THE PRODIGAL JUDGE ) \By Vaughan Kester. /tii/sij&rraYs Br & Mel vile V **>•' Co*m*~r SYNOPSIS. Th* are f» at (ha upr*vine of the story 1» laM la . brary of an oM worn-out | audan yhautun. kti an as the Bar The pine* is to ha suUL sad Its | hisiory and Us! «*f the owner*. the igtatatards is the subject of discussion by Jonathan rr*-tik!.*». a business man. a Stranger known •> Bisk*, and Bob Yue| a farmer atu-n Hannibal Wayne Hassid, a mysterious child of the old namli i rri family, makes l-is appearance Vai, ter s bos he adopted the boy. N* ttaoki i err • buy* the Barony, but the Vi Uarh deny any knuwlele* of the boy Vasty to keep Hannibal Captain Marret!. * —end of the VuisUKb. •» years and ask* «ji-stSutui about the Bar ony Tr* ubie at Byatrb Hill when lian nlba. Is kidnaped by l*ave Blount. Cap tain UurreiTi agent Yaoey overtake* HU*uni. give, t ton n iCrashing sr»d Secures the boy Yancy appear* before Squire Buwn and I* di*> . *ig-d srith costs for tbe ti.iBtiS Betty hilwi. s friend of th* f erns-, has an encounter sits tap- : 1*1* Murr-u. who fwr.es his attentions "n , her bad Is nsrud by Bru * Carrington. | Betty sets out for her Terms—** bout* art ’.jn -b tafcew the sane •'■age YaOC} a— disappear, with Murrell on their trail Hannibal arrives at the home of Judge hi - in Pri-e The Jude- twoog asnes In f • t»>i «lw grandson of an old tiaue fnetuS Murrrl! arrives at Judge’s U—e ■ svendisl. family on raft res. oe ,is T. who Is apparently dead Price 'tea*, ja Betty and Carriugtoa arrive ad Balls Plain. CHAPTER X. Belle Plain. "Now. Tow" said Betty, with a lit tle sir of eictu metst ss she rose irona the treskfsst table that first morn 1c* st Hell# Plain. ~l wsat you U> show me everything!” ~l reckon you'll notice some charge*. ’ remarked Tom He « the margin ot the bay on. At the Bret terrace she paused "It • positively squalid!" cried Bet ty. with a little stamp of her foot. Ware glanced about wttb dull eyes TU tell you. Hetty. I'm busy this morning. you joke about and see what you want done and we'll do It." he said, and made a hasty retreat to his oCce Hetty returned to tbe porch and seating herself on tbe top step, with her elbows oa her knees and her chin sunk la the palms of her hands, gated shout her miserably enough She was still there ahea half an hour later Charley Norton galloped up the drive from the highroad. Catching s' it of her oa the porch, he sprang from the saddle, and. throwing hi* reins to a black bey. hurried to her side. "Inspecttag your domain. Betty?" he asked, as he took bis place near her c* the step "Why didn’t you tell me. Charley— or at least prepare me for this?" she asked, almost tearfully. "How was I to know. Betty? I haven't been here since you went aw*y. dear— what was there to bring me* Old Tom would make a cow pasture out of the Garden of Eden, wouldn't he—a beautiful, practical, sordid soul he Is’" Norte® spent the day at Belle Plain; and though he was there on his good behavior as the result of an agree iiient they had reached on board The Naiad, he proposed twice. Tom was mistaken in his supposi tion that Betty would soon tire of Belle Plain. She demanded men, and teams, and began on The lawns. This tnierested and iasciuated her. She was out at sun up to direct her labor ers She had the advantage of Charley ] Norton's presence and advice for the I greater part of each day In the week. I and Sundays he came to look over what had been accomplished, and, as Tom firmly believed, to put that little fool up to fresh nonsense. He could have booted him! As the grounds took shape before her delighted eyes, Betty found leis ure to institute a thorough relorma tica Indoors. A number of house serv ants were rescued from the quarters and she began to Instruct them In their new duties. Betty's sphere of Influence extend ed itself. She soon began to have , her doubts concerning the treatment accorded the slaves, and was not long j in discovering that Hicks, the over- ! seer, ran things with a heavy hand j Matters reached a crisis one day j when, happening to ride through the quarters, she found him disciplining | a refractory black. She turned sick at the sight. Here was a slave actual ly being whipped by another slave