Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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THE PRODIGAL . JUDGE > \By V\UOHAf1 KESTER. /uvsr/yuTMs ByD.Melviu Com*m*f ">/ 'v/vW*A' WP+fit Ce-txwrr By the door stood Mabaffy with Yancy and Cavendish; they under? stood that what was obscure and meaningless to thorn held a tragic significance to theee two men. The fudge's heavy face, ordinarily battered and debauched, but Infinitely good gaturod. bore now the markings of deep paaelon. and the voice that rum? bled forth from his capacious chest came to their ears like distant thun- I "This friend Of trite wood a had a wife?" The Judge's voice broke, emo? tion shook him like a leaf ; be was tearing open his wounds. He reacaed over and poured himself a drink, suck? ing It down with greedy Hps. "There was g wife?" he whirled about on hit keel and faced Fentreas again. There waa a wife. Fentreas?" ho fixed Fen? treas with hla blaitng eyes. "A wife and child. Well, one day Oatewood and the wife were missing. Under the circumstances Oatewoods friend waa well rid of the pair?he should hsvo boon grateful, but he wasn't, for his wife took his child, a daughter; and Oatewood a trifle of thirty thousand dollars his friend had intrusted to him!" There was another silence. "At a later day 1 met this man who had been betrayed by bis wife and robbed by hla friend He bad fallen oat of the race?drink had done for him?there waa juat one thing he seemed to care about, and that waa the fate of bla child, but maybe ho waa only curious there. He wondered If she had lived, and married?" Onco more the judge paused. "What's all this to me?" asked Fen trwaav. "Are you sure It's nothing to you?" demanded the Judge hoarsely. "Ln deratand thla, Fentress, Gatewood * treachery brought ruin to st least two lives It caused the women's father to hide his face from the world; It waan t enough for him that his friend* believed his daughter dead; he knew differently, tud the shame ok that knowledge ate into his soul, it cost the husbsnd Iis plsce in the world, toe?in the enc it mruie of him g vtgsbond and a penniless wan? derer 'This Is nothing to me." said Fen "Walt"' cried the Judge. "About six years ago the woman was seen at her father s home in North Carolina. 1 reckon Gatewood had cast her off. 8he didr't go back empty-handed She gad run away from her huaband with g child?a girl; after % lapse of twen? ty years sbe returned to ber father with a boy of two or three There art two questions toat must be an gworcd when 1 ?nc Gatewood: what became of the woman, end what be caroe of the child; are they living or goad, did the daughter grow up and starry and have a son? When I get say answer it will be time enough to think or Oatewood'1* punishment!" The Judge leahed forward across the table, bringing his face close to Fen treat' ftce. "Look tt me?do you know me now? But Fentress' expression never al? tered The Judge fell back a step. , ifgntresa, 1 want the boy," he aald tutetly -What boy?" My grandson!" "You are mad! What do 1 know gf him?or you?" Fentress was gain? ing courtgt from the sound of hit two voice. "You know who he is and where he st. Your business relations with thla man Ware have put you on the track Of the Qulntard landa In this state. You Intend to use the boy to gather them In " "You're mad'" repeated Fentress "Unless you bring him to me inside of twenty-four hours I'll smash you!" roared the Judge "Your nume isn t Fentress, It s Gatewood, you've stolen the name of Fetitress, just as you gave stolen other thin*. W hat s tggae of Turbervllle s money ' imiun your soul' I want my grandson! ill pull you down and leave you stripp? l aoc* bare! I'll Igtl the world the falso friend you've been?the thlet you are! Ill strip you and turn you out gf those doors ta naked as when via' en? tered the world' ihe |gggjg eeaud to tower above Fentress. the man had shot up out of his deep deha cnent "C hoose! Choose!" he thun? dered, hla shnggv brows bent In a menacing ffvWt "I know nothing about the boy," aald F? ggffggg slowly ? iw ted you Me!" stormed the Judge 1 know nothing about the ggf and Fentrett took a step toward tho door. "Btay where you are!" commanded tho Judge "If pet attempt to leave thla room to call your nlggert I'll kill you on Ita threshold' Hut Yancv and Cavendish had ?topped to the door with an Intention that waa evident, and Fentress* thin