My temperament, sir, is distinctly
aggressive--and each one according to the gifts with which God
has been graciously pleased to endow him! I am frank to say,
however, that my decisions have received their meed of praise
from men thoroughly competent to speak on such matters." He was
turning the leaves of the ledger as he spoke. Suddenly the
movement of his hand was arrested.
"Found it?" asked Mr. Saul. But the judge gave him no answer;
absorbed and aloof he was staring down at the open pages of the
book. "Found the entry?" repeated Mr. Saul.
"Eh?--what's that? No--" he appeared to hesitate. "Who is this
man Quintard?" The question cost him an effort, that was plain.
"He's the owner of a hundred-thousand-acre tract in this and
abutting counties," said Mr. Saul.
The judge continued to stare down at the page.
"Is he a resident of the county?" he asked, at length.
"No, he lives back yonder in North Carolina."
"A hundred thousand acres!" the judge muttered thoughtfully.
"There or thereabouts--yes, sir."
"Who has charge of the land?"
"Colonel Fentress; he was old General Ware's law partner. I've
heard it was the general who got this man Quintard to make the
investment, but that was before my time in these parts."
The judge lapsed into a heavy, brooding silence.
A step sounded in the narrow hall. An instant later the door was
pushed open, and grateful for any interruption that would serve
to take Mr. Saul's attention from himself, the judge abruptly
turned his back on the clerk and began to examine the record
before him.
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