ance In a manner that can compro-
mise no one.”
CHAPTER XXIII.
The Judge Finds Allies.
They were Interrupted by the open-
ing of tbe door, and big Steve admit-
ted Carrington and the two men of
whom the sheriff had spoken.
"A shocking condition of affairs,
Mr. Carrington!" said the Judge by
way of greeting.
"Yes,” Bald Carrington shortly.
"You left these parts some time ago,
I believe?" continued the Judge.
“The day before Norton was shot.
I bad started home for Kentucky. I
beard of bis death when 1 reached
Randolph on the second bluff," ex-
plained Carrington, from whose cheeks
the weather-beaten bloom had faded.
He rested bis hand on the edge or
the desk and turned to the men who
had followed him Into the room. "This
Ib the gentleman you wish to see,” he
said, and stepped to one of the win-
dows; It overlooked tbe terraces
where he had said good-by to Hetty
scarcely a week before.
The two men had paused by the
door. They now advanced. One was
gaunt and haggard, his face disfigured
by a great red scar; the other was a
shock-beaded individual who moved
with a shambling gait. Both carried
rifles and both were dressed In coarse
homespun.
“Morning, sir,” said the man with
the scar. "Yancy's my name, and
this gentleman ’lows-he'd rather be
known now as Mr. Cavendish."
The Judge started to his feet.
"Bob Yancy?” he cried.
"Yes, sir, that’s me.” The Judge
passed nimbly around the desk and
shook the Scratch Hiller warmly by
the hand. "Where’s my nevvy, sir?—
what’s all this about him and Miss
Betty?" Yancy’s soft drawl was sud-
denly eager.
“Please God we’ll recover him
soon!” aald tbe judge.
By the window Carrington moved
Impatiently. No harm could come to
the boy, but Betty—a shudder went
through him.
“They've stolen him.” Yancy spoke
with conviction. “I reckon they've
started back to No th Carolina with
him—only that don’t explain what’s
come of Miss Betty, does It?” and Ue
dropped rather helplessly into a chair.
"Bob are Just getting off a sick bed.
He’s been powerful porely In conse-
quence of bavlng his head laid open
and then being throwed Into 'the Elk
river, where 1 fished him out," ex-
plained Cavendish, who still contin-
ued to regard the Judge with unmixed
astonishment, first cocking his shaggy
head on oue side and then on tne
other, his bleached eyes narrowed to a
silt. Now and then he favored the
austere Mahaffy with a fleeting
glance. He seemed intuitively to un-
derstand the comradeship of tbelr
degradation.
“Mr. Cavendish fetched me here on
his raft. We tied up to the sho’ this
morning. It was there we met Mr.
Carrington—I’d knowed him slightly
back yonder In No’th Carolina.” con-
tinued Yancy. "He said I’d And Han-
nibal with you. I was counting a heap
on seeing my nevvy."
Carrington, no longer able to con-
trol himself, swung about on his beel.
“What’s been done?" he asked, with
fierce repression. "What’s going to be
done? Don't you know that every
second Is precious?”
“I am about to conclude my Inves-
tigations, sir," said the Judge with
dignity.
Carrington stepped to the door.
After all, what was there to expect of
theBe men? Whatever their Interest.
It was plainly centered in the boy. He
passed out Into the hall.
As the door closed on him the Judge
turned again to the Scratch Hiller.
"Mr. Yancy, Mr. Mahaffy and I hold
your nephew In the tenderest regard;
he has been our constant companion
ever since you were lost to him. In
this crisis you may rely upon us; we
are committed to his recovery, no
matter what It Involves.” The Judge s
tone was one of unalterable resolu-
tion.
"I reckon you-all have been mighty
good and kind to him," said Yancy
huskily.
"We have endeavored to be, Mr.
Yancy—Indeed I bad formed the reso-
lution legally to adopt him should you
not come to claim him. I should have
given him my name, and made him
my heir. His education has already
begun under my supervision,” and the
Judge, remembering the high use to
which he had dedicated one of Peg-
loe's trade labels, fairly glowed with
philanthropic Tervor.
“Think of that!” murmured Yancy
softly. He was deeply moved. So was
Mr. Cavendish, who was gifted with
a wealth of ready sympathy. He
thrust out a hardened hand to the
Judge.
"Shake!" he said. “You're a heap
better than you look.” A thin ripple
of laughter esoaped Mahaffy. but the
Judge accepted Chills -nd Fever's
proffered band. He understood that
here was a simple genuine soul.
"Price, isn’t it Important for us to
know why Mr. Yancy thinks the boy
has been taken back to North Caro-
lina?" Bald Mahaffy.
"Just what kin Is Hannibal to you.
Mr. Yancy?” asked the Judge resum
lng bis seat.
’’Strictly speaking, he ain’t none.
That he come to live with me Is all
owing to Mr. Crenshaw, who’s a good
man when left to himself, but he's
got a wife, so a body may say he never
is left to himself," began Yancy; and
then briefly he told the story of the
woman and tne child much as he had
told It to Bladen at the Barony the
day of General Qulntard’s funeral.
The judge, his back to the light and
his face In shadow, rested his left el-
bow on the desk and with his chin
8unji In hlB palm, followed the Scratch
Hiller's narrative with the closest at-
tention.
(TO BE CONTINUED,)
DR. PRICE S
Cream
BAKING POWDER
is ABSOLUTELY HEALTHFUL
Its active principle solely
grape acid and baking
soda. It makes the food
more delicious and whole-
some.
The low priced, low grade
powders put alum or lime
phosphates in the food.
Ask Your Doctor About That
RECORD OF TIME'S CHANGES
Surely Visitor to the Scenes of His
Boyhood Could Not Fall to
Be Impressed.