face cast Itself In haggard lines. He waa feeling the Judge's terrible ca? pacity, his unexpected ability to deal with a supreme situation. Even Ma hatTy gased at his friend In wonder. He had only seen him spend himself on trifles, with no further object than Ho Tossed the Qlssa and Contents In Fentress' Face. the next meal or the next drink; he had believed that aa ho knew him so he had always been, lax and loose of tongue and deed, a noisy tavern hero, but now he saw that he was tilling what must have been the measure of his manhood. "I tell you I had no hand In carry? ing off the boy," said Fentress with a sardonic smile. "I look to you to return him. Stir , yourself, Oatewood, or by Ood, I'll hold so fierce a reckoning with you?" | Toe sentence remained unfinished, for Fentress felt his overwrought nerves snap, and, giving way to a I sudden blind fury, struck at the Judge. I "We are too old for rough and tum? ble," said the Judge, who had dls- I played astonishing agility in avoiding the blow. "Furthermore we were once gentlemen. At present I am what 1 am, while you are a hound and a , blackguard! We'll settle this as bo- I comes our breeding." lie poured him self a second glass of liquor from Fentress' decanter. "I wonder if It is possible to insult you," and he ! tossed glass and contents in Fentress' face. The colonel's thin features were convulsed. The Judge watched him with a scornful curling of the lips. "1 am treating you better than you de? serve," he taunted. "Tomorrow morning at sun-up at Boggs' race-track!" cried Fentress. The Judge bowed with splendid cour? tesy. "Nothing could please me half so well," be declared. He turned to the others. "Gentlemen, this is a private matter. When 1 huve met Colonel Fentress I shall make a public an? nouncement of why this appeared necessary to me; Until then I trust this matter will not be given pub? licity. May I a.sk your silence?" He bowed again, and abruptly passed from the room. His three friends followed in his steps, leaving Fentress standing by the table, the ghost of a smile on his thin "lips. I As if the very place were evil, the Jut'ge hurried down the drive toward thr road At the gate he paused and turned on his companions, but his features wore a look ot dignity that forbade comment or question. He held out his band to Yan<-v "Sir," he said, "If I could command the riches of the Indies. It would tax my resources to meet the fractional part of my obligations to you." "Think of that!" said Yancy, as much overwhelmed by the Judge's manner as by his words. "Ills i'nclo Hob shall keep his place In my grandson's life! Weil watch him grow into manhood together." The Judge was visibly affected. A smile of deep content parted Mr. Yaiu y's lips as his muscular fingers rlosrd about the Judge's hand with crushing fore e ' Whoop!" cried Cavendish, delight? ed at this recognition ot Yaney's | >\e for the hoy. aid he gleefully Ptnotg fiie gugtare Mahatfi on the Shoulder, Hut Mahaffy was dumb in the pres pnee of the decencies, he ouite lacked an Interpreter. Tho Judge looked back at tho house 'Mino' ' |g muttered "Tho clothes ho stands In the food ho eats? mine' Mir P CHAPTER XXV. The Bubble Bursts. At shout the mhiip hour that the fnrig* aas hurling threats and insults it Colonel Fentress. three men were waiting ten miles away at ihe head of the bnyou which served to Isolate Hicks cabi i. Now :.o one ul these three had e"er heard of Judge Blocum Price; the breath of his fame had never blowr, however gently, in their direction, y.?t thev were preparing to thrust opportunity upon him. To this end they vere loujiging about the opening in the woods where the horses beim ging tc Ware and Murreil were tied. At length the dtp of oars became audible in the silence and one oi the trio stole down the path, a matter of fifty yards, o a point that overlooked the bayou. He was gone but a mo? ment. "It's Muri ell all right!" he said in an eager wr. leper. "Him and another fellow?the Hicks girl is rowing them." He glanced from one to the other of his companions, who seemed to take firmer hold of themselves un? der his eye "It'll be all right," he protested llithtly. "He's as good as ours. Walt till I give you the word." And he led the way Into an adjacent thicket. Meantime Ware and Murreil had landed and were coming along the path, the outlaw a step or two in ad? vance of his friend. They reached the horses and were untying them when the thicket suddenly disgorged the three men; each held a cocked pistol; two of these pistols covered Murreil and the thlri was leveled at Ware. "Hues!" cried Murreil in astonish? ment, for the man confronting him was the Clan's messenger who should have been speeding across the state. 