At the gate he paused and turned on his
companions, but his features wore a look of dignity that forbade
comment or question. He held out his hand to Yancy.
"Sir," he said, "if I could command the riches of the Indies, it
would tax my resources to meet the fractional part of my
obligations to you."
"Think of that!" said Yancy, as much overwhelmed by the judge's
manner as by his words.
"His Uncle Bob shall keep his place in my grandson's life! We'll
watch him grow into manhood together." The judge was visibly
affected. A smile of deep content parted Mr. Yancy's lips as his
muscular fingers closed about the judge's hand with crushing
force.
"Whoop!" cried Cavendish, delighted at this recognition of
Yancy's love for the boy, and he gleefully smote the austere
Mahaffy on the shoulder. But Mahaffy was dumb in the presence of
the decencies, he quite lacked an interpreter. The judge looked
back at the house.
"Mine!" he muttered. "The clothes he stands inthe food he
eats--miine! Mine!"
CHAPTER XXX
THE BUBBLE BURSTS
At about the same hour that the judge was hurling threats and
insults at Colonel Fentress, three men were waiting ten miles
away at the head of the bayou which served to isolate Hicks'
cabin. Now no one of these three had ever heard of Judge Slocum
Price; the breath of his fame had never blown, however gently, in
their direction, yet they were preparing to thrust opportunity
upon him. To this end they were lounging about the opening in
the woods where the horses belonging to Ware and Murrell were
tied.
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