"I reckon you see the old town look-
ing some different from what It looked
when you left It thutty years ago,"
aald Uncle Eb Skinner to the native
returning for a visit to the scenes of
hla boyhood. "All o' the back part o’
Peevy'a store la new since your day
here, an’ that bay winder In the drug
.Sore was put In since you left ua. The
tieepo need to be painted yeller inatld
o’ inh, an’ the town hall la bet by
steam now instld o’ with stoves, like
It used to was in your time. Them
iwo Iron hitch poBts In front o’ the
postolflce ain’t been there more than
ten years’ and that stone watering
trough Inatld o’ the old wooden one
you remember la another change. I
reckon you’ve noticed that HI Greene
haB raised hlB house a atory an’ add-
ed a summer kitchen. That plazzy In
front o’ the hotel la another change In
the old town, an', of course, you’ve
noticed the new hosa sheds back o’
the church, an’ the broom shop wa’n’t
here when you was a boy with U8. It
employs fl’ee bands reg’lar an’ seven
la the rjsh season. Time makes
changes, r.a I reckon you have seen.”—
From Judge.
THE 'PROPER THING.
First Society Queen—What! Divorce*
again?
Second Society Queen—Well, dear,
one must keep up appearances.
When God calls, the safest step w*
can take la straight ahead.
Shock for a Brother.
"John," said an eminent physician,
wearily, entering his home after a
bard day's work, "John, if anyone calls
excuse me."
"Yes, suh,’’ agreed John, the old
family darkey.
"Just say," explained the doctor.
"Ihat the maBseur is with me.”
A little later the doctor’s brother
called—called and received the shock
of bis life.
"I want to see the doctor at once,”
said he.
"Ytih can’t do It, sur,” solemnly an-
nounced the old darkey, turning up his
eyes till the whites alone showed
"Yuh can’t do It, suh. The doctor, suh.
am wld de Messiah.”—New York
Evening Sun.
Her Ruling Passion.
The woman who had chased dust
and dirt all her life finally reached St.
Peter.
"Come In, you poor, tired woman.”
be said, and held the gate ajar.
But the woman hesitated.
"Tell me first," she said, "how often
you clean house?"
Tbe saint smiled.
"You can’t shake off the ruling pas-
sion. can you?’’ he said. "Oh, well, step
lnjslde and they’ll give you a broom
and dustpan Instead of a harp.”—
Cleveland Plain Dealer.
Lest you forget when next In need of a
laxative remember the name "Garfield Tea.’*
A trial will convince you of Its merits.
It’s easier to lead some men to
drink than It Is to drive them away
from It
It Is not easy to be a widow; on*
must resume all the modeBty of girl-
hood without being allowed even to
feign Ignorance.—Hue. De Glrardln.
Practical Version.
Mrs. Knlcker—Laugh and the world
laughs with you.
Mrs. Bocker—Weep and you get ■
present.
True to His Trust.
"Father.” asked the beautiful girl,
"did you bring home that material
for my new skirt?”
"Yes.”
“Where Is It?"
"Let me see? Walt now. Don’t be
Impatient! I didn’t forget It. I’m
sure I’ve got It In one ol my pockets,
somewhere.”
Their Need.
Seedy Applicant—I t an bring teara
to the eyes of the audience.
Theatrical Manager—Huh! We
want somebody who can bring the au-
dience.—Puck.
The Worrier.
Knlcker—Does Jack worry?
Bocker—Yes; he wantB to pasteur-
ize spilt milk.—Judge.
Living Up to Ita Name.
'How do people seem to like your
■aw song. ’The Aeroplane?’
"Just carried away by It.”
Getting Rid of It.
Tyres—I tell you the man who
takes care of his own motor car has
a good deal on bis hands.
Byres—Well, soap is cheap.
Nothin’ In It.
Teacher of infant geography class—
John Mace may tell us what a strait
Is.
John Mace—It’s Jua’ th' plain stuff,
tbout nothin’ In 1L—Judge.
Simple Explanation.
To Illustrate a point that he was
making—that his was the race with a
future and not a race with a past—
Booker T. Washington told this little
story the other day.
He was standing by his door one
morning when old Aunt Caroline went
by.
"Good morning, Aunt Caroline,” he
said. "Where are you going this morn-
ing?"
"Lawzee, Mlsta’ Wash'ton,” sh*
replied. "I’se done been what I'M
gwlne."—Kansas City Star.
A Question of Names.
In some of the country districts of
Ireland It Is not an uncommon thing
to see carts with the owners' names
chalked on to save the expense of
painting. Practical Jokers delight in
rubbing out these signs to annoy the
owners.
A ponstabulary sergeant one day ac-
costed a countryman whose name had
been thus wiped out unknown to
him.
“Is this your cart, my good man?"
"Of course it Is!” was the reply. "Do
you see anything the matter wld it?"
"I observe,” said the pompous police-
man, "that your name is o-blltherated.”
"Then ye're wrong," quoth tbe coun-
tryman, who had never come across
the long word before, "for me name’s
O’Flaherty, and I don’t care who
knows It.”—Youth's Companion.
“He bit the hand that fed him" said Teddy of Big BUI.
And didn't tell us if the bite had made the biter ill.
Now had Toasties been the subject of Bill’s voracious bite
He’d have come back for another with a keener appetite.
Written by WILLIAM T. HINCK9,
907 BUM Bt., Bridgeport, Oouo.
One of the BO Jingles for which the Postam «
Battle Creek. Mich., paid 11000.00 In May.
• -
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Evans, A. H. Delaware Register. (Delaware, Okla.), Vol. 3, No. 3, Ed. 1 Thursday, July 18, 1912, newspaper, July 18, 1912; (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc1320468/m1/2/?q=%22United+States%22: accessed July 15, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.