while Hicks stood looking on with his hands in his pockets, and with a brutal, satisfied air. "Stop!" commanded Betty, her eyes blazing. She strove to keep her voice si»-ady. "You shall not remain at Belle Plain another hour.” Hicks said uotbing. He knew it w aid take more than her saying so ; to get him off the place. Betty turned i her horse and galloped back to the bouse she felt that she was in no I condition to see Tom just at that mo- i ment. and dismounting at the door, ran upstairs to her room. Meantime the overseer sought out Ware in his office. His manner oi . taring his grievance was singular. He began by sweating at his employ- j er. He had been Insulted before all j the quarter—his rage fairly choked j him; he could not speak. i orn seized the opportunity to | swear back. Sent you off the place, did she; well, you'll have to eat crow. I ll do all I can. I don't know'what girls *ere ever made for anyhow, damned If I do!" he added Hicks consented to eat crow only after Mr. Ware had cursed and ca joled him Into a better and more for giving frame of mind. Later, after Hicks had made his apology, the two men smoked a friendly pipe and discussed the situa tnn. Tom pointed out that opposi tion was useless, a losing game. In ihe midst of her activities Betty occasionally found time to think of Hruce Carrington. She was sure she did not wish to see him again 1 But when three weeks had passed she be gan to feel Incensed that he had not appeared She thought of him with hot cheeks and a quickening of the heart. It was anger. Then one day when she had decid ed forever to banish all memory of him from her mind, he presented him self at Belle Plain. She was In her room Just putting the finishing touches to an especially satisfying toilet when her maid tapped on the door and told her there was a gentleman In the parlor who wished to see her. "Is It Mr Norton?" asked Betty. "No. Miss—he didn't give no name. Miss" When Betty entered the parlor a moment later she saw her caller standing with his back turned toward her as he gazed from one or the win dows. but she Instantly recognized Those broad shoulders, and the line poise of the shapely head that sur mounted them. “Oh. Mr. Carrington—" and Hetty stopped short, while her lace grew rather pale and then crimsoned. Then she advanced boldly and held nut a triglj hand "1 didn't know— so you are alive—you disappeared so suddenly that night—" Yes. I'm alive.” he said, and then with a smile, "but 1 fear betore you get through with me well both wish I were not. Betty. "Do you still hate me. Betty—Miss Malroy—Is there anything I can say or do that will make you forgive me?" He looked at her penitently. But Betty hardened her heart against him and prepared to keep him in place. "Will you sit down?” she Indicated a chair. He seated himself and Betty put a safe distance between them. “Are you staying in the neighborhood. Mr. Carrington?” she asked, rather unkindly. "No, I'm not staying In the nelgn borhood. When I left you, I made up my mir.iV I'd wait at New Madrid un til 1 could come on down here and say I was sorry.” "And it's taken you all this time?” Carrington regarded her seriously. "1 reckon 1 must have come for more time, Betty—Miss Malroy.” in spite of herself, Betty glowed under the caressing humor of his tone. "Really—you must have chosen poorly then when you selected New Madrid. It couldn't have been a good place for your purpose.” “I think if I could have made up my mind to stay there long enough, it would have answered," said Car rington. "But when a down-river boat tied up there yesterday it was mere than I could stand. You see there's ‘danger in a town like New Madrid ot getting too sorry. I thought we'd bet ter discuss this point—” “Mayn't I show you Belie Plain?" asked Betty quickly. But Carrington shook his head. “I don't care anything about that.” he said. “I didn't come here to see Belle Plain.” “Then you expect to remain in the neighborhood ?” ''I've given up the river, and I'm going to get hoid of some land.” “Land?” said Betty, with a rising inflection. “Yes, land.” “I thought you were a river-man?" “I'm a river-man no longer. 