Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1915-04-01

dignity and resolve that even the lout
himself was impressed and dropped
some of his sullen bravado.
Il have something to say TO this fell
low" he announced. Perhaps he
does not know his folly. Perhaps he
thinks because / was thrown aback
today by those public charges against
son and a string of insults for
which no father could be prepared.
that | am seriously disturbed over the
position into which such unthinking
men as himself have pushed Mr.. Oil
yer 0strander. / might be If there
were truth in these charges or any Sc
rious reason for connecting my up
right and honorable son with the low
crime of a h~ighwayman. But there liz
not | ayer it and so will this lady
here whom you have doubtless recog.
nized for the one who has stirred this
matter up, You can bring no evidence
to show guilt on my sons part"-these
words he directed straight at the dis
comtited poster of bills-"because
there is no evidence to bring"
Mr.. Blacks eyes sparkled with admi-
ration. He could o have used this
method with the lad, but he recognized
the insight Of the man who could.
Brides we're a sign Of weakness, so
we're force and counter-attack; but
scorn-a calm ignoring of the power
Of any one to seriously shake Oliver
Ostrander's established position-that
might rouse wrath and bring avowal;
certainly it had shaken the man; he
looked much less aggressive and self
confident than before.
However, though impressed, he was
not yet ready to give in. Shutting
about with his feet. but not yet shrink
ing from an encounter few men of his
stamp would have cared to subject
themselves to, he answered with a re-
mark delivered with a little more civil
ity than any of his previous ones:
What you call evidence may not be
the same as l calls evidence. If you're
satisfied at thinkin' my words no
good, that's your business. l know
how | should feel if ! was OF Ostran-
der's father and knew what know"
Let him 60" spoke up a wagering
voice. 1t was Deborah's.
But the judge was deaf to the warn
ing. Deborah's voice haG but remind
ed him of Deborah's presence. Its
tone had escaped him. He was too en-
crossed in the purpose he had in mind
to notice shades of infection.
But Mr.. Black had, and quick as
thought he echoed her request:
"He is forgetting himself. Let him
go, Judge Ostrander."
But that astute magistrate, wise in
all other causes but his own, was no
more ready now than before to do
this,
In a moment he conceded. Let
me first make sure that this man I'M
derstands me. ! have said that there
This | aver; and this the lady here
will aver. You have probably already
recognized her. If not, allow me to
tell you that she is the lady whose
efforts have brought back this case
to the public mind: Mrs, Scoville, the
wife of John Scoville and the n Of
all others who has the greatest inter
est in proving her husbands limo
cence. If she says, that after the mos
careful inquiry and a conscientious
reconsideration of this case, she hat
found herself forced to come to the
conclusion that justice has already
been satisfied in this matter, you viii
believe her, won't your"
81 don't know" drawled the man
a low and cunning expression lighting
! up his ugly countenance. She wants
to marry her daughter to your son
Any live dog is better than a deaf
one; / guess her opinion don't go TO,
much"
Recoiling before a cynicism tina
pierced with unerring skill the on
joint in his m he knew to be wi
ID nerable, the judge took a minute il
which to control his, rage and then ad
dressing the half-averted figure in tn
=, window said:
= Mrs. Scoville, will you assure thi
y man that you have 40 expectations B
marrying your daughter to Oliver o.
=, trander?"
~, With a slow movement more sugge'
- tive of despair than any she had bee
~ seen to make since the hour of her il
decision had first struck, she shifte
49, in her seat and finally faced them, wit
NJ the assertion:
ID "Reuther Scoville will never MARI
Oliver Ostrander. Whatever my wishe
or or willingness in the matter, she he
" self is so determined. Not becaus
she does not believe in his integrit,
,If for she does; but because she will NJ
bo unite herself to one whose prospect
- in life are more to her than her ow
mo happiness"
an. The fellow stared, then laughed:
en- "She's a goodun," he sneered. "Ar
nd you believe that bosh?"
at. Mr.. Black could no longer contai
us himself.
Il believe you are the biggest rasc
Be- in town." he shouted. Get out, or
Ike won't answer for myself. Ladies al
not to be treated in this manner"
Tor Did he remember his own rout
ew handling of the sex on the witne
stand2
ter CTo BE CoNTINUED)