Middletown transcript., 1915-04-24


the judge. Mr.. Black, he told me this
morning when carried In his break
fast that he should see no one and
go nowhere till brought him word
that Oliver was In the house. The
hermit life has begun again. What
shall we do? Advise me in this emer-
gency, for feel as helpless as a child
as lost child"
You say you cannot go to Detroit.
Shall l go7 Court is adjourned. l
know Of nothing more important than
Judge Ostrander's peace of mind-un-
less 1t is yours. will go If you say
So"
viii it avail? Let me think. knew
him well, and yet not we'll enough to
know where he would be most likely
to go under impulse"
There is some one who knows him
better than you do"
"Reuther? Oh. she mustn't be
told"
YES, she must. She's our one ad.
viEer. Go for her-or send me-"
1T won't b. necessary. There's her
ring at the gate. But, oh, Mr.. Black.
think again before you trouble this
fragile child Of mine with doubts am
questions which make her mother
tremble."
She has sources Of strength which
you lack. She believes absolutely in
divers integrity. 1t will carry her
through"
please let her in, Mr.. Black. will
wait here while you tell her"
| Mr.. Black hurried from the room.
When his form became visible on the
walk without, Deborah watched him
from where sho stood far back in the
room. A staff had been put in her
hand, rough to the touch, BIT firm
under pressure. and she needed such
STAFF. But she forgot gratitude and
every lesser emotion in watching
Reuther's expression. The young girl.
running into her arms, burst out with
the glad cry:
"Oliver is no longer in Detroit, but
he's wanted here, and Mr.. Black and
are going to find him. think know
where to look Get me ready, mother
dear; we are going tonight"
But" objected Deborah, 'If you
know where to look for him, why take
the child? Why go yourself? Why
not telegraph to these places?"
His answer was a look, quick. sharp
and enigmatical enough to require ex-
PLANTATION. He could not give it to her
then, but later, when Reuther had left
them, he said:
Men who fly their engagements and
secrete themselves, with or without a
pretext, are not SO easily reached. We
shall have to surprise Oliver Os.
trander. in order to place his fathers
message in his hands,"
"You may be right. But Reuther2
Can she stand the excitement-the
physical strain?"
you have the harder task Of the
two, Mrs. Scoville. Leave the little
one to me. She shall not suffer"
Deborah's response was eloquent It
was only look, but 1t made his harsh
features glow and his hard eye soften.
But his thoughts, if not his hopes,
received a check when, with every
plan made and Reuther in trembling
anticipation of the journey, he en-
countered the triumphant figure of
Flanagan coming out Of police head
quarters.
His jaunty air, his complaisant nod,
admitted of but one explanation. He
had told his story to the chief authori-
ties and been listened to. Proof that
he had something of actual moment to
tell them; something which the dis
trict attorneys office might feel bound
to take up.
A night of stars, seen through sway
ing treetops whose leaves crisping to
their fall, murmured gently of van
ished hopes and approaching death.
Below, a long, low building with a
lighted window here and there, sur
rounded by a heavy growth of trees
which are but the earnest of the H.
limitable stretch of the Adirondack
woods which painted darkness on the
encircling horizon.
Within, Reuther seated in the glow
of hospitable fire of great logs. talk
ing earnestly to Mr.. Black. As they
were placed, he could see her much
better than she could see him, his
back being to the blaze and she, in Its
direct glare.
He could. therefore. study her fea-
lures without offense, and this he did
steadily and with deep interest, all the
while she was talking. He was look
ing for signs of physical weakness or
fatigue; but he found none. The
pallor Of her features was a natural
pallor, and in their expression, new
forces were becoming apparent, which
gave him encouragement, rather than
anxiety, fo- the adventure whose most
trying events lay still before them.
This is what she was saying:
Il cannot point to any one man of
the many who have been about us
ever since we started north. But that
we have been watched and our route
followed. feel quite convinced. But,
as you saw, no one besides ourselves
left the cars at this station and am
beginning to hope that we shall re-
main unmolested till we can take the
trip to Tempest lodge. How far is it,,
Mr.. +Black?"
(To BE CONTINUED0
which looked as If they were deserted,
held families. We camped near one