Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1915-01-14
CHAPTER uI--contInued.

Meanwhile Judge ostrander was
1a1king about him for Mrs. Yardley.
Tae quiet figure Of. a squat little body
IaS1cked up a certain doorway.
"A am boxing for Mrs. Yardley," he
'eeHs11red. 49, 3
The little figure turned; he was con-
ssrR0us of two very piercing eyes being
raised TO his, and heard in shaking ac-
GENTS. which yet were not the accents
az weakness, the surprised e~jacula-
GiRxm:
-.31dge Ostrander!"
Next minute they were, together in
~ small room, with the door shut be-
stiG7 them. The energy and decision
OF This mite of a woman were surpris-
Ing
u was going-to youth the morn
Eng" she painted in her excitement.
Flo apologize, Y she respectfully fin
1skad.
Them said he, cit was your child
SstsD visited my house .tpday2'
She nodded. Her large head was
ssaoFaawhat disproportioned to her short
aaEsd stocky body. But her glance and
MANNER were not unpleasing. There
was a moment OF silence which She
Eastened to break.
Peggy is very young; it was not
her tault. She is 50 young she doesn't
hlaow where she went. She was found
taatsTing around the bridge-a dan
HEaons place for a child, but we've
been very busy all day--and she was
Sound there and taken along by-by
@hs other person. l hope that you
VIII excuse it, sir" i
WHAT he had to say came with a de,
oG6fed abruptness.
Who Is the woman, Mrs. Yardley?
Khat's what have come to learn, and
FasSt to complain Of your child"
The answer struck him very strange
Nv. though he saw nothing to lead him
to- distrust her candor.
Il don't know, Judge Ostrander. She
calls herself Averill, but that doesn't
make me sure of her. You wonder
f1inat should keep a ledger about
-S5zom l have any doubts, but there
Exe times when Mr.. Yardley uses his
N1asn judgment, and this is one of the
eA1lBes. The woman pays well and
promptly, "lshe added in a lower tone.
~fier status? Is she maid, wife or
widowT III fas 1ald uolish
~0h, she says she is a widow, and
q see every reason to believe her."
A slight grimness in her manner
tns smallest possible edge to her voice,
fzd the judge to remark:
~-@rrettys?'' '-'"
Not like a girl, sir. She's cid
enough to show fade; but l don't be-
Efawe that a man would mind that. She
EEaGs a look-a way, that even
Rtsal. You may judge, sir, If we, old
sfagers at the business, have been
willing TO take her in and keep her,
a& any price-a woman who won't
4snFyw her face except to me, and who
VnlF not leave her room without her
veil and then only for walks in places
rEfseEe no one else wants to go-she
2EgEst have some queer sort of charm
ak@ overcome all scruples. But she's
zJr1Te too far today. She shall leave
tlSe inn tomorrow. ! promise you
x1faft, sir, whatever Samuel says. But
SIT down; sit down; you look tired,
Judge. Is there anything you would
fil0e? Shall l call Samuel?"
mo. I'm not not much used to walk
Eng Besides, / have had a great loss
To-day. My man, Bella" Then with
bis former abruptness: Have you no
adea who this Mrs. Averill is, or why
sine broke into my house?"
There's but one explanation. sir.
I've been thinking about 1t ever since
4 got wind of where she took my
Peggy. The woman is not responsible.
She has some sort of mania. Why
-eise should she go into a strange gate
1usa because she saw It open?" !,
you speak OF her as a stranger.
Are you quite sure that she is a
stranger to Shelby? You have not
been SO very many years here, and.
her constant wearing OF. a veil indoors
and out is very suspicious
$50 I'm beginning to think. And