'Toss up your hands, Murreil," said Hues quietly. One of th< other men spoke. "You are under arrest!" "Arrest!" "You are wanted for nigger-steal? ing," said the man. Still Murreil did not seem to comprehend. He looked at Hues in dull wonder. "What aro you doing here?** he asked. "Waiting bo arrest you?ain't that plain?" said Hues, with a grim smile. The outla v's hands dropped at his side, limp and helpless. With some idea that he might attempt to draw a weapon oie of the men took hold of him, but Murreil was nerveless to his touch; his face had gone a ghast? ly white ani was streaked with tho markings of terror. "Well, by thunder!" cried the man in utter amt.zement. Murreil looked into Hues' face. "You?you?" and the words thick? ened on his tongue, becoming an in? articulate mirmur. "It's all up, John," said Hues. "No!" sale Murreil, recovering him? self. "You may as well turn me loose ?you cant arrest me!" "I've done it," answered Hues. "I've been on your track for six montns." "How about this fellow V asked the man whose pistol still covered Ware. Hues glanced toward the planter and shook his h<ad. "Where are you going to take me?" asked Murr dl quickjy. Again Hues laughed. "You'll fird that out in plenty of time, and then your friends can pass the word a*ound if they tike; now you'll come with me." Ware neither moved nor spoke as Hues and Ms prisoner passed back along the path, Hues with his hand on Murrell's shouler, and one ot his companions close at his heels, while tho third iran led off the outlaw's horse. Presently the distant clatter of hoofs was borne to Ware's ears?only that; the miracle of courage and dar? ing he had talf expected had not hap? pened. Murreil, for ail his wild boast ing, was lik ? other men, like himseit. His bloodshot eyes slid around in their socket-i. There across the sun? lit stretch i)i water was Hetty?the thought of her brought htm to quick choking terrors. The whole tabric ot crime by which he had been benefited in the past or had expected to profit in the future seemed toppling In upon him, but his mind clutched one im? portant fact. Hues, If he knew ot Hetty's dt |ppearance. did not con? nect Murreil with it. Ware sucked in comfort between his twitching lips. Stealing niggers! No one would be? lieve that he, a planter, had a hand In that, and fir a brief instant be con? sidered signaling Hess to return. Slos son must I*.- told of Murrell's arrest; but he was sick with apprehension, some trap night have been prepared for him, he could not know; and the Impulse to ict forsook him. He smote his hands together in a hopeless, Ig-aten gesture. And Mur? reil had gone weak?with his own eyes he had seen it?Murreil?whom no believed without tear! He fait that he had been grievously betrayed in his trust and a hot rage poured through htm. At last he climbed in? to the saddle, and, swaying like a drunken man, galloped off. \\ lien he reached the river road ho paused and Manned its dusty sur? face. Hues and his party had turned south w hen they Issued from the wood path. No doubt Murreil was being taken to Memphis Ware laughed harshly. Tbo outlaw would be free before another dawn broke. He bad halted Dear w nero Jim had turned Iiis team the previous night , after Dotty tnd Hannibal had left tho carriage; the marks; ot the wheels were as pla nly distinguishable as tho more recent trail left by the tour men, and as he grasped the significance of that wide hall circle his sense ot in? jury overwhelmed Dim again Ho hoped to live to |06 Murreil banged! He was ho completely lost in his bitter reflection! that be bad been mi aware of a mounted man who was coming toward him at a switr gallop, but now be hoard the steady pounding of hoofs and, startled by tho sound, looked up A moment later the horse? man drew rein at bis side. "Ware!" he cried "How are you, Camngtoiif said the planter. "You are wanted at Belie Plain," be? gan Carrlngtou, and seemed to hesi? tate. "Yes?5'es, I am going there at once ?now?" stammered Ware, and gatti? ered up bis reins with a shaking Band. "You've