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THE PRODIGAL , JUDGE J \By V?UGHAflKESTER. I /uvsr/pir/aYs ByJX Meiviu Norton bod ridden down to Belle Plein ostensibly to view certain ot those improvements that went so far toward embittering Tom Ware's ex tatence. "Do you think Belle Plain is ever going to look as it did, Charley??as we remember It wben we were chil? dren* asked Betty. "Why of course, it is, dear, you are doing wondeat!" Ware stalked toward them. Hav? ing dined with Betty as recently as the day before, be contented himself with a nod in her direction. His greeting to Norton was a more am? bitious undertaking. "I underetand you're a new over? seer?" "Then you understand wrong?Car rtngton'e my guest." said Norton. "He's talking of putting In a crop for himself next season, so he'a willing to help me make mine." "Going to turn farmer, la he?" naked Ware. "So he says." Norton was extreme? ly disappointed when the planter manifested a disposition to play the hoot and returned to the house with them, where his presence was such n hardship tbat Norton shortly took Jala leave. Issuing from the lane he turned hia face In the direction of home. He was within two miles of Thicket Point when, passing a turn in the road, he found himself confronted by three men. One of them seised hia horse by the bit. Norton had not even a titling whip "Now, what do you wish to say to gee?" be ssked. "We want your word that you'll hasp away from Helle Plain." "Well, you won't get It!" respond? ent Norton. In the same instant one of the men raised hia list and struck the young planter in the back of the neck. "You cur!" cried Norton, as ho wheeled on him. "Damn him let him have It!" It was mid-afternoon of toe day fol? lowing before Betty beard of the at? tack oo Norton. She ordered her horse saddled and waa soon out on the river road with a groom in her wake. Betty never drew rein until ehe reached Thicket Point. As she gnllopef. into the yard Bruce Carrlng ton came from the house. "How la Mr. Norton?" she asked, extsndlng her hand. ?The doctor says he'll be up and about Inside of a week. If you'll wait HI tell him you are here." Carrlngton passed on Into the house. He entered the room where Norton lay. "Miss Malroy is here." he said. "Betty??blesa her dear heart!" cried Charley weakly. "Just toss my clothes into the closet and draw up s chslr. . . . There?thank you, Bruce?let her come along In now.' And aa Carrlngton quitted the room. Norton drew himself up on the pil? lows and faced the door. "This Is worth several beatings. Hetty!'' he exclaimed aa she appeared. He bent to kiss the hand she gave him, but groaned with the exertion. Taen be looked up Into her face and saw ber eyes swimming with tears. "Whst?tears?'' and he was much moved. "It's a perfect outrage!" Hetty paused irresolutely. "Charley?" "Tea. dear?" Can't you be happy without me?" -No." "But you don't try to be*" "No use in nv nicking any such foolish effort. I'd be doomed to fail? ure." "Good by, Charley?1 really must Hs looked up yearningly into her ysce. an.I y b- id 1 n a a sudden Un? ionise, she "toogad and kissed him on ins forehead, tnen ?he fled from the loom CHAPTER XV. At the Church Door. Tom found Hetty nt supper. "You were over to see Norton, weren't you. Infi How did you find llmr "Ths doc tor says he will aoon bo Shout again " "Betty. I wtal you f/fjsJdn/i k-> tJhers again that's a go?.,| gfr|!M be said tactfully, and as he OOncottsd it. affectionately BtttJ Klanred up quickly "Why. Tom. why ad uldn t I i: i there f" "it might set psjople gossiping i reckon tin-r? ? !???? n pre'ty neu enough talk about you and < darby Norton" The planter* tone WUl RSSJ dilatory In the extreme, he dared not risk a break by any open sle w of authority. "You needn't distress yourself, Tom. I don't know that I ?hall gg tiara again." said littf Indifferently. At Thicket Point Charley Norton, greatly excited, hobbled into the li? brary in Bearch of Carrington. He found him reading by the open win? dow. "Look here. Bruce!" he cried. "It's eettled: she's going to marry me! Can't you wish me Joy?" Carrington held out his hand. "You are not going to take any risks now, you have too much to live for," he said haltingly. "No, I'm to keep away from Belle Plain," said Norton happily. "She in? sists on that. Everything is to be kept a secret until we are actually married; it's her wish?" "It's to be soon, then?" Carrington asked, still haltingly. "Very soon." There was a brief silence. Carring? ton, with face averted, looked from the window. "I ajD going to stay here as long as you need me," he presently said. "Miss Malroy asked me to, and then I am going back to the river, where I belong." Betty ate supper with big Steve standing behind her chair and little Steve balancing himself first on one foot and then on the other near the door. The long French windows, their curtains drawn, stood open. $ho wandered down to the terrace. Tfeere was the sound of a step on the path Betty turned. It was Carrington who stood before her, his face haggard. Without a word he atepped to her aide and took her hands rather rough? ly. "What am I to do without you?"