"
"This is nothing to me," said Fentress.
"Wait!" cried the judge. "About six years ago the woman was seen
at her father's home in North Carolina. I reckon Gatewood had
cast her off. She didn't go back empty-handed. She had run away
from her husband with a child--a girl; after a lapse of twenty
years she returned to her father with a boy of two or three.
There are two questions that must be answered when I find
Gatewood: what became of the woman and what became of the child;
are they living or dead; did the daughter grow up and marry and
have a son? When I get my answer it will be time enough to think
of Gatewood's punishment!" The judge leaned forward across the
table, bringing his face close to Fentress' face. "Look at me
--do you know me now?"
But Fentress' expression never altered. The judge fell back a
step.
"Fentress, I want the boy," he said quietly.
"What boy?"
"My grandson."
"You are mad! What do I know of him--or you?" Fentress was
gaining courage from the sound of his own voice.
"You know who he is and where he is. Your business relations
with General Ware have put you on the track of the Quintard lands
in this state. You intend to use the boy to gather them in."
"You're mad!" repeated Fentress.
"Unless you bring him to me inside of twenty-four hours I'll
smash you!" roared the judge. "Your name isn't Fentress, it's
Gatewood; you've stolen the name of Fentress, just as you have
stolen other things.
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