pjji] PRODIGAL
fowwor ffi". for Boms ■*»»—» t th'tnw
SYNOPSIS.
The scene at the openlnff of the story 1*
laid In the library of an old worn-out
southern plantation, known aa the Bar
ony. The place Is to be sold, and Its
history ami that of the owners, the
Qulntarda, is the subject of dtscusston by
Jonathan Crenshaw, a business man, a
stranger known w Bladen, and Bob
Taney, • fanner, when Hannibal Wayne
Huard, a mysterious child of the old
Southern family, makes his appearance.
Yancy tells how h« adopted the Soy. Na
thaniel Ferris buys the Barony, but the
Qulntarda deny any knowledge of the
boy. Taney to keep Hannibal. Captain
Murrell, a friend of the Qutntards, ap
pears and asks questions about ths Bar
ony. Trouble at Scratch Hill, when Han
nibal is kidnaped by Dave Blount. Cap
tain Murrell's agent. Yancy overtakes
Blount, elves him a thrashing and secures
the boy. Taney appears before Squire
Balaam, and Is discharged with coats for
the plaintiff. Betty Malroy, a friend of
the Ferrlaea, haa an encounter with Cap
tain Murrell, who torcea his attentions on
her, and Is reacued by Bruce Carrlngton.
Betty eeta out for her Tennessee home.
Carrlngton takea the aame stage. Taney
and Hannibal dlaappear, with Murrell on
their trail. Hannibal arrives at the home
of Judge 81ocum Price. The Judge recog
nizes In the boy. the grandson of an old
time friend. Murrell arrlvea at Judge's
home. Cavendish family on raft rescue
Yancy, who is apparently dead. Price
breaks Jail. Betty and Carrlngton arrtvs
at Belle Plain. Hannibal's rifle discloses
some startling things to the Judge. Han
nibal and Betty meet again. Murrell ar
rive In Belle Plain. Is playing for big
atakea. Yancy awakes from long dream
less sleep on board the raft. Judge Price
tnakea startling diacoveriea In looking up
land tltlea. Charley Norton, a young
planter, who aaalsts the Judge, Is mys
teriously assaulted. Norton Informs Car
rlngton that Betty haa promlaed to marry
him. Norton is mysteriously shot. More
llghtjOn Murrell's plot. He plans upris
ing ft negroes. Judge Price, with H&nnl
bui 74,' is Its Betty, and she keeps the boy
as ■ companion. In a stroll Betty takes
with Hannibal they meet Bess Hicks,
daughter of the oversee/-, who warns
Betty of danger and counsels her to
leave Belle Plain at once. Betty, terri
fied, ucts on Bess' advice, and on their
way their carriage It stopped by Slosson,
the tavern keeper, and a confederate, and
Betty and Hanuibal are made prisoners.
The pair are taken to Hicks' cabin. In an
almost inaccessible spot, and there Mur
rell visit* Betty and reveals his part In
the 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. The Judge takes charge of the
situation, and search for the mlaslng ones
la Instituted. Carrlngton visits the Judge
Md alliea are discovered.
CHAPTER XXIII. (Continued.)
"And General Quintard never saw
him—never manifested any Interest
in him?" the words came slowly from
the Judge's Hps; he seemed to gulp
down something that rose In his
throat. "Poor little lad!" be mut
tered, and again, "Poor little lad!"
"Never once, Blr. He told the
slaves to keep him out of his sight.
wondered, fo' you know how
niggers will talk. We thought maybe
he was some kin to the Quintards,
but couldn't figure out how. The
old general never had but one child
and she had been dead fo' years. Tbe
child couldu't have been hers no-bow."
Yancy paused.
The Judge drummed Idly on the
desk.
"What implacable hate —what iron
pride!" be murmured, and swept bis
band across his ayes. Absorbed and
aloof, he was busy with his thoughts
that spanned the waste of years—
years that seemed to glide before him
In review, each bitter with its hideous
memories of shame and defeat. Then
from the smoke of these lost battles
emerged tbe lonely figure of the child
as he had seen blm that June night.
His ponderous arm stiffened where It
rested on the desk, he straightened up
In his chair and bis face assumed Its
customary expression of battered dig
nity, while a smile at once wistful and
tender hovered about his lips.