? his voice waa almost a whisper. "What is this thing you have done?" Betty a heart was beating with dull aickenlng throbs. "If you had only come!" she moaned. "Now I am going to be mar? ried tomorrow. I am to meet him at the Spring Bank church at ten o'clock." "How can I give you up?" he said, his voice hoarse with emotion. He put her from him almost roughly, and leaning against the trunk of a tree buried his face in his hands. Betty watch.>d him for a moment in wretched silence. "It's goodby?" he muttered. She went to him, and, as he bent above her, slipped her arms about his neck. "Kiss me?" she breathed. He kissed her hair, her soft cheek, then their llpa met. Another hot September sun was beating upon the earth as Detty gal? loped down the lane and swung her horse's head in the direction of Ra? leigh. She would keep her promise to Charley and he should never know what his happiness had cost her. Norton Joined her before she had covered a third of the distance that separated the two plantations. "We are to go to the church. Mr. Rowen will be there; I arranged with him laut night; he will drive over with hl? wife and daughter, who will be our witnesses, dear." Afterward Betty could remember standing before the church in the fierce morning light; she heard Mr. Bowen'i voice, she heard Charley's voice, she heard another voice?her own, though she scarcely recognized It. "I'll lie the horses, Betty," said Norton. He bad reached the edge of the oaks when from the silent depths ot the dent er woods came the sharp re "Chsrley?Charley!" She Moaned. port of a rifles The shock ol the bul? let sent the young fellow staggering back among the mossy and myrtle* covered graves. For a moment no one grasped what hod happened, only there was Norton wno seemed to .grope strangely among the graves, lie had fallen now. Even as the shadows deepened he was aware that Hetty v ag Coming swiftly toward Mm. "I'm shot?" he said, Bpoakiug with (ifflculty. "Charley?Charley?" she moaned, Slipping her arms about him and gathering him to her breatt. He looked up into her face. "It's all over?" he said, but as n uch in wonder as in fear. "But 1 Knew you could come to rac?dear?" he added in a whisper. She felt a shudder pass through h;m. He did net >,peak again. CHAPTER XVI. The Judge Offers a Reward. The news of Charley Norton's mur? der spread quickly over the county. For two or three days bands of armed men scoured the woods' and roads, and then this activity quite unpro? ductive of any tangible results ceased, matters were allowed to rest with the constituted authorities, namely Mr. Betts, the sheriff, and his deputies. So private citizen had shown greater zeal than Judge Slocum Price. One morning he found under his door a folded paper: "You talk too much. Shut up, or you'll go where Norton went." A few moments later he burst in on Mr. Saul. "Glance at that, my friend!" he cried, as he tossed the paper on the clerk's desk. "Whet do you make of it, sir?" "Well, I'd keep still." The judge laughed derisively as he bowed himself out. Be established himself in his of? fice He had scarcely done so when Mr. Betts knocked at the door. The she -Iff came direct from Mr. Saul and arrived out of breath, but the letter was not mentioned by the Judgv He spotte of the erftps, the chance of rale, and the intricacies of county politics. The sheriff withdrew mysti? fied, wondering why it was he had not felt at liberty to broach the sub? ject which was uppermost tn his mind. His place was taken by Mr. Pegloe and on the heels of the tavern-keeper came Mr. Bowen. Judge Price re? ceived them with condescension, but back of the condescension was an air of reserve that did not invite ques tlona. The Judge discussed the exten? sion of the national roads with Mr. Pegloe, and the religion of the Per? slan flre-worahlpers with Mr. Bowen; he permited never a pause and they retired as the sheriff had done with? out sight of the letter. The judge's office became a per? fect Mecca for the idle and the curi? ous, and while he overflowed with high-bred courtesy he had never seemed so unapproachable?never so remote from matters of local and con? temporary interest. "Why don't you show 'em the let? ter?" demanded Mr. Mahaffy, when they were alone. "Can't you see they are suffering for a eight ol it?" "AU In good time, Solomon." He became thoughtful. "Solomon, I am thinking of offering a reward for any information that will lead to the dis? covery of my anonymous correspond? ent," he at length observed with a finely casual air, as if the idea had Just occurred to him, and had not been seething in his brain all day. "There you go, Price?" began Ma? haffy. "Solomon, this Is no time for me to hang back. I shall offer a reward of five thousand dollars for this informa? tion." The Judge 8 tone was resolute. "Yes, sir, I shall make the figure com? mensurate with the poignant grief 1 feel. He was my friend and client?" The next morning it was discovered