1 am going to be a planter now. But I'll tell you why, and all about It some other day." Then he held out his hand. "Good-by,” he added. “Are you going?—good-by. Mr. Car rington.” and Betty's fingers tingled with his masterful clasp long after he had gone. CHAPTER XI. The Shooting-Match at Boggs’. The judge’s faith in the reasonable ness of mankind having leceived a staggering blow, there began a some shabby wayfarers. “This is Raleigh, In Shelby county, Tennessee,” said the landlord. "Are you the voice from the tomb?" inquired the judge, in a tone of play ful sarcasm. Carrington, amused, sauntered to ward him. •That's one for you, Mr. Pegloe: ” he said. “1 am charmed to meet a gentleman whose spirit of appreciation shews his familiarity with a literary allu sion.” said the judge, bowing. "We ain't so dead as we look," said Pegloe. "Just you keep on to Boggs' race-track, straight down tfie road, and you'll find that out—everybody's there to the hoss-racing and shooting match. I reckon you've missed the hoss-racing. but you'll be in time for the shooting. Why ain't you there, Mr. Carrington?” “I'm going now, Mr. Pegloe," an swered Carrington, as he followed the judge, who, with Mahaffy and the boy, had moved off. "Better stop at Boggs !” Pegloe called after them. But the judge had already formed hts decision. Horse-racing and shoot ing-matches were suggestive of that progressive spirit, the absence of which he had so much lamented at the jail raising at Pleasantville. Mem phis was their objective point, but Boggs' became a side issue of im portance. They had gained the edge of the village when Carrington over took them. He stepped to Hannlbals side. "Here, let me carry that long rifle, ! son!” he said. Hannibal looked up | into his face, and yielded the piece i without a word. Carrington balanced I it on his big palm. "I reckon it can j shoot—these old guns are hard to ■ beat!” he observed. "She’s the closest shooting rifle 1 ever sighted,” said Hannibal prompt ly. Carrington laughed. There .sas a rusty name-plate on the stock of the old sporting rifle; this caught Carrington's eye. "What's the name here? Oh. Tup berville" The judge, a step or two in ad vance. wheeled in his tracks with a startling suddenness. "What?” he faltered, and his face was ashen. She Instantly Recognized the Broad Shoulders. what furtive existence for himself, i for Solomon Mahaffy, and for the boy. j They kept to little frequented byways, ! and usually it was the early hours or the morning, or the cool of late alter- j noons, when they took the road. A certain hot afternoon brougnt ; them Into the shaded main street of a straggling village. Near the door of the principal building, a frame tavern, j a man was seated, with his feet on j the horse-rack. There was no other sign of human occupancy. "How do you do. sir?" said the I judge, halting before this solitary in- ! dividual whom he conjectured to be j the landlord “What's the name ot j this bustling metropolis?” continued : the judge, cocking his head on one side. As he spoke, Bruce Carrington ap peared in the tavern door; pausing there, he glanced curiously at the ‘.Nothing, I was reading the name here; it is yours, sir. 1 suppose?” said Carrington. "Xo, sir—no; my name is Price— Slocum Price! Turberville—Turner ville—” he muttered thickly, staring stupidly at Carrington. ‘ It’s not a common name; you seem to have heard it before?” said the lat ter. A spasm of pain passed over the judge's face. "I—I’ve heard it. The name is on the rifle, you say?" “Here on the stock, yes." The judge took the gun and exam ined it in silence. "Where did you get this rifle, Han nibal?” he at length ashed brokenly. "I fetched it away from the Barony, sir; Mr. Crenshaw said 1 might have it.” (TO BE CONTINUED.) He Depended on His Wife -— 1 Mow tn« Nearsighted Old Man Al ■eo« S ept H.mseif to Death, Never Eating. It Meet that aa old eua with some property had married an elderly lady. The lady waa a sprightly dame, execu u»«. ately aad keen The bridegroom ceu.d cot see more than an inch be yond his hose, aad he was pretty hard of hearing, too. So be depended a good (r> oe his srt'e. you understand. He'd sue up la the morning and wonder U It was* t time to get up for breakfast So he'd slide out of