The Just and The Unjust

CONTENTS


CHAPTER
I FIGHTING SHRIMPLIN
II THE PRICE OF FOLLY
III STRANGE BEDFELLOWS
IV ADVENTURE IN EARNEST
V COLONEL GEORGE HARBISON
VI PUTTING ON THE SCREWS
VII THE BEAUTY OF ELIZABETH
VIII A GAMBLER AT HOME
IX THE STAR WITNESS
X HUSBAND AND WIFE
XI THE FINGER OF SUSPICION
XII JOE TELLS HIS STORY
XIII LIGHT IN DARKNESS
XIV THE GAMBLER'S THEORY
XV LOVE THAT ENDURES
XVI AT HIS OWN DOOR
XVII AN UNWILLING GUEST
XVIII FATHER AND SON
XIX SHRIMPLIN TO THE RESCUE
XX THE CAT AND THE MOUSE
XXI THE HOUSE OF CARDS
XXII GOOD MEN AND TRUE
XXIII THE LAST APPEAL
XXIV THE LAST LONG DAY
XXV ON THE HIGH IRON BRIDGE
XXVI CUSTER'S IDOL FALLS
XXVII FAITH IS RESTORED
XXVIII THE LAST NIGHT IN JAIL
XXIX AT IDLE HOUR





CHAPTER ONE

FIGHTING SHRIMPLIN


Custer felt it his greatest privilege to sit of a Sunday morning in his
mother's clean and burnished kitchen and, while she washed the breakfast
dishes, listen to such reflections as his father might care to indulge
in.

On these occasions the senior Shrimplin, commonly called Shrimp by his
intimates, was the very picture of unconventional ease-taking as he
lolled in his chair before the kitchen stove, a cracker box half filled
with sawdust conveniently at hand.

As far back as his memory went Custer could recall vividly these Sunday
mornings, with the church bells ringing peacefully beyond the windows of
his modest home, and his father in easy undress, just emerged from his
weekly bath and pleasantly redolent of strong yellow soap, his feet
incased in blue yarn socks--white at toe and heel--and the neckband of
his fresh-starched shirt sawing away at the lobes of his freckled ears.
On these occasions Mr. Shrimplin inclined to a certain sad conservatism
as he discussed with his son those events of the week last passed which
had left their impress on his mind. But what pleased Custer best was
when his father, ceasing to be gently discursive and becoming vigorously
personal, added yet another canto to the stirring epic of William
Shrimplin.