that some time during the night the Judge had tacked his anonymous com? munication on the court house door; just below it was another sheet of pa? per covered with nold script: "To Whom It May Concern: "Judge siocum Price assumes fhat the above was Intended lor him since he found it under hiv office door on the morning of the twenty-tilth inst. "Judge Price begs leave to state it as his unqualified conviction that the writer Is a coward and a cur, and offers n reward of live thousand dol? lars for any information that will lead to his Identification." ? a e e e e s ? Tom Ware was seated alone over his breakfast. He had left his bed ns the pale morning light crept across the great fields that were alike hla pride and his despair?what was the uso of t rying to sleep when sleep waa an impossibility! Ho waa about to quit the table when big Htevo en? tered the room to say there was a white fellow at the door. "Ketch him along In here," said Ware. The white fellow delivered a pen? ciled note from Hurrel!. When be was goao, tho planter ordered his horse. As Ware rodo away from Helle Plain he cursed Murrell under bis breath. His own inclination toward evil was never robust; ho could have connived over a long period of years to despoil Hetty of her property, but murder and abduction was qulto an? other thing. Three miles from Belle Plain be en tered ? bridle path that i< <> toward the river. A growth Ol small timber u'i i atandlng along the water's edge, but tis he drew nearer, those better? menta which tin* resident of that lonely spot had seen tit to make tor his own convenience, came under bis scrutiny; these consisted ol a log cabin and several less?-r sheds. Landing, be advanced toward the cabin. As he did H(> he saw two wom? en at w>rk heckling llax under an open Bhed. They were the wife and daughter of George Hicks, his over? seer's brother. "Morning, Mrs. Lfccks," ho said, ad? dressing himself to the mother, a hulking ruffian of a woman. "Any? body with the captain?" "Colonel Fentress is.' "Humph!" muttered Ware. He moved to the door of the cabin and entered the room where Murrell and Fentress were seated facing each other across the breakfast table. "Well, what the devil do you want it me, anyhow?" demanded the planter. "How's your sister, Tom?" Inquired Murrell. "I reckon slie's the way you'd ex? pect her to be." Ware dropped his. voice to a whisper. "John, you'll ruin yourself with your damned crazy infatuation!" It was Fentress who spoke. "No, I won't, colonel, but I'm not going to discuss that. All I want is [or Tom to go to Memphis and stay there for a couple of days. When he comes back Helle Plain and its nig? gers will be ss good as his. I am go? ing to take the girl away from there tonight. How ?oon can you get away from here, Tom?" he asked abruptly. "By God, I can't go too soon!" cried the planter, staggering to his feet. He gave Fentress a hopeless beaten look. "You're my witness teat first and last I've no part in this!' The colonel shrugged his shoulders. Murrell reached out a hand and rest? ed It on Ware's arm. "Keep youg wits, Tom, and within a week people will have forgotten all about Norton and your sister. I am going to give them something else to worry over." Waro went from the cabin. "Look here, how about the boy? are you ready for him if I can get my hands on him! I'll send him either up or dov the river and place him in safe keeping where >ou can get him at any time you want." "This must be done without vio? lence, John!" stipulated Foe tress. "Certainly, 1 understand. Which shall it be?up or down river?" "Could you take care of him tor me below, at Natchez?" inquired Fentress. "As well there as anywhere." "Good!" said Fentress, and took his leave. Three-quarters of an hour slipped by, then, piercing the silence, Murrell heard a shrill whistle; it was twice repeated; he saw Hess go down to the landing again. A half-hour elapsed and a man issued from the scattering growth of bushes that wcreened the shore. The newcomer crossed the clearing and entered the cabin. He was a young fellow ot twenty-four or live, whose bronzed face wore a reckless expression. "Well, captain, what's doing?" he asked. "If anything's to be done, now is the time, Hues. What have you tc report?" "Well, I've seen the council of each Clan division. They are ripe to start this thing off." Murrell gave him a moment ot moody regard. "Twice already I've named the day and hour, but now I'm going to put it through!" He set his teeth and thrust out his jaw. "Captain, you're the greatest fellow in America! Inside of a week men who have never been within five nun died miles of you will be asking ot each other who John Murrell Is!" Murreil had expected to part with Hues then and there and for all ttms but Hues possessed qualitiei which might still be of vise. ' Hues, you must start hack across Tennessee. Make it Sunday at mid? night?that's three days off." I'ncon ?Ciously his voice s ink to a whisper. "Sunday at midnight/' repeated Huea slowly. "When you have passed the word Into middle Tennessee, turn south and make the besl ol your way to Neu Orleans. Don't st;>p for anything push through as fast as you can. You'll lind me there. I've a notion you and i will quit the country to get her." "Quit the countrj! Why, captain, who's talking ol quitting the conn try? ' "You speak as though you Were fool enough to think the niggers would accomplish something!" Bald Murrell coolly. "There will be con fusion at first. Hut there are enough white men in tho southwest to nan die a heap better organised lnaurrec tion than weil be able to set going Our fellows will have to use their heads as well as their hands or they are likely to help the nigger swallow his medicine. 