The judge shuffled after him. The tracks
they left in the dust crossed and re-crossed the road, but
presently the slanting lines of their advance straightened, the
judge gained and held a fixed place at Mahaffy's right, a step or
so in the rear. His oppulent fancy began to deal with the
situation.
"If anything happens to the child, the man responsible for it
would better never been born--I'll pursue him with undiminished
energy from this moment forth!" he panted.
"What could happen to him, Price?" asked Mahaffy.
"God knows, poor little lad!"
"Will you shut up!" cried Mahaffy savagely.
"Solomon!"
"Why do you go building on that idea? Why should any one harm
him--what earthly purpose--"
"I tell you, Solomon, we are the pivotal point in a vast circle
of crime. This is a blow at me--this is revenge, sir, neither
more nor less! They have struck at me through the boy, it is as
plain as day."
"What did the overseer say?"
"Just that they found Miss Malroy gone from Belle Plain this
morning, and the boy with her."
"This is like you, Price! How do you know they haven't spent the
night at some neighbor's?"
"The nearest neighbor is five or six miles distant. Miss Malroy
and Hannibal were seen along about dusk in the grounds at Belle
Plain, do you mean to tell me you consider it likely that they
set out on foot at that hour, and without a word to any one, to
make a visit?" inquired the judge; but Mahaffy did not contend
for this point.
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