bed and look into St* wire s room. If she was up. be d begin dressing; 1? she was shill m the bay. bed go back and hare another nap k rii. the lady got on to this habit of hi* She fixed up a dummy out of bedclothes on* morning Just before •he went downstairs The old man came into the room aa hour later, squint ee at the bed aad said. “Anna * •till a* erp- and meat r«ht back ta the lee user* AW be bad slept \ - r-*-—— - : aw bile be took another observation. Same business. It was ten days before be found out bow bis wife bad been fooling bim He blame near slept himself to death, meanwhile. He never had a meal and he got weaker and weaker, but he never get up. He didn't know It was morning yet. And the old lady had the time of her life; she had saved $14 36 in groceries alone. Higgins, the driver ot the pie wag on. told us this. And he swears it’s true, but we swear not at all.—Cleve land Plain Dealer. Yellow Jackets Held Steeple. A contractor and three carpenters were painfully stung when they climbed to the top of the First Bap tist church, in New Castle, Del., re cently. to make repairs to the roofs. Thousands of yellow Jackets had made their heme in the belfry, and they re sented the intrusion and drove the men to the ground. One of the men made his way to the belfry and with tar paper closed all exits by which the insects could escape. Then he placed four sulphur candles under the cupola and lighted them. After the candles had burned out enough dead insects were found to fill a peach basket to overflowing, and the carpenters then resumed work on the church roof. Seven Pounds of Toothache. A keeper, who was attracted the other day by trumpetings and loud roarings from the elephant cage in a menagerie at Woodbridge, England, found one of the elephants in an agony of toothache. He was unable to relieve it. and later heard a thud on the floor. It was found that the elephant had cast a tooth weighing, it is stated, about seven pounds. Trouble Forecast. “Mv wife says women ought to vote," said Mr. Meekton. “Well, have you any objection?" “No. But there’s going to be a ter rible row if the women oF our com munity get the vote and then try to vote fot anybody except her." The Old-Time Barber. Old-time barbers had to display more variety than their successors. A work published in 1592 describes a barber’s greeting to a customer: ’Sir. will you have your hair cut after the Italian manner, short and round and then frounst with the curling irons to make it look like a half moon in a mist, or like a Spaniard, long at the ears and curled like the two ends of an old periwig, or will you be French ified with a lovelock down to your shoulders? Tho English cut is base, and gentlemen scorn H; novelty is dainty. Speak the word, sir. my scis sors are ready to execute your wor ship’s will.” Sport of the Antipodes. A favorite sport In New Zealand, as also in Australia and Tasmania, is competition In wood chopping and sawing; and in these contests, which attract a great deal of interest, the championships are always won through the use of American tools, in fact the expert woodsman working for a prise would never think of using any other kind of tools. LOGICAL QUESTION. j* f \ «J Stage Manager—Why didn’t you go on when you got your cue, “Come j forth?” Supe—Oi was waitin’ for the ether three to go on first. Sure, an’ how ; could I come forth if I wint first? ECZEMA CAME ON SCALP L avail. I saw . the advertisement for Cuticura Soap and Ointment and sent for a sample. Imagine my delight when 1 applied the first dose to that awful Itching fire on my leg and scalp, in less than a minute the Itching on both places ceased 1 got some more Cuticura Soap and Ointment. After the second day I never had another itching spell, and Cuticura Soap and Ointment com pletely cured me. I was troubled with awful dandruff all over my scalp. The Cuticura Soap has cured that trouble.” (Signed) L. R. Fink, Jan. 22. 