Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1915-02-18
CHAPTER II-Continued.

let me hear her description, your
honor"
The judge, who had withdrawn into
the shadow, considered for a moment,
then said:
q cannot describe her features, for
she was heavily yelled; neither can
describe her figure except to say that
she is tall and slender. But her dress
I remember. She wore purple; not an
old woman's purple, but soft shade
which did not take from her youth.
The child did not seem to belong to
her, though she held her tightly by
the hand. In age it appeared to be
about six-or that was the impression
I received before"
The sergeant, who had been watch
ing the speaker very closely, leaned
forward with hasty, inQuiring glance
expressive of something like conster-
nation Was the judge falling again
into Inconsistencies?
No; for the eyes which had gone
blank had turned his way again, and
only a disconnected expression which
fell from the judges lips showed that
his mind had been wandering.
IT'S not the same but another one;
that's all"
Inconsequent words, but the sergeant
meant to remember them, for with
their utterance a change passed over
the judge, and his manner, which had
been constrained and hurried during
his attempted description, became at
once more natural and therefore more
courteous.
DO you think you can find her with
such insufficient data? A woman
dressed in purple. leading a little
child?"
Judge, I not only feel sure that I
can find her, but think she is found
already. Do you remember the old
tavern on the RushvilIe road? I be-
lieve they call it an inn now, or
some such fancy name"
The judge sat quiet, but the SER
geant, who dared not peer too closely,
noticed a sudden construction in the
fingers of the hand with which his host
fingered a paper cutter lying on the
table between them.
THE one where"
Il respect your hesitation, Judge.
Yes, the one run by the man you SEN
fenced"
A gesture had stopped him. He
waited respectfully for the judges
next words
They came quickly and with stern
and solemn emphasis.
For a hideous and wholly unpro-
voked crime. Why do you mention it
and-and his tavern?"
Because of something l have lately
heard in It's connection. You know that
the old house has been all made over
since that time and run as a place
OF resort for automobilists in search
OF light refreshments. The proprie-
tors name is Yardley. We have moth
ing against him; the place is highly
respectable. But it harbors a boarder.
a permanent one, believe, who has
Occasioned no little comment. No one
has ever seen her face; unless it is
the landlords wife. She has all her
meals served in her room, and when
she goes out she wears the purple
dress and purple veil you've been talk
ing about. Perhaps she's your visitor
OF today. Hadn't better find out?"
Has she a child? Is she a mother?"
Il haven't heard of any child, but
Mrs. Yardley has seven"
The judges hand withdrew from the
table and for an instant the room was
so quiet that you could hear some far
off clock ticking out the minutes. Then
Judge Ostrander rose and in a peremp-
tory tone said;
Tomorrow. After you hear from
me again. Make no move tonight.
Let me feel that all your energies are
devoted to securing my privacy"
The sergeant, who had sprung TO
his feet at the same instant as the
judge, cast last look about him. Gu
riosity burning in his heart and a
sort Of desperate desire to get all ne
could out of his present opportunity.
For he felt absolutely sure that he
would never be allowed to enter this
room again.
But the arrangement of light was
such as to hold in shadow all but the
central portion of the room. With a
sigh the sergeant dropped his eyes
from the walls he could barely distin.
guish and, following Judge Ostranders
lead, passed with him under the torn
folds of the curtain and through the
narrow vestibule whose door was made
of iron, into the room where, in a
stronger blaze of light than they had
left, lay the body of the dead negro
awaiting the last rites.
Would the judge pass this body. OF
turn away from it toward a door lead
ing front? The sergeant had come
in at the rear, but he greatly desired
to go out front, as this would give him
so much additional knowledge of the