The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1915-04-23

the quick shudder with which she lift
ed her trembling hand away from
those papers and looked up, squarely
at last, into his TRANSPORTED yisage.
Mrs. Scoyi:le, love my boy. T.
what's that7'
The front doorbell was ringing.
In flash Deborah was out of the
room.
When the Judge at last came forth,
It was at Reuthcr's bidding. A gentle
man wished to see him In the parlor
With a dark glance. not directed
against her. however, the Judge babe
her run away to the kitchen and as far
from all these troubles as she could,
then. locking his door behind him. as
ne always did. he strobe towards the
front
He found Deborah standing guard
over an illconditioned fellow, whose
slouching figure slouched still more
under his eye. but gave no other &C.
acknowledgement of his presence. Pass
ing him without a second look, Judge
Ostrander found Mr.. Black awaiting
him.
There was no bad blood between
these two. whatever their past rela-
tons or present suspicious, and they
were soon shaking hands with every
appearance of mutual cordially.
The Judge was especially courteous
i am glad" said he. "of any occa.
sion which brings you again under my
roof, though from the appearance OF
your companion | Judge the present
one to be of no very agreeable charac-
ter"
Judge, I'm your friend" thus Mr..
Black began. Thinking you must wish
to know who started the riotous pro-
cedure which disgraced our town to-
day, ! have brought the ringleader
here to answer for himself-that is. II
you wish to question him"
Judge Ostrander wheeled about,
gave the man a searching look, and
falling to recognize him as any one
he had ever seen before. beckoned him
In.
i suppose" said he. when the loung-
Ing and insolent figure was fairly be-
fore their eyes, that this is not the
first time you have been asked to ex.
plain your enmity to my long-absent
son."
Nav; I've had my talk wherever
and whenever took the notion. Oliver
Ostrander hit me once was jest q
little chap then and meanin' no harm
to any one. ! kept a-pesterin' of i'm
and he hit me. He'd a better have hit
Teller who hadn't my memory. I've
never forgiven that hit, and | never
will That's why I'm hittin' him now.
It's Just my turn; that's all"
Your turn! Your turn And what
do you think has given you an oppor-
tunity to turn on him."
I'm not in the talkin' mood Just
now" the fellow drawled, frankly inso
lent, not only in his tone but in his
bearing to all present. Nor can you
make 1t worth my while, gents. I'll
not take money. I'm an honest. hard
workin' man who can earn his own
Twin, and you can't pay me to keep
still, or to go away from Shelby a day
sooner than | want to. | was goin'
away, but gave 1t up when they told
me that things were b, ginnin' to look
black against Oh Ostrander-that a
woman had come into town who was
a-stirrin' up things generally about
that old murder for which Teller had
already been 'lectrocuted. and KNOWN
somethin' myself about that murder
and Oh Ostrander, I-well, STAYED"
The quiet threat. the suggested DOS
sibility, the attack which wraps itself
in vague uncertainty, are ever the
most effective. AS his raucous voice.
dry with sinister purpose which NJ
man could shake, died out in an often.
sive drawl, Mr.. Black edged a step
nearer the judge, before he sprang and
caught the oung fellow by the coat.
collar and gave him very vigorous
shake.
See here!" he threatened. BE,
have yourself and treat the judge like
a gentleman or"
But the Judge was not ready for
this The judge had gained a new
lease of life in the last half.hour and
he felt no fear of this sullen bill-poster
for all his sly innuendoes He. there.
fore, hindered the lawyer from his
purpose, by 6 quick gesture of so much
dignity and resolve that even the lout
himself was impressed and dropped
some OF his sullen bravado
4 have something to say to this fei.
ow," he announced Perhaps he
ioes not know his folly. Perhaps he
links because ! was thrown aback
oday by those public charges against
NY son and a string of insults for
which no father could be prepared,
hat am seriously disturbed over the
into which such unthinking
men as himself have pushed Mr., oil.
'er Ostrander, | might be il there
we're truth in these charges or any Sc
ious reason for connecting my up-
light and honorable son with the low
rime OF a highwayman.. But there Is
OF ! aver 1t and so will this lady
ere whom You have douhtIsss ,.oa>. |