"One other question," he said. "Un
til this man Murrell appeared you
bad no trouble with Bladen? He was
content that you should keep tbe
child—your right to Hannibal was
never challenged?"
"Never, sir. All my troubles began
about that time."
"Murrell belongs In these parts,"
aald the Judge.
"I'd admire fo' to meet him," said
Yancy quietly.
The Judge grinned.
"I place my professional services at
your dlaposa]," be said. "Yours Is a
clear case of felonious assault."
"No, It ain't, sir—l look at it thls-a
wayi; it's a clear case of my giving
blm the damndeat sort of a body beat
ing!"
"Sir," said the judge, TU hold your
bat while you are about it!"
Hicks bad taken bis time in re
sponding to the Judge's summons, but
now his step sounded In tbe hall and
throwing open tbe door be entered
tbe room. Whether consciously or
# not be had acquired something of that
■urty, forbidding manner which was
characteristic of hla employer. A cult
nod of tbe head waa bis only greet
ing.
"Will you sit down?" asked tbe
Judge. Hicks signified by another
movement of the bead that be would
not. "This Is a very dreadful busi
ness!" began the Judge softly. /
"Ain't ltr* agreed Hicks. "What
you got to say to me?" be added
petulantly.
"Have yon started to drag the
}• bayou?" asked tbe Judge. Hicks
nodded. "That waa your idea?" sug
gested tbe Judge.
"No, it wa'n't," objected Hicks
quickly. "But I said she had been
actln' like she was plumb distracted
ev«r since Charley Norton got shot —"
"How?" Inquired the Judge, arching
his eyebrows. Hicks was plainly dis
turbed by tbe question.
of out of her head. Mr. Ware
seen it, too —"
"He spoke of It?"
"Yes, sir; him and me discussed It
together.".
The Judge regarded Hicks long and
intently and in silence. His magnifi
cent mind was at work. If Betty had
been distraught he had not observed
any sign of 1t the previous day. If
Ware were better Informed as to her
true mental state why had he chosen
this time to go to Memphis?
"I suppose Mr. Ware asked you to
keep an eye on Miss Malroy while he
was away from home?" said the Judge.
Hicks, suspicious of the drift of his
questioning, made no answer. "I sup
pose you told the bouse servants to
keep her under observation?" contin
ued the Judge.
"I don't talk to no niggers," replied
Hicks, "except to give 'em my or
ders."
"Well, did you give them that or
der?"
"No, I didn't."
The sudden and hurried entrance of
big Steve brought the Judge's exam
ination of Mr. Hicks to a standstill.
"Mas'r, you know dat 'ar coachman
George—the big black fellow dat took
you Into town las' evenln'? I Jes' been
down at Shanty HIU whar Mlliy, his
wife, la carryin' on something scan
dalous 'cause George ain't never come
home!" Steve was laboring under in
tense excitement, but he Ignored tbe
presence of the overseer and ad
dressed himself to Slocum Price.
"Well, what of that?" cried Hicks
quickly.
'Thar warn't no George, mind you,
Mas'r, but dar was his team in de
stable this mo'ning and lookin' mighty
nigh done up with hard driving."
"Yes," interrupted Hicks uneasily;
"put a pair of lines in a nigger's
hands and he'll run any team off its
legs!"
"An' the kerrlage all scratched up
from beln' thrashed through tbe
bushes," added Steve.
•"There's a nigger for you!" said
Hicks. "She took the rascal out or
the field, dressed him like he was a
gentleman and pampered him up, and
now first chance he gets he runs off!"
"Ah!" said tbe Judge softly. "Tben
you knew this?"
"Of course I knew—wa'n't it my
business to know? I reckon be was
off skylarking, and when be'd seen
the mess he'd made, the trilling fool
took to the wocds. Well, he catches
It when I lay bands on him!" ,
* "Do you know when and under
what circumstances the team was
stabled, Mr. Hicks?" inquired the
Judge.
"No, I don't, but I reckon It must
haye been long after dark," said Hicks
unwillingly. "I seen to the feeding
just after sundown like I always do,
"Poor Little Ladl" Ha Muttered.
then I went to supper," Hlcka vouch
safed to explain.
