That afternoon Judge Price walked out to Belle Plain. Solomon Mahaffy
had known that this was a civility Betty Malroy could by no means
escape. He had been conscious 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 she could not be in ignorance of the fact that the
lawless element, dreading his further activities, had threatened
him. She must know, too, about that reward of five thousand dollars.
Certainly her grief could not blind her to the fact that he had met
the situation with a largeness of public spirit that was an impressive
lesson to the entire community.'
These were all points over which he and Mahaffy had wrangled, and he
felt that his friend, in seeking to keep him 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 estate would go to his intended
wife--what more likely? He understood Norton had cousins somewhere
in middle Tennessee--there was the attractive possibility of extended
litigation. Miss Malroy needed a strong, clear brain to guide her past
those difficulties his agile fancy assembled in her path. He beamed on
his friend with a wide sunny smile.
“You mean she needs a lawyer, Price?” insinuated Mahaffy.
“That slap at me, Solomon, is unworthy 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. I
have made myself felt. Will you mention who else these cutthroats
have tried to browbeat and frighten? They know that my theories and
conclusions are a menace to them! I got 'em in a panic, 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 some one to take a pot shot at you?” inquired
Mahaffy sourly.
“Your remark uncovers my fondest hope, Solomon--I'd give five years
of my life just to be shot at--that would round out the episode of the
letter nicely;” again the judge beamed on Mahaffy with that wide and
sunny smile of his.
“Why don't you let the boy go alone, Price?” suggested Mahaffy.
He lacked that sense of sublime confidence in the judge's tact and
discretion of which the judge, himself, entertained never a doubt.
“I shall not obtrude myself, Solomon; I shall merely walk out to Belle
Plain and leave a civil message. I know what's due Miss Malroy in her
bereaved state--she has sustained no ordinary loss, 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 news!”
“Solomon, Solomon, give me credit for common sense--go further, and give
me credit for common decency! Don't let us forget that ever since we
came here she has manifested a charmingly hospitable spirit where we are
concerned!”
“Wouldn't charity hit nearer the mark, Price?”
“I have never so regarded it, Solomon,” said the judge mildly. “I 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 I haven't called, but she'll appreciate the
considerate delicacy of a gentleman. I wish it were possible to get cut
flowers in this cussed wilderness!”
The judge had been occupied with a simple but ingenious toilet. He had
trimmed the frayed skirts of, his coat; then by turning his cuffs inside
out and upside down a fresh surface made its first public appearance.
Next his shoes had engaged his attention. They might have well
discouraged a less resolute and resourceful character, but with the
contents of his ink-well he artfully colored his white yarn socks where
they showed though the rifts in the leather. This the judge did gaily,
now humming a snatch of song, now listening civilly to Mahaffy, now
replying with undisturbed 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
felt an interview might prove. However, on reaching Belle Plain he and
Hannibal were shown into the cool parlor by little Steve. It was more
years than the judge cared to remember since he had put his foot inside
such a house, but with true grandeur of soul he rose to the occasion;
a sublimated dignity shone from every battered feature, while he fixed
little Steve with so fierce a glance that the grin froze on his lips.
“You are to say that judge Slocum Price presents his compliments and
condolences to Miss Malroy--have you got that straight, you pinch
of 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 Price's ward, young Master Hazard,
presents his compliments and condolences--” What more the judge might
have said was interrupted by the entrance of Betty, herself.
“My dear young lady--” the judge bowed, then he advanced toward her
with the solemnity of carriage and countenance he deemed suitable to
the occasion, and her extended hand was engulfed between his two plump
palms. He rolled his eyes heavenward. “It's the Lord's to deal with
us as His own inscrutable wisdom dictates,” he murmured with pious
resignation. “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
sonorously 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, instantly 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 believe in the omnipresence of
Providence--we must think it--though a body might 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 side and placed his hand in hers. The
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 capacity of a friend--or professionally--I
trust you will not hesitate to command me--” The judge backed toward the
door.
“Did you walk out, Judge Price?” asked Betty kindly.
“Nothing more than a healthful exercise--but we will not detain you,
ma'am; the pleasure of seeing you is something we had not reckoned on!”
The judge's speech was thick and unctuous with good feeling. He wished
that Mahaffy might have been there to note the reserve and dignity of
his deportment.
“But you must let me order luncheon for you,” said Betty. At least this
questionable old man was good to Hannibal.
“I couldn't think of it, ma'am--”
“You'll have a glass of wine, then,” urged Betty hospitably. For the
moment she had lost sight of what was clearly the judge's besetting sin.
The judge paused abruptly. He endured a moment of agonizing
irresolution.
“On the advice of my physician I dare not touch wine--gout, ma'am,
and liver--but this restriction does not apply to corn whisky--in
moderation, and as a tonic--either before meals, immediately after meals
or at any time between meals--always keeping in mind the idea of its
tonic properties--” The judge seemed to mellow and ripen. This was
much better than having the dogs sicked on you! His manner toward Betty
became almost fatherly. Poor young thing, so lonely and desolate in the
midst of all this splendor--he surreptitiously wiped away a tear,
and when little Steve presented himself and was told to bring whisky,
audibly smacked his lips--a whole lot better, surely!
