on, and her extended hand was engulfed between his two plump
palms. He rolled his eyes heavenward. "It's the Lord's to deal with
us as His own inscrutable wisdom dictates," he murmured with pious
resignation. "We are all poorer, ma'am, that he has died--just as we
were richer while he lived!" The rich cadence of the judge's speech fell
sonorously on the silence, and that look of horror which had never quite
left Betty's eyes since they saw Charley Norton fall, rose out of their
clear depths again. The judge, instantly stricken with a sense of
the inadequacy of his words, doubled on his spiritual tracks. "In a
round-about way, ma'am, we're bound to believe in the omnipresence of
Providence--we must think it--though a body might be disposed to hold
that west Tennessee had got out of the line of divine supervision
recently. Let me lead you to a chair, ma'am!"

Hannibal had slipped to Betty's side and placed his hand in hers. The
judge regarded the pair with great benevolence of expression. "He would
come, and I hadn't the heart to forbid it. If I can be of any service
to you, ma'am, either in the capacity of a friend--or professionally--I
trust you will not hesitate to command me--" The judge backed toward the
door.

"Did you walk out, Judge Price?" asked Betty kindly.

"Nothing more than a healthful exercise--but we will not detain you,
ma'am; the pleasure of seeing you is something we had not reckoned on!"
The judge's speech was thick and unctuous with good feeling. He wished
that Mahaffy might have been there to note the reserve and dignity of
his deportment.

"But you must let me order luncheon for you," said Betty. At least this
questionable old man was good to Hannibal.

"I couldn't think of it, ma'am--"

"You'll have a glass of wine, then," urged Betty hospitably. For the
moment she had lost sight of what was clearly the judge's besetting sin.

The judge paused abruptly. He endured a moment of agonizing
irresolution.

"On the advice of my physician I dare not touch wine--gout, ma'am,
and liver--but this restriction does not apply to corn whisky--in
moderation, and as a tonic--either before meals, immediately after meals
or at any time between meals--always keeping in mind the idea of its
tonic properties--" The judge seemed to mellow and ripen. This was
much better than having the dogs sicked on you! His manner toward Betty
became almost fatherly. Poor young thing, so lonely and desolate in the
midst of al