"And 110 one saw or beard the team
drive In?"
"Not aa I know of," said Hlcka.
"Maa'r Ca'ington's done gone off to
get a paok of dawgs—he 'lows hit's
might" Important to lind what's come
of George," aald Steve.
Hlcka started violently at this piece
of news.
"I reckon he'll have to travel a
right smart distance to find a pack of
jlogs," he muttered. "I don't know or
none this side of Colonel Bates' down
below Glrard."
The Judge was lost In thought. He
permitted an Interval of silence to
elapse In which Hicks' glance slid
round In a furtive circle.
"When did Mr. Ware set out for
Memphis?" asked the judge at length.
"Early yesterday. He goes there
pretty often on business."
"You talked with Mr. Ware before
he left?" Hicks shook his head. "Hid
be speak of Miss Malroy?" Hicks
shook his head. "Did you see her dur
ing the afternoon?"
"No—maybe you think these nig
gers ain't enough to keep a man stir
ring?" said Hicks uneasily and with a
scowl. The Judge noticed both tbe
uneasiness and tbe scowl.
"I should imagine they would ab
sorb every moment of your time, Mr.
Hicks," he agreed afTably.
"A man's got to be a hog for work
to hold a Job Ilk* mine," said Hicks
sourly.
"But It came to your notice that
Miss Malroy has been In a disturbed
mental state ever since Mr. Norton's
murder? I am interested in this point,
Mr. Hicks, because your experience Is
so entirely at variance with my own.
It was my privilege to see and speak
with her yesterday afternoon; I was
profoundly Impressed by her natural
ness and composure." The Judge
smiled, then he leaned forward across
the desk. "What were you doing up
here early this morning—hasn't a hog
for work like you got any business of
his own at that hour?" The Judge's
tone was suddenly offensive.
"Look here, what right have you
got to try and pump me?" cried Hicks.
For no discernible reason Mr. Cav
endish spat on his palms.
"Mr. Hicks," said the judge, urbane
and gracious, "I believe In frankness."
"Sure," agreed Hicks, mollified by
the Judge's altered tone.
'Therefore I do not hesitate to say
that I consider you a damned scoun
drel!" concluded the Judge.
Mr. Cavendish, accepting tbe Judge's
ultimatum as something which must
debar Hicks from all further consid
eration, and being, as he was, exceed
ingly active and energetic by nature,
if one passed over the various forms
of gainful industry, uttered a loud
whoop and threw himself on the over
seer. There was a brief struggle and
Hicks went down with the Karl* of
Lambeth astride of him; then from
his boot leg that knightly soul flashed
a horn-handled tickler of formidable
dimensions.
s
I
Tho Judge, Taney and Mahaffy,
■prang from their chairs. Mr. Mi
haffy was plainly shocked at the spec
tacle of Mr. Cavendish's lawless vio
lence. Yancy was disturbed, too, but
not by the moral aspects of the carito;
he was doubtful as to bow his friend's
act would appeal to the judge. He
need not have been distressed on that
■core, since the Judge's one Idea was
to profit by It. With his hands on his
knees he was now bending above the
two men.
"What do you want to know,
judge?" cried Cavendish, panting from
his exertions. "I'll learn this parrot
to talk up!"
"Hicks," said the Judge, "It Is In
your power to tell us a few things we
are here to find out." Hicks looked
up Into the judge's face and closed
his llpa grimly. "Mr. Cavendish,
kindly let him have the point of that
large knife where he'll feel It moBt!"
ordered the Judge
"Talk quick!" said Cavendish, with
a ferocious scowl. "Talk —or what's
to hinder me slicing open your wool
en?" and he pressed the blade of his
knife against the overseer's throat.
"1 don't know anything about Miss
Betty," said Hicks In a sullen whis
per.
"Maybe you don't, but what do you
know about the boy?" Hicks was
silent, but he was grateful tor the
Judge's question. Prom Tom Ware he
had learned of Fentress' Interest In
the boy. Why should ho shelter the
colonel at risk of himself? "if you
please, Mr. Cavendish!'.' said the
Judge, nodding toward the knife.
"You didn't ask me about him," said
Hicks quickly.
