tive in Miss
Malroy's behalf. For us that has an important bearing on the future, and
since I can not, you must be at Belle Plain when Carrington arrives
with his pack of dogs. Give him the advantage of your sound and
mature judgment, Solomon; don't let any false modesty keep you in the
background."

"Who's going to second you?" snapped Mahaffy.

The judge was the picture of indifference.

"It will be quite informal, the code is scarcely applicable; I merely
intend to remove him because he is not fit to live."

"At sun-up!" muttered Mahaffy.

"I intend to start one day right even if I never live to begin another,"
said the judge, a sudden fierce light flashing from his eyes. "I feel
that this is the turning point in my career, Solomon!" he went on. "The
beginning of great things! But I shall take no chances with the future,
I shall prepare for every possible contingency. I am going to make you
and Yancy my grandson's guardians. There's a hundred thousand acres of
land hereabout that must come to him. I shall outline in writing the
legal steps to be taken to substantiate his claims. Also he will inherit
largely from me at my death."

Something very like laughter escaped from Mahaffy's lips.

"There you go, Solomon, with your inopportune mirth! What in God's name
have I if I haven't hope? Take that from me and what would I be?
Why, the very fate I have been fighting off with tooth and nail would
overwhelm me. I'd sink into unimportance--my unparalleled misfortunes
would degrade me to a level with the commonest! No, sir, I've never been
without hope, and though I've fallen I've always got up. What Fentress
has is based on money he stole from me. By God, the days of his
profit-taking are at an end! I am going to strip him. And even if I
don't live to enjoy what's mine, my grandson shall! He shall wear
velvet and a lace collar and ride his pony yet, by God, as a gentleman's
grandson should!"

"It sounds well, Price, but where's the money coming from to push a
lawsuit?"

The judge waved this aside.

"The means will be found, Solomon. Our horizon is lifting--I can see it
lift! Don't drag me back from the portal of hope! We'll drink the stuff
that comes across the water; I'll warm the cockles of your heart with
imported brandy. I carry twenty years' hunger and thirst under my
wes-coat and I'll feed and drink like a gentleman yet!" The judge
smacked his lips in an ecstasy of enjoyment, and dropping down before
the