his possession a one-dollar
bill which had come to him in the way of trade and which local experts
had declared to be a spurious production. He passed it in between the
bars and demanded the judge's opinion of it as though he were the first
authority in the land. But he went no wiser than he came.

It was nearing the noon hour when the judge's solitude was again
invaded. He first heard the distant murmur of voices on the road and
passed an uneasy and restless ten minutes, with his eye to a crack in
the door. He was soothed and reassured, however, when at last he caught
sight of the sheriff.

"Well, judge, I got company for you," cried the sheriff cheerfully, as
he threw open the door. "A hoss-thief!"

He pushed into the building a man, hatless and coatless, with a pair
of pale villainous eyes and a tobacco-stained chin. The judge viewed the
new-comer with disfavor. As for the horse-thief, he gave his companion
in misery a coldly critical stare, seated himself on the stool, and with
quite a fierce air devoted all his energy to mastication. He neither
altered his position nor changed his expression until he and the judge
were alone, then, catching the judge's eye, he made what seemed a casual
movement with his hand, the three fingers raised; but to the judge this
clearly was without significance, and the horse-thief manifested no
further interest where he was concerned. He did not even condescend to
answer the one or two civil remarks the judge addressed to him.

As the long afternoon wore itself away, the judge lived through the many
stages of doubt and uncertainty, for suppose anything had happened to
Mahaffy! When the sheriff came with his supper he asked him if he had
seen or heard of his friend.

"Judge, I reckon he's lopin' on yet. I never seen a man of his years
run as well as he done--it was inspirin' how he got over the ground!"
answered the sheriff. Then he attempted conversation with the
horse-thief, but was savagely cursed for his pains. "Well, I don't envy
you your company none, sir," he remarked as he took leave of the judge.

Standing before the window, the judge watched the last vestige of light
fade from the sky and the stars appear. Would Mahaffy come? The suspense
was intolerable. It was possibly eight o'clock. He could not reasonably
expect Mahaffy until nine or half past; to come earlier would be too
great a risk. Suddenly out of the silence sounded a long-drawn whistle.
Three times it was repea