"Judge Price begs leave to state it as his unqualified conviction
that the writer is a coward and a cur, and offers a reward of
five thousand dollars for any information that will lead to his
identification.

"Judge Price has stated that he would conduct an intelligently
directed investigation of the Norton murder mystery without
remuneration. He has the honor to assure his friends that he is
still willing to do so; however, he takes this opportunity to
warn the public that each day's delay is a matter of the utmost
gravity.

"Furthermore, judge Price avails himself on this occasion to say
that he has no wish to avoid personal conclusions with the
murderers and cutthroats who are terrorizing this community; on
the contrary, he will continue earnestly to seek such personal
conclusions."




CHAPTER XXIV

THE CABIN ACROSS THE BAYOU


Tom Ware was seated alone over his breakfast. He had left his
bed as the pale morning light crept across the great fields that
were alike his pride and his despair--what was the use of trying