"1 do now," said the judge.
"He was here yesterday."
"Mr. Cavendish—" again tjie Judge
glanced toward the knife.
"Walt!" cried Hicks. "You go to
Colonel Fentress."
"Let hlin up, Mr. Cavendish; that's
nil we want to know," said the )udg«,
CHAPTER XXIV.
Colontl Fentress.
The Judge had not forgotten his
ghost, the ghost be had seen in Mr.
Saul's office that day be went to the
court house on business for Charley
Norton. Working or Idling—principal
ly the latter —drunk or sober —prin-
cipally the former —the ghost, other
wise Colonel Fentress, had preserved
a place In his thoughts, and now as
he moved stolidly up the drive toward
Fentress' big white house on the hill
with MahaJTy, Cavendish and Yancy
trailing In his wake, memories of what
had once been living and vital crowd
ed In upon htm. Home sense of the
wreck that Uttered the long yearß, and
the shame of tbe open shame that bad
swept away pride and self-respect,
came back to him out of the past.
He only paused when he stood on
the portico before Fentress' open
door. He glanced about him at the
wide fields, bounded by the distant
timber lands that hid gloomy bottoms,
at the great log barns In the hollow to
his right; at the huddle of white
washed cablhs beyond; then with bis
big fist he reached In and pounded on
the door. The blows echoed I6udly
through the silent house, and an In
stant later Fentress' tall, spare figure
was seen advancing from the far end
of thf hall.
"Who Is it?" he asked.
"Judge Price —Colonel Fentress,"
said the Judge.
"Judge Price," uncertainly, and still
advancing.
"I had flattered myself that you
must have heard of me," said the
Judge.
"I think I have," said Fentress,
pausing now.
x "He thinks he has!" muttered the
Judge under his breath.
"Will you come In?" It was more a
question than an Invitation.
"If you are at liberty." The colonel
bowed. "Allow me," the Judge con
tinued. "Colonel Fentress —Mr. Ma-,
haffy, Mr. Yancy and Mr. Cavendish."
Again the colonel bowed.
"Will you step Into the library?"
"Very good," and the Judge followed
tbe colonel briskly down the ball.
(TO BE CONTINUED.)
Women Win High Honors.
Once more women have triumphed
st the Royal academy. For the sec
ond time In three years the gold medal
has been won by a female student,
while of the fourteen prises offered
no leas than ten have been carried
off by women. In presenting these
and Margaret Wil
liams on her brilliant achlevementtffhe
president of the Royal academy paid
high tribute to the perseverance and
the talent of women artiste; but again,
we ask, why Is It not recognized by
the Royal Academy of Arts in the ob
vious way? In every way women
show their fitness to compete with
men for the honor of admission to as
sociateehip and to election among the
forty, yet. still they stand without the
gats.—Lady's Pictorial.
FARMERS ADJOURN
LEAVE FOR HOME
HELMS REBILD, JOBEPH G. BROWN
AND J. W. BAILEY MADE
GOOD ADDRESSES.
DISCUSSED BANKING AID
Ths Women Also Finish Their Busi
ness—The Roundup Institute was a
Creditable Blstsr of Convention and
Was Wsll Attended. /
Raleigh.—The North Carolina Farm
ers' Convention has adjourned after
three days of splendid work, in which
more than 500 farmers were Raleigh
visitors.
Addresses by Helmer Hebild, Joseph
G. Brown and J. W. Bailey were made.
Mr. Hebild, the delightful Dane, tell
ing something of the cow testing as
sociations. Mr. Brown of the bank
ing system and the efforts being made
to extend it so as to help the agricul
tural people more, and Mr. Bailey tell
ing about the Torrens land system.
Mr. Hebild talked dairying the day
before, and made one of the best of
the addresses made during that pe
riod here. There Is no more enthu
siastic advocate of the cow than he.
He may not have made so bright a
speech but he gave a great deal of
information.
Mr. Brown has been with the Na
tional Bankers' Association and taken
part in the discussions of banking aid
to the farming people. He read an
Interesting paper. It told something
of the scheme upon which the bankers
are working.
Mr. Bailey's discussion of the Tor
rents System was perhaps the best one
of the many. It had large present in
terest because this matter has gone
before the legislature and has been
recommended by the North Carolina
Bar Association, ft was to this
phase of it that he talked.