heard, 1 take it? saiu Har? rington slowly, "Yes," answered Ware, in a hoarse whisper "AI;, God, Carrington, I'm heart sick; she has been like a daugh? ter to me?I?" he fell silent, mop? ping his face. "I think I understand your feeling,' ^<t*d Carrington, giving him a level glance. "Then you'll excuse me," and the planted clapped spurs to his horse. Once he looked back over his shoul? der; he saw that Carrington had not moved from the spot where they had met. At Belle Plain, Ware found big neighbors in possession of the place. They greeted him quietly and spoke In subdued tones of their sympathy. The planter listened wiwh an air of such abject misery that those who had neither liked nor respected him, were roused to a sudden generous feeling where he was concerned; they could not question but that he was deeply affected. After all the man might have a side to his nature with which they had never come in contact. When he could he shut himself in his room. He had experienced a day of maddening anxiety; he had not slept at all the previous night; in mind and body he was worn out; and now he was plunged into J^ie thick of this sensation. He must keep control of himself, for every word he said would be remembered. In the pres? ent there was sympathy for him, but sooner or later people would return to their sordid unemotional judg? ments. He sought to forecast the happen? ings of the next few hours. Murrell's friends would break Jail for him, that was a foregone conclusion; but the insurrection he had planned was at an end. Hues had dealt its death blow. Moreover, though the law might be impotent to deal with Mur rell, be could i.ot hope to escape the vengeance of the powerful class he had plotted to destroy; he would have to quit the country. Ware gloated In this idea of craven flight. Thank God, he had seen the last of him! But, as always, his thoughts came back to Betty. Slosson would wait at Hicks' place for the man Murrell had promised him, md, falling the mes? senger, for the signal fire, but there would be neither; and Slosson would be left to determine his own course ot action. Ware felt certain that he wonld wait through the night, but as sure as the morning broke, if no word had reached him, he would send one of his men across the bayou, who must learn of Murrell's arrest, escape, flight ?for in Ware's mind these three events were indissolubly associated The planter's teeth knocked together. He was having a terrible acquaint ance with fear, its very depths had swallowed him up; it was a black pit in which he sank from horror to hor? ror. He had lost all faith in the Clan which had terrorized half a dozen states, which had robbed and mur? dered with apparent impunity, which had marketed its hundreds of stolen slaves. He had utterly collapsed at the first blow dealt the organization but he waa still seeing Murrell, pallid and shaken. A step sounded in the hall and an instant later Hicks entered the room without the formality of knocking Ware recognized his presence with a elance of indifference, but did not speak. Hicks slouched to his employ? er's side and handed him a aote which The Planter's Knees Knocked To proved to be from Fentresa. Ware read and tossed it aside. "It he wants to see me way don't he come here?" he growled. "I reckon that old fellow they call Judge Price has sprung something sudden on the colonel." said Hicks. "He was out hero the tlrst thing this morning; you'd have thought he owned Helle Plain There was a couple ol strangers with him, and he had mo In and lirod questions at me for half an hour; then he hiked oil up to The Oaks." "Murrell's been arrested," said ware in a dull level voice. Hicks gave him a glance of unmixed astonishment "No!" "Yes. by God!" "Who'd risk It?" utsk It? Man, be almost fainted dead away?a damned coward Heir "How do you know this?" asked Hicks appalled. "1 was with him when he was tak? en it was Hues the man ho trusted more than any other' ' Ware gave I the overseer a ghastly grin and was gether. lilent, but In that plience he heard the drumming ot hn own heart. He went on. "I tell you, to save hi:n Belf, John Murreil will Implicate the rest of us; we've got to get him free, and then, by hell?we ought to knock him In the head; he isn't tit to live!" "The jail ain't built that'll hold him!" muttered Hicks. "Of course, he can't be held," agreed Ware. "And heil never be brought