1 look for nothing else than considerable of a shake-up ab>nn the Mississippi . . . what with lynchers and regulators a man will have to show a clean bill of health to be allowed to live, no matter what his co'.cr?just being white won t help him any!" "No. you're ri^ht, it wont!" and again Hues gave way to easy laughte* "When you ve done your work you strike south as I tell you and join me. I'n: going 10 keep New Or leant for mys< if?it's my ambition to de? stroy the city Old Hickory saved!' "And then its change your name and strike out for Texas with what you've picked up!" "No. it isn't! Iii have my choice of men?A river lull of ships. Look here, there's South America, or some of those islands in the gulf with a black-and-tan population and a few white mor.grels holding on to civiliza? tion by their eye-ueth; what's to hlnde ? our setting up shop lor our? selves" Two or three hundred Amer? icans could walk off with an island like H.uti, for instance?and it's black witl: niggers. What we'd done here would be Just so much capital down there We'd make it a stamp? ing ground .'or the Clan! In the next two years we could bring in a couple of thousand Americans and then we'd be ready to take over their govern? ment, whether they liked it or not, and run it at a profit. We'd put the niggers back in slavery where they belong, and set them at work raising sugar and tobacco for their own boss? es. Man, it's the richest land in the world, I tell you?and the mountains are full of gold!" Hues had kindled with a ready en tuusiasm while Murrell was speaking. 'That sounds right, captain?we'd have a country and a flag of our own ?and I look at those free niggers as Just so much boot!" "I shall take only picked men with me?I can't give ship room to any other?but I want you. You'll Join me in New Orleans?" said Murrell. "When do you start south?" asked Hues quickly. "Inside of two days. I've got some private business to settle before 1 leave. I'll hang round here untii that's attended to." CHAPTER XVII. The Judge Extends His Credit. That afternoon Judge Price walked out to Belle Plain. Solomon Mahaffy had known that this was a civility Betty Malroy could by no means es? cape. He had been consclot a of the Judge's purpose from the moment it existed in the germ state, and he had striven to divert him, but his striving had been in vain, for though the Judge valued Mr. Mahaffy because of certain sterling qualities which he professed to discern beneath the hard crust that made up the external man. he was not disposed to accept him as his mentor In nice matters of taste and gentlemanly feeling. He owed it to himself personally to tender his sympathy. Miss Malroy must have heard something of the honorable part he had played; surely 6he could not be in Ignorance of the fact that the lawless element, dreading his fur? ther activities, had threatened him. She must know, too, about that re? ward of five thousand dollars. Cer? tainly her grief could not blind her to the fact that he had met the sltu I ation with a largeness of public spirit that was an impressive lesson to the entire community. 1 These were all points over which he and Mahaffy had wrangled, and 1 he felt that his friend, In seeking to keep hhn away from Belle Plain, was standing squarely In his light. He really could not understand Solomon or his objections. He pointed out that Norton had probably left a will ?no one knew yet?probably his es? tate would go to his intended wife? what more likely? He understood 1 Norton had cousins somewhere in middle Tennessee?there was the at? tractive possibility of extended litiga? tion. Miss Malroy needed a strong, clear brain to guide her past those difficulties his agile fancy assembled in her prih. He beamed on his friend with a vide sunny smile. "You mean she needs a lawyer, Price?" insinuated Mahaffy. "That slap at me, Solomon, is un? worthy of you. Just name some one, will you, who has shown an Interest comparable to mine? I may say I have devoted my entire energy to her affairs, and with disinterestedness. * have made myself felt. Will you men? tion who else these cutthroats have tried to browbeat rnd frighten? They know that my theories and conclu? sions are a menace to them! I got 'em In a panto, sir?presently some fellow will lose his nerve and light out for the tall timber?and it will be Just Judge Slocum Price who's done the trick?no one