The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1915-04-16
CHAPTER xIIl-continued.

Once within the room, he became his
courteous self once more. BE seat
ed" he begged, indicating chair in
the half gloom. AS she took 1t. the
room sprang into sudden light. He
had pulled the string which regulated
the curtains over the glazed panes In
the ceiling. Then as quickly all was
gloom again; he had let the string es
cape from his hand
Half light is better" he muttered
In vague apology.
II was weird beginning to an IN
terview whose object was as yet In.
comprehensive to her. One minute q
details were so varied that many of
them still remained unknown to her
the next, everything swept again into
shadow through which the tall form Of
the genius of the place doomed with
melancholy suggestion!
She was relieved when he spoke.
Mrs. Scoville (not Deborah now
have you any confidence In divers
word? Has there ever been anything
In his conversation as you knew 1t In
Detroit to make you hesitate to re-
ply?" the judge persisted, as she con-
tinued speeches..
No; nothing. | have every con.
fidence in his assertions. should have
yet, II 1t were not for this horror"
Forget ii for a moment. Recall his
tive son-in-law-for you meant him to
marry Reuther."
Il trusted him. would trust him in
many ways yet"
Would you trust him enough to be-
lieve that he would tell you the truth
If you asked him point-blank whether
his hands were clean of crime?"
Yes" The word came in a whis-
per; but there was no wavering in 1t.
She had felt the conviction dart like
an arrow through her mind that Oil
yer might STAY man in his hate
might even conceal his guilt for years
but that he could not lie about 1t
when brought face to face with an ac-
cuser like herself.
Then ] will let you read something
he wrote at my request these man..
years ago: An experience-the tale
OF one awful night, the horrors of
which. locked within his mind and
mine, have never been revealed to a
third person. That you should share
our secret nov is not only necessary,
but fitting. II becomes the widow of
John Scoville to know what sort of a
man she PERSISTS in regarding inno-
cent Wait for me-"
With quick step he wound his
way among the various encumbering
pieces of furniture to his bedroom.
Here he fingered so long that, without
any conscious volition of her own she
found herself on her feet, but she
had not had time to reseat herself
when she beheld him approaching with
the bundle OF loose sheets clutched in
his hand
Il want you sit here and read" said
he. laying the manuscript down on a
small table near the wall under a gas
jet which he Immediately lighted. II
am going back to my own desk. If you
want TO speak, you may; shall not
be working" And she heard his foot
steps retreating again in and out
among the furniture till he reached his
own chair and sat before his own
table.
This ended all sound in the room ex-
cepting the beating of her own heart,
which had become tumultuous.
Thank Cod the manuscript was
legible divers handwriting pos
sessed the clearness of print. She
had begun to read before she knew II,
and having begun. she never paused
till she reached the end.
was fifteen. 1t was my birthday
and had my own ideas of how want
ed to spend it. My hobby was model
ling. My father had no sympathy
with this hobby. To him 1t was a
waste of time better spent in study
or such sports as would fit me for
INDY When on the day mention