The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1915-05-07

with Judge Ostrander. Mrs. Yardley-
keep house for him. myself and daugh-
ter. His man is dead and he feels
very helpless. hope that l shall be
able 10 make him comfortable"
Mrs. Yardley's face was a study. In
all her life she had never heard news
that surprised her more. In another
moment she had accepted the situa-
ton. like the very sensible woman she
was, and Mrs. Scoville had the satis-
faction OF seeing the promise OF real
friendly support In the smile with
which Mrs Yardley remarked;
It's a good thing for you and a
very good thing for the Judge. II may
shake him out OF his habit OF seclu-
sion. If il does. YOU will be the citys
benefactor Good luck TO you. madam.
And you have a daughter. you sayg'
After Mrs. Yardley's departure
Mrs. Scoville. as she now expected
herself 20 be called. sat for long
time brooding. There was one thing
more TO be accomplished. she set
about il that evening
Yelled, but in black now. she went
into town. Getting down at the cor
ner OF Colburn avenue and Perry
street. she walked a short distance on
Perry. then rang the bell of an at
tractive-looking house OF moderate d.
mensions. Being admitted, she asked
TO see Mr.. Black. and for an hour sat
| in close conversation with him. Then
she took a trolley car which carried
| her into the suburbs When she
alighted, IL was unusually late for "A
woman to be out alone; but she had
very little physical fear. and walked
on steadily enough for block or two
! till she came TO "A corner where high
! fence loomed forbddingly between her
and house so dark that II was I'M
possible to distinguish between Its
chimneys and the encompassing trees,
Was she quite alone in the seem
ingly quiet street? She could hear no
one, see no one. A lamp burned In
| front of Miss Weeks small house. but
! the road il illumined. the one running
down to the ravine. showed only dark
ened houses.
She had left the corner and was
passing the gate OF the Ostrander
homestead, when she heard, coming
from some distant point within, low
and peculiar sound which held her inn
movable for moment. then sent her
on shuddering.
II was the sound OF hammering.
Hearing this sound and locating II
where she did. she remembered, with
quick inner disturbance. that the
Judges house held secret; secret
OF such import to its owner that the
dying Bella had sought TO preserve II
at the cost OF his life
Oh. she had heard all about that!
The gossip at ClaymOre inn had been
great, and nothing had been spared
her curiosity. There was something
i'm this house which IL behooved the
-llulge to secrete from sight yet more
completely before her own and Reu
TIERS entrance, and he was at work
upon il now, hammering with his own
hand while other persons slept! Nc
wonder she edged her way along the
fence with a shrinking, yet persistent
step She was circling her future
home and that house held a mystery
As she groped her way along, she
had ample opportunity TO hear again
the intermittent sounds OF the ham
mer. and 10 note that they reached
their maximum at a point where the
ell OF the judges study approached the
| fences.
Rat-tat-tat rattat-tat She hated
the sound even while she whispered 70
herself:
1T is just some household matter
he is at work upon-rehanging pic
lures or putting up shelves. II can be
nothing else"
Yet on laying her ear 10 the fence
she felt her sinister fears return,
and, with shrinking glances into a
darkness which told her nothing. she
added in fearful murmur 10 herself:
What am ! taking Reuther intoi
! wish knew. | wish ! knew"
CTO BE CONTINUED
|