to trial; no lawyer will dare appear against him, no jury will dare to find" him guilty; but there's Hues, what abojt him?" He paused. The two men looked at each other for a long moment. "Where did they carry the cap? tain?" "1 don't know." "It looks like the Clan was In a hell-fired hole?but shucks! What will be easier than to fix Hues??and while they're fixing folks they'd bet? ter not overlook that old fellow A?rice. He's got some notion about Fentress and the boy." Mr. Hicks did not con? sider it necessary to explain that he was himself largely responsible for this. "How do you know that?" demand? ed Ware. "He as good as said so." Hicks looked uneasily at the rlanter. He knew himself to be compromised. The stranger named Cavendish had forced an admission from him that Murreil would not condone if it came to his knowledge. He had also acquired a very proper and wholesome fear jf Judge Slocum Price. He stepped close to Ware's side. "Whatil come of the girl, Tom? Can you figure that out?" he questioned, sinking his voice al? most to a whisper. Hut Ware was in? capable of speech, again his terrors completely overwhelmed him. "1 reckon you'll have to find another overseer. I'm going to strike out for Texas," said Hicks. Ware's eyes met his for an Instant. He had thought of flight, too; was still thinking of it, but greed was as much a part of his nature as fear; Helle Plain was a prize not to be light? ly cast aside, and It was almost his. He lurched across the room to vhe window. If he were going to act, the sooner he did so the better, and gain a respite from his fears. The read down the coast slid away before his heavy eyes; he marked each turn, then a paley of fear shook him, his heart beat against his ribs, and he stood gnawing his lips while he gazed up at the sun. "Do you get what I say, Tom? 1 am going to quit these parts," said Hicks. WTare turned slowly from the window. "All right, Hicks. You mean you want me to settle with you, is that it?' he asked. "Yes, I'm going to leave while 1 can; maybe I can't later on," said Hicks stolid'y. lie added: "I am go? ing to start, down the coast as soon as it turns dark, and before it's day again I'll have put the good miles be? tween me and these parts." "You're going down the coaet7" and Ware was again conscious of the quickened beating of his heart. Hicks nodded. "See you don't meet up with John Murreil," said Ware. "I'll take that chance. It seems a heap better to me than staying here." Ware looked from the window. The shadows were lengthening across the lawn. "Hetter start now, Hicks," he ad? vised. "I'll wait until it turns dark." "You'll need a horse." "I was going to help .nyself to one. This ain't no time to stand on cere? mony," said Hicks shortly. "Slosson shouldn't be left in the lurch like this?or your brother's folks?" "They'll have to figure it out for themselves, same as me," rejoined Hicks. "You can stop there as you go by." "No," said Hicks. "I never did be? lieve in this damn foolishness about the girl, and I won't go near George's "I don't ask you to go there: you can give them the signal from the head of the bayou. All I want is for you to stop and light a fire on the shore. They'll know what that means. I'll give you a horse and fifty dol? lars for the Job." Hicks' eyes sparkled, but ho only said: "Make it twico that and maybe we can deal." Racked and tortured, Ware hesi? tated; but the sun was slipping Into the west; his windows blazed with the hot light. "You swear you'll do your part?" ho said thickly. He took his purse from his pocket and counted out the amount due Hicks. He named tho total, and paused irresolutely. "Don't you want the fire lighted?" asked Hicks. Ho was familiar with his employer's vacillating moods. "Yes," answered Ware, bis Itpa quivering; and slowly, with shaking lingers, he added to tho pile of bills In Hicks' hand. "Well, take care of yourself," said Hicks, when tho count was complete. Ho thrust the roll of bills into bis pocket and moved to the door. Alone ngaln, tho planter collapsed into bis chair, breathing heavily, bit his terrors swept over him and left him with a savage sense o! triumph. This passed; he sprang up, Intending to recall Hicks and unmake bis bar? gain. What ba<! be been flunking ot safety lay only in Right!. Itefore be reached the door his greed wraa in the ascendant. He dropped down on the edge of bis bed, his