1912. Cuticura Soap and Ointment sold throughout the world. Sample of each free, with 32-p. Skin Book. Address post-card “Cuticura, Dept. U Boston.” To Protect the Flowers. Edelweiss and other characteristic Swiss flowers are said to be in dan ger of total extinction because of the craze of tourists for collecting them. Women tourists especially are always anxious to take away souvenirs in the way of a plant, and do not simply pull the flowers, but dig up the plant. It is proposed to introduce a law that will prevent the buying, selling or dig ging of edelweiss, fire lily, Siberian spring crocus, Alpine columbine, the Daphne. Alpine violet or other na tional flowers. Unless a woman is a first-class artist she seldom has a good complexion. TEXT WAS NEW TO HEARERS German’s Struggle With the English Language Praiseworthy, but Some what Mirth Provoking. Prince Henry of Reuss, who speaks superb English, laughed good-natured ly at a dinner in New York, over the account of certain officers of the Ger man fleet “One of our chaplains,” said the prince, "had the hardihood to preach in English at one of your Lutheran chapels the other day. He astonished his congregation by saying, as he rose, that he would choose for his text the words: “ ‘And he tore his shirt.’ ”A quite audible snicker went round. The chaplain noticed it, flushed, and repeated the text in a louder, slower, more distinct and impressive voice: “ 'And he tore his shirt." The chaplain noticed it. flushed, and the pastor rose and said: “ ’Our good brother is quoting, of course, the familiar words: “ ‘And the door is shuL’ ” Excellent Plan. “I see.” said Mrs. De Jones, while Mrs. Van Tyle was calling “that you have a Chinese chauffeur. Do you find him satisfactory?” "He's perfectly fine,” said Mrs. Van Tyle. ' To begin with, his yellow com plexion is such that at the end of a long, dusty ride he doesn't show any spots, and then when I am out in my limousine 1 have his pigtail stuck through a little hole in the plate glass window and 1 use it as a sort of bell rope to tell him where to stop.”— Harper's Weekly. Why They Went. As the Sunday school teacher en tered her classroom, she saw leaving in great haste a little girl and her . still smaller brother. "Why. Mary, you aren't going away?" she exclaimed In surprise. "Pieathe, Mith Anne, we've got to go," was the distressed reply: "Jimmy th- thwallowed hith collection."—Lip piccotts. Her Error. Mrs. Stranger—Can you tell me who that stout man is over there? He is the worst softsoaper I ever met. Dowager—Yes. He is my husband. —Judge. The Paxton Toilet Co. of Boston. Mass., wiil send a large trial box of Paxtiue Antiseptic, a delightful cleans ing and germicidal toilet preparation, to any woman, free, upon request. Height of Selfishness. Some men are so selfish that if they were living in a haunted house they ! wouldn’t be willing to give up the : ghost.—Florida Times Union. Stop the Pain. The hurt of a burn or a cut stops when Cole's Carbollsalve Is applied. It heals quickly and prevents scars. Sc and 50c by druegists. For free sample write to 3. AY. Cole & Co.. Rlack River Falls. AVIs. An Epigram. Job was a patient man. but he : neA-er found the cat asleep on the a piano just after he had varnished it No thoughtful person uses liquid blue. It’s a pinch of blue in a large bottle of water. Ask for Red Cross Ball Blue, t he blue that's all blue. Only a married man can fully ap preciate heaven if there are no wash days or house cleaning seasons there. ^M——^ SAVED FROM AN OPERATION How Mrs. Reed of Peoria, 111., Escaped The Sur geon’s Knife. Peoria, 111. — "I wish to let every one know what Lydia E. Pinkham ’ s V ege tab i e g - *.;;a Compound has done lorme. rortwoyeara I suffered. The doc tor said I had a tumor and the only remedy was the surgeon’s knife. My mother bought me Lydia E. Pinkham’s Vegeta ble Compound, and today I am a well and healthy woman. For wt\isrv-—-3 months I suffered from inflammation, and your Sanative Wash relieved me. I am glad to tell anyone what your medicines have done for me. You can use my testimonial in any way you wish, and I will be glad to answer letters. Mrs. Christina Reed, 105 Mound St., Peoria, 111. Mrs. Lynch Also Avoided Operation. Jessup, Pa. —“After the birth of my fourth child, I had severe organic inflam mation. I would have such terrible pain9 that it did not seem as though I could stand it. This kept up for three long months, until two doctors decided that an operation was needed. “Then one of my friends recommended Lydia E. Pinkham's Vegetable Com pound and after taking it for two montha I was a well woman.”