“I am sorry you think you must hurry away, Judge Price,” said Betty. She
still retained the small brown hand Hannibal had thrust into hers.
“The eastern mail gets in to-day, ma'am, and I have reason to think
my share of it will be especially heavy, for it brings the bulk of my
professional correspondence.” In ten years the judge had received just
one communication by mail--a bill which had followed him through four
states and seven counties. “I expect my secretary--” boldly fixing
Solomon Mahaffy's status, “is already dipping into it; an excellent
assistant, ma'am, but literary rather than legal.”
Little Steve reappeared bearing a silver tray on which was a decanter
and glass.
“Since you insist, ma'am,” the judge poured himself a drink, “my best
respects--” he bowed profoundly.
“If you are quite willing, judge, I think I will keep Hannibal. Miss
Bowen, who has been here--since--” her voice broke suddenly.
“I understand, ma'am,” said the judge soothingly. He gave her a glance
of great concern and turned to Hannibal. “Dear lad, you'll be very quiet
and obedient, and do exactly as Miss Malroy says? When shall I come for
him, ma'am?”
“I'll send him to you when he is ready to go home. I am thinking of
visiting my friends in North Carolina, and I should like to have him
spend as much time as possible with me before I start for the East.”
It had occurred to Betty that she had done little or nothing for the
child; probably this would be her last opportunity.
The state of the judge's feelings was such that with elaborate absence
of mind he poured himself a second drink of whisky; and that there
should be no doubt the act was one of inadvertence, said again, “My best
respects, ma'am,” and bowed as before. Putting down the glass he backed
toward the door.
“I trust you will not hesitate to call upon me if I can be of any use to
you, ma'am--a message will bring me here without a moment's delay.” He
was rather disappointed that no allusion had been made to his recent
activities. He reasoned correctly that Betty was as yet in ignorance of
the somewhat dangerous eminence he had achieved as the champion of law
and order. However, he reflected with satisfaction that Hannibal, in
remaining, would admirably serve his ends.
Betty insisted that he should be driven home, and after faintly
protesting, the judge gracefully yielded the point, and a few moments
later rolled away from Belle Plain behind a pair of sleek-coated bays,
with a negro in livery on the box. He was conscious of a great sense of
exaltation. He felt that he should paralyze Mahaffy. He even temporarily
forgot the blow his hopes had sustained when Betty spoke of returning to
North Carolina. This was life--broad acres and niggers--principally
to trot after you toting liquor--and such liquor!--he lolled back
luxuriantly with half-closed eyes.
“Twenty years in the wood if an hour!” he muttered. “I'd like to have
just such a taste in my mouth when I come to die--and probably she has
barrels of it!” he sighed deeply, and searched his soul for words with
which adequately to describe that whisky to Mahaffy.
But why not do more than paralyze Solomon--that would be pleasant but
not especially profitable. The judge came back quickly to the vexed
problem of his future. He desired to make some striking display of Miss
Malroy's courtesy. He knew that his credit was experiencing the pangs of
an early mortality; he was not sensitive, yet for some days he had
been sensible of the fact that what he called the commercial class was
viewing him with open disfavor, but he must hang on in Raleigh a little
longer--for him it had become the abode of hope. The judge considered
the matter. At least he could let people see something of that decent
respect with which Miss Malroy treated him.
They were entering Raleigh now, and he ordered the coachman to pull his
horses down to a walk. He had decided to make use of the Belle Plain
turnout in creating an atmosphere of confidence and trust--especially
trust. To this end he spent the best part of an hour interviewing
his creditors. It amounted almost to a mass-meeting of the adult male
population, for he had no favorites. When he invaded virgin territory
he believed in starting the largest possible number of accounts without
delay. The advantage of his system, as he explained its workings to
Mahaffy, was that it bred a noble spirit of emulation. He let it be
known in a general way that things were looking up with him; just in
what quarter he did not specify, but there he was, seated in the Belle
Plain carriage and the inference was unavoidable that Miss Malroy was to
recognize his activities in a substantial manner.
Mahaffy, loafing away the afternoon in the county clerk's office, heard
of the judge's return. He heard that Charley Norton had left a will;
that Thicket Point went to Miss Malroy; that the Norton cousins in
middle Tennessee were going to put up a fight; that Judge Price had been
retained as counsel by Miss Malroy; that he was authorized to begin an
independent search for Charley Norton's murderer, and was to spare no
expense; that Judge Price was going to pay his debts. Mahaffy grinned at
this and hurried home. He could believe all but the last, that was the
crowning touch of unreality.
The judge explained the situation.
“I wouldn't withhold hope from any man, Solomon; it's the cheapest thing
in the world and the one thing we are most miserly about extending
to our fellows. These people all feel better--and what did it cost
me?--just a little decent consideration; just the knowledge of what the
unavoidable associations of ideas in their own minds would do for them!”
What had seemed the corpse of credit breathed again, and the judge and
Mahaffy immediately embarked upon a characteristic celebration. Early
candlelight found them making a beginning; midnight came--the gray and
purple of dawn--and they were still at it, back of closed doors and
shuttered windows.