There were some amusing questions
popped to him and he answered them
well. One farmer wanted to know
what would become of the lawyer who
loses all of his business. Mr. Bailey
reminded him that the pulpit and
politics are open to him.
This closed a great convention and
everybody went home.
Politics In Ashe County.
The Republicans of Ashe have held
their county convention and named
the following ticket: for Representa
tive, C. B. Splcer; for sheriff, J. A.
Sturglli; for treasurer, I)r. Manley
Blevlns; for register of deeds, J. E.
Parker; for surveyor, Ham Lewis; for
coroner, N. W. Roark; and for county
commissioners, Elihu Greybeal, J. E.
Walters, both Independent Democrats,
and P. L. Lewis. Aside from a little
difference of opinion as to the proper
platform, and as to whether or not
the convention would endorse tho can
didacy of Ellhu Graybeal and J. E.
Walters, Independent Democrat, the
meeting was harmonious.
Northampton For Good Roads.
The good roads fever has at last
struck Northampton and the work of
building permanent good roads has
actually begun. During the past six
years has been spent on the roads of
this county doing patchwork with the
roads, but little better for the outlay.
Now the work of building the best type
of sand'day roads has begun at Rich
Square and will doubtleas extend to
all the Important roads of the coun
ty. The work here Is being watched
with keen interest by Northampton,
Hertford and Bertie as well.
Split In Qaston County Ranks.
The local ranka of the G. 0. P. are
badly confused at tha Roosevelt-Taft
split in the party. The situation Is
becoming so tense that the prediction
is ventured by some that a new Pro
gressive organization will be effected
in this county as a result of the two
factions that are now fighting for local
dominance. A Progressive ticket may
be named to oppose the stand-pat Re
publicans and the Democrats.
Rowan Good Roads Association.
The Rowan County Good Roada As
sociation is now*, getting right *fter
the propoaition, and hopes to be able
to have a strong organization by fall.
It la the object of this association to
pull for a $600,000 bond issue, and to
give Rowan one of the best road sys
tems in the South. Most of the farm
ers are in favor of the proposition.
Rowan does not owe a dollar on the
*>ads. J. C. Sherrlll, director of
Mount Ulla township in the county
association, will call a meeting some
time soon.
Male* of Militia Age In State.
The percentage of the population of
North Carolina, who are males of mili
tia age, is the lowest of the states of
the union, being only 17.8, according to
a preliminary statement Just given out
by Director Durand, which is based
on the returns from the thirteenth
census. The militia age is from 18 to
44 years. In 1910 there were in the
total population of the United States
20,473,684 males of the required age
for militia service. This showed an
Increase of more than x four militia
ovsr the figures of ten years before. '
-* Si5 " : , .'I
TURN 62 LAWYERS LOOSE
Large Cltn of Barristers Ready trn
Argue and Plead Before Court* of
Old North State.
Raleigh.—Out of a class of 75 which
took the examination to practice law
in North Carolina, before the Supreme
Court, 62 were successful, two of
them being negroes. The examination
questions were prepared by Chief
Justice Clark. The following are the
successful applicants:
Samuel Hamilton Wiley, Rowan;
Cary Parks Buchanan, Mecklenburg;
Arthur Calhoun Bernard, Wake; Ce
cil Christopher Broughton, Wake;
Hudson Colquhon Miller, Mecklen
burg; James Halbot Johnston, Moore;
Otway Blnns Moss, Wilson; James
Sylvester CUne, Cleveland; James
Louis Evans, Pitt; Ector Augustus
Harrlll, Cleveland; Peter Lee Fezor,
Davidson; Claudius Cooper Howard,
Cumberland; Rowland Shaw Pruett,
Mecklenburg; Archibald Cornelias
Ray, Chatham; James Royall, Wake;
Henry George Stewart, Mecklenburg;
Robert Wright, Strange, New Han
over; Richard L. Walker, Bertie;
John James Deßost, Duplin; Abnor
Burton Breece, Cumberland; Thos. Ed
gar Bingham, Catawba; Arthur Ed
win Ferguson, Forsyth; Edward Mar
shall Harmon, Catawba; John Quincey
Robinson, Edgecombe; Hugh Schar
lotte, Durham; Bonnie Fay Simmons.