else!" "Are you looking for aome <uie to take a pol shot at you?" Inquired Ma? haffy, aourly, "Yotsf remark uncovers my fondest hope, Solomon I'd give live years of my lite just to be shot at that would round out the episode of the letter nicely"; again the Judge beamed on Mahaffy with that wide ami sunny smile of his. Why don't you let the boy go alone, Price?" suggested Mahaffy. He lacked thai sense (>t sublime conti? deuce In the Judge's tad and discre? tion of which the Judge, himself, en? tertained never u> doubt. "I shall not obtrude myself, Solo 1 mon; 1 shall merely walk out to Belle IMalu and leave a civil message. I know what's due Miss Ifalroy in her bereaved ?tate?ehe has sustained no ordinary logs, and In no ordinary fashion. She has been the center of a striking and profoundly moving tragedy! I would give a good deal to know if my late client left a will?" You might ask her," said Mahaffy cynically. "Nothing like going to headquarters for the ne*si" "Solomon, Solomon, give me credit for common sense?*zo further, and give me credit for c mmon decency! Don't let us forg< t ' t ever since we - me hero she has manifested a charmingly hospitable spirit where we are cor.o* rr.ea! '* "Wouldn't charity hit nearer the mark, Price?" "1 have never so regarded it, Solo? mon," said the judge mildly. * 1 have - read a different meaning in the beef and flour and potatoes she s sent here. I expect If the truth could be known to us she is wondering in the midst of her grief why 1 haven't called, but she'll appreciate the considerate del? icacy of a gentleman. 1 wish it were possible to get cut flowers in thia cussed wilderness!'* t The judge had been occupied with ' a simple but ingenious toilet. He had trimmed the frayed skirts of his coat; then, by turning hi3 cuffs in? side out and upside down a frc-sh sur? face made Its first public appearance. Next his shoes had engaged his at? tention. They might have well dle-Jl couraged a less resolute and resource? ful character, but with the contents of his ink-well he artfully colored his white yarn socks where they showed through the rifts in the leather. This the judge did gaily, now humming a snatch of ecng, now listening civilly to Mahaffy, now replying with undls-aj turbed cheerfulness. Last of all he clapped his dingy beaver on his head, giving It an indescribably jaunty slant, and stepped to the door. "Well, wish me luck, Solomon, I'm off?come, Hannibal!" he said. % At heart he cherished small hope of seeing Betty, advantageous as he feltj an Interview might prove. However, on reaching Belle Plain, he and Han-' nibal were shown intcj the cool parlor by little Steve. It was more years than the judge cared to remember since he had put his foot inside such \ bouse, but with true grandeur of aoul he rose to the occasion; apj sublimated dignity shone from every, battered feature, while he fixed little Steve with so fierce a glance that the1 grin froze on his Hps. "You are to eay that Judge Slocum Price presents his compliments and condolences to Mf^a Malroy?hay you got that straight, you pinch soot?" he concluded affably. Little Steve, impressed alike by the judge's air of condescension and his easy] flow of words, signified that he had "You may also say that Judge Prlce'si ward, young Master Hazard, presents his compliments and condolences?" What more the judge might have sanjj was interrupted by the entrance of Betty, herself. I "My dear young lady?' the judge bowed, then he advanced toward her with the solemnity or carriage and countenance he deemed suitable to the occasion, and her extended han(p| was engulfed between his two plump palms. He rolled his eyes heaven? ward. "It's the Lord's to deal with ub as his own inscrutable wisdom dic? tates," he murmured with pious resig? nation. "We are all poorer, ma'am, that he has died?Just as we were richer while he lived!" The rich! cadence of the Judge's speech fell scnorously on the silence, and that look of horror which had never quite left Betty's eyes since they saw Charley Norton fall, rose out of their clear depths again. The Judge, in? stantly stricken with a sense of the inadequacy of his words, doubled on % his spiritual tracks. "In a round? about way, ma'am, we're bound to be? lieve in the omnipresence of Provi? dence?we must think it?though a body migbt be disposed to hold that west Tennessee had got out of the line of divine supervision recently. Let me lead you to a chair, ma'am!" Hannibal had slipped to Betty's 1 side and placed his hand in hers. Ths Judge regarded the pair with great benevolence of expression. "He would come, and I hadn't the heart to forbid It. If I can be of any service to you, ma'am either in the * "Since You Insist, Ma'am?My Best Respecta." rapacity of a friend?or professional I) I trust you will not hesitate to command me? " The Judge hacked*1 toward the door. ^ MDld you walk out. Judge Price?* asked Hetty k'adly. "Nothing more than a healthful ex? ercise---but we will not detain you, nia am; the pleasure of seeing you is something we had not reckoned on: gj