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 suppose you told
the house servants to keep her under observation?" continued the
judge.
"I don't talk to no niggers," replied Hicks, "except to give 'em
my orders."
"Well, did you give them that order?"
"No, I didn't."
The sudden and hurried entrance of big Steve brought the judge's
examination of Mr. Hicks to a standstill.
"Mas'r, you know dat 'ar coachman George--the big black fellow
dat took you into town las' evenin'? I jes' been down at Shanty
Hill whar Milly, his wife, is carryin' on something scandalous
'cause George ain't never come home!" Steve was laboring under
intense excitement, but he ignored the presence of the overseer
and addressed 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 kerriage all scratched up from bein' thrashed through
the bushes," added Steve.
"There's a nigger for you!" said Hicks. "She took the rascal out
of the field, dressed him like he was a gentleman and pampered
him up, and now first chance he gets he runs off!"
"Ah!" said the judge softly.
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