Cumberland; Wiseman James Swain.
Forsyth; Eli Robinson Wilßon,
Wayne; Joseph Mack Moss, Nash;.
Carol Davis Taliaferro, Mecklenburg; I
Henry Alonzo Alston, Buncombe;
Hierox Louis Taylor, Mecklenburg;
Edwin Thomas Cansler, Jr., Meck
lenburg; Charles Z. Ross, Harnett;
Jeremiah Perry Zolllcoffer, Vance;
Page Keen Gravely, Nash; John Clar
ence Daughtrldge, Edgecombe; Wal
ter Lowry Small, Pasquotank; Willis
Smith, Pasquotank; Josephus Daniels
Eason, Jr., Wilson; Dred Peacock,
Gilford; Kenneth Ogden Burgwyn,
Orange; Henry Elliott Williams, Cum
berland; Luther Bynum Clegg, Moore;
James Southerland Patterson, Orange;
Baxter Lee Fentress, Guilford; Ovid
Wlnfleld Jones, Forsyth; George Bar
son Mason, Gaston; Wade Hampton
Chllds, Lincoln; Alexander Hamilton
Koone, Orange; Henry Rhodes, Cra
ven; James Giles Hudson, Rowan;
Earnest Stanhopo Delaney, Union;
Wade Hampton Williams, Alexander;
William Armistead Townes, New Han
over; Fuffner Campbell, Buncombe;
Talbery Hardy Lacy, Nash; Charles
Alexander Vogler, ' Forsyth; Baxter
Lloyd Baker, Mecklenburg; Clarence
Leßoy Shuping, Guilford; Nerus De-
Leon White, Sampson.
Well KnoWn Farmer Killed by Train.
The body of Mr. Allen Harrington, a
well-known farmer of Vanceboro, Cra
ven county, was found beside the Nor
folk & Southern Railroad track, just
on the outskirts of Greenville. The
body lay parallel w.ith the track, with
the right arm severed, deep scalp
wounds that almost encircled the
head, as well as other cuts and bruises.
Just how his death resulted has not
been disclosed, if known. Harrington
came to Greenville to sell tobacco, and
received about SIOO. He remained
over and was said to be drinking heavi
ly, though seemingly able to take
care of himself. He was seen with,
other farmers around tho tobacco
warehouse and it is said that friends
put him on the train to send him
home. No explanation can be given
to how he got ofT the train, or which
train run over him.
Setback For Orange Good Roadi.
Judge Whedbee handed down a de
cision regarding the Orange county
bond issue, In which the sum of $250,-
000 in bonds was voted for road build
ing by the people of Orange, saying
that the issue of the bonds is invalid
on account of a technicality in the bill
In authorizing the election. It seems
that an amendment was made to th*
original bill as introduced In the lower
house of tho state legislature.
Wake County Republican Meet.
The regular Taft wing of the Wake
county Republicans mot In county con
vention. W. J. Andrews, chairman,
and named delegates to the state con
vention at Charlotte, Instructing them
to support only such candidates for
presidential elector as will pledge to
support Taft and other candidates
named by the regular Chicago con
vention.
To Become Producing County.
James H. Warburton, secretary of
the Salisbury Industrial Club received
a letter from T. O. Plunkett, General
Agent of the new department of the
Southern Railway known as the "farm
improvement department," to the ef
fect that a field agent will be placed
In Rowan county, and that it will be
the endeavor of this department to as
sist the county in becoming one of the
large producing counties. This sounds
good to the people as It will be abou|
the same as having a regular county
farm demonstrator.
Politic* In Guilford County.
The Republican county convention '
was very sllmly attended, five tow.n
ships not being represented at a 11,..- 5
and small delegations being present
from the others. It was jiecided not
to nominate a county ticket at thla
meeting, the naming of same being
postponed. Hiram Worth resigned aa
county chairman, and W. 'C. Shaw, *
young business man was elected chair
man. Martin Douglas, present secre
tary, was re-elected. Twenty-elgtit
delegates were sent to the Charlotte y»
Republican convention.