eyes fixed on the window. The sun sank lower. !Yoin where bo sat ho saw it through the Upper half Of the sash blood red and livid In a miSl Of fleecy clouds. It was In the tops ol tho old oaks now. Which Pent their shadows ln*o his room. Again maddened bv ro* ?, he Itgfted inn1 bacred towrrrt ;ke doOl*; but kgall hli gTged? the on?' dominating roiluec? ? ol bli life, vanquish d bUn, He <a :th? d the sun sink. Me watched the red splendor fade ever the river; he saw the Brit stars ap? pear. He told himself that Hicka would soar be pone?if the fire rM not to If lighted he DBUSt act at orce! He stole to tot window. It was dusk now, yet he could distin? guish the distant wooded boundaries of the great fields framed by the dark? ening sky. Then In the silence he beard the thud of hoofs. CHAPTER XXVI. The Judge Names His Second. "Price?" began Mahaffy. They were back in Haleigh in the room the judge called his office, and this was .Ma haffy's first opportunity to ease his mind on the subject of the duel, as they had only just parted from Yancy and Cavendish, who had stopped at one of the stores to make certain purchases for the raft. "Not a word, Solomon?it had to come. I am going to kill him. 1 shall feel better then." "What if he kills vou?" demanded -It Will Be Quite Informal, the Code la Scarcely Applicable/' Mahaffy harshly. The judge shrugged his shoulders. "That Is as it may be." "Have you forgotten your grand? son?" Mahaffy's voiee was still harsh and rasping. "I regard my meeting with Fentress as nothing less than a sacred duty xo him." "W? know no more than we did this morning," said Mahaffy. "You are mixing up all sorts of side issues with what should be your real pur? pose." "Not at all, Solomon?not at all! 1 look upon my grandson's speedy re? covery as an assured fact. Fentress dare not hold him. He knows he la i run to earth at last" I "Price?" "No, Solomon?no, my friend, we will not speak of it again. Y'ou will go back to Peile Plain with Yancy and Cavendish; you must represent me there. We have as good as found Hannibal, but we must be active In Miss Malroy's behalf. For us that has an important bearing on the future, and since I cannot, you must be at P.die Plain when Carrington arrives with his pack of dogs. Give him the advantage of your sound and mature 1 judgment, Solomon; don't let any false modesty keep ;ou In the back? ground. I "Who's going to second you7" snapped Mahaffy. The judge was a picture of Indif? ference. "It will be quite Informal, the code is scarcely applicable; I merely In? tend to remove him because he is not fit to live." "At sun-up!" muttered Mahaffy. j "I intend to start one day right even if I never live to begin another," said the judge, a sudden tierce light I flashing from his eyes. "I. feel that this Is the turning point in my ca? reer, Solomon!" he went on. 'The beginning of great things! Hut I ! shall take no chances With the fu ' ture; I shall prepare for every pos slblo contingency. I am going to make you and Yancy my grandson's guardians. There s a hundred thou? sand acres of land hereal>out that must come to him. I shall outline In writing the legal steps to bo taken to substantiate his claims. Also be will I Inherit largely from me at my death." Something very like laughter es? caped from Mahaffy's lips. "There you go, Solomon, with your Inopportune mirth! What In God's name have I If I haven't hope? Take that from me and what would I be? Why, the very fate I have been fight? ing off with tooth and nail would overwhelm me. I'd sink into unim? portance?my unparalleled .misfor? tunes would degrade mo to a level with the commonest! No. sir, I've never been without hope, and though I've fallen I've always got up. What Fentress has Is based on money he i stole from me. Hy God. the days ot S his profit-taking arc at an end! I am going to strip him. And even if 1 don't live to enjoy w hat's mine, my | grandson shall! Ho shall wear vel vet and B lace collar and ride his pony yet, by toxi, a* a gentleman's grand I son should!" "It sounds well, Price, but whore's rhe money coming from to push a law suit?* I Tl e indue waved this aside. "The means will be found, Solo? mon. Our horizon is lifting?I BfJij se.? it lift! P. n't drag me back from1 the |K>rtal ol hope' We'll drink the' stuff that comes across the water:) Ml a arm the cockles ot your heart J with Imnorted brandy i carrs tweatel 1