—Mrs. JOSEPH A Lynch, Jessup, Pa. Women who suffer from female ilia should try Lydia E. Pinkham’s Vegeta ble Compound, one of the most success ful remedies the world has ever known, before submitting to a surgical opera tion. Don’t Persecute Your Bowels Cut out cathartics and purgatives. They an brutal, harsh, unnecessary. Try^f^^ CARTER’S LITTLE LiVtK rlLLa Purely vegetable. Act gently on the liver. A eliminate bile, and^fl soothe the del cate^HB membrane of hejfBQ bowel. Cur Constipation. Biliousness. Sick Head* ache and Indigestion, as auluoua know. SMALL PILL, SMALL DOSE, SMALL PRICE. Genuine must bear Signature I ,l»====\ Headers g-sa- J ; advertised in its columns should insist upon having what they ask for, refusingallsubstitutesonmitation& j| A:len'.l lcerinrSalTFcureftt'tironiel lrera,Bona Ulcers.SorofulousUlcers.Varleoee Ulcer*,In» dolent Ulcers. Mercurial Ulcers, WhlteSwell i In*.Milk Leg, Fever Sores. atloMieree. By MiiMt, frw. J. P. AJL1.BJS. Dept. A8,8U Paul, Mina, Save the Babies; IFFAFT MORTALITY is something frightful. We can hardly realize that of all the children born in civilized countries, twenty two per cent, or nearly one-quarter, die before they reach one yearj thirtyseven per cent, or more! than one-third, before they are five, and one-half before they are fifteen! We do not hesitate to say that a timely use of Castoria would save a ma-; jority of these precious lives. Feither do we hesitate to say that many of these infantile deaths are occasioned by the use of narcotic preparations. Drops, tinctures and soothing syrups sold fbr children’s complaints contain more or less opium, or morphine. They are, in considerable quantities, deadly poisons.^ In any quantity they stupefy, retard circulation and lead to congestions, sickness, death,* Castoria' operates exactly the reverse, hut yon must see that it bears the signature of Cnas. H. Fletcher, Castona causes the blood to circulate properly, opens the! pores of the skin and allays fever. ' Letters from Prominent Physicians: addressed to Chas. H. Fletcher. Dr. A. F. Peeler, of St. Louis, Mo., says: “I have prescribed your Castoris inmany cases and have always found It an efficient and speedy remedy.** Dr. Frederick D. Rogers, of Chicago, I1L, says : I have found Fletcher's | Castoria very useful in the treatment of children's complaints. J Dr. William C. Bloomer, of Cleveland, Ohio, says: In my practice I am glad to recommend your Castoria, knowing it is perfectly harmless and always satisfactory. Dr. E. Down, of Philadelphia, Pa, says: "I have prescribed your Cas toria in my practice for many years with great satisfaction to myself and benefit to my patients.** ( ■ Dr. Edward Parrish, of Brooklyn, N. Y, says: “I have used your Cas toria in my own household with good results, and have advised several patients to use It for Its mild laxative effect and freedom from harm.” | Dr. J. B. Elliott, of New York City, says: “Having during the past six years ^prescribed your Castoria for infantile stomach disorders, I most heartily commend Its use. The formula contains nothing deleterious to the most delicate of children.** Dr. C. G. Sprague, cf Omaha, Neb, says: "Your Castoria Is an ideal meaicine for children, and I frequently prescribe it. While I do not advo c,t.e the indiscriminate nse of proprietary medicines, yet Castoria is ea exception for conditions which arise ia the care of childrea.” Dr. J. A. Parker, of Kansas City, Mo, says: “Your Castoria holds the esteem of the medical profession ia a manner held by no other propria tary preparation. It is a sure and reliable medicine for infanta and chil dren. In fact, it is the universal household remedy for infantile ailments.” Dr. H. F. Merrill, of Augusta, Me, says: “Castoria Is one of the very finest and most remarkable remedies for Infants and children. In my op-nlon your Castoria has saved thousands from an early grave. I <*«-> furnish hundreds of testimonials from this locality as to its efficiency and merits.** GENUINE CASTORIA ALWAYS Hie Kind You Have Always Bought In Use For Over 30 Years.