The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1915-01-15


woman's suspicious.
She was so amazed at this that she |
stepped back and attempted to address |
| the stranger. But before she had got !
much further than a timid and hest |
tating Madam" the woman, reused !
into action possibly by her interior |
ence, made quick gesture suggestive
of Impotence if not rebuke, and NOV
| ing resolutely towards the gate Miss
| Weeks had SO indiscreetly left un-
guarded, pushed it open and disap-
/ peared within, dragging the little child
after her.
And she's in there still?"
Il haven't seen her come out"
Then what's the matter with you?"
called a burly, high-strung woman,
stepping hastily from the group and
laying her hand upon the gate still
standing temptingly ajar Its no
time for nonsense" she announced, as
she pushed it open and stepped
promptly in, followed by the motley
group Of men and women who, if they
lacked courage to lead, certainly
showed willingness to follow.
One glance and they felt their cour-
age rewarded
Rumor, which so often deceives
proved itself correct in this case. A
second gate confronted them exactly
like the first, even to the point of
being held open by pebble placed
against the post. And second fence,
alsoi built upon the same pattern as
the one they had just passed through;
the two forming double barrier as
mysterious to contemplate in fact as
it had ever been in fancy. In gazing
at these fences and the canyonlike
walk stretching between them the
band of curious invaders forgot their
prime errand for moment
But whatever the mysteries Of the
place, a greater one awaited them be-
yond, and presently realizing this. they
burst with one accord through the sec
ond gate into the mass Of greenery
which, either from neglect or inten-
ton, masked this side of the Ostrander
homestead.
Never before had they beheld so law
less growth or house so completely
: lost amid vines and shrubbery. Two
: solemn fir trees, which were all that
! remained of an old-time and famous
group, kept guard over the INTENDED
lawn, adding their suggestion of age
and brooding melancholy to the air
of desolation infesting the whole place.
One might be approaching tomb, for
all token that appeared of human pres
ence. Even sound was lacking 1t
was like painted scene-a dream of
human extinction.
lnstinctively the women faltered and
the men drew back; then the very
silence caused sudden reaction, and
with one simultaneous rush they made
for the only entrance they saw and
burst without further ceremony into
the house.
A common hall and common fur.
nishings confronted them. More they
could not gather; for blocked as the
doorway was by their crowding fig.
ures, the little light which sifted in
over their heads was not enough to
show up details. Hating with one ac
cord in what seemed TO be the middle
of the uncarpeted floor, they waited
for some indication of clear passage
way to the great room where the judge
would undoubtedly be found in CONVEX
sation with his strange guest.
The woman of the hard voice and
self-satisfied demeanor who had start
ed them upon this adventure was still
ahead; but even she quailed when she
found herself face to face with q
heavy curtain instead If a vie ding
door
Look at this!" she whispered. push
. ing the curtain inward with a quick
g movement.
!. Sunshinel stream of it, dazzling
/. them almost to blindness and sending
n them, one and all, pellmell back upor
|. each other! However dismal the ap
@ proach, here all was in brilliant Iight
with every evidence before them o.
: busy life.
q The room was not only filled. but
j. crammed, with furniture. This wa:
4 the first thing they noticed; then. a:
I their blinking eyes became accus
n toned to the glare and to the unex
4 pected confusion of tables and chairs
i and screens and standing receptacle!
for books and pamphlets and boxes
n labeled and padlocked. they behelC
\ something else.
J. The judge was there. but in what {
i condition.
II From the end of the forty-foot room
Y his seated figure confronted them. 81
e lent, staring and unmoving. Witt
r clenched fingers gripping the arms o
his great chair and head held forward
s he looked like one frozen at the mo
e ment of doom, such the expression o
e features usually so noble, and now
r almost unrecognizable were it not fol
e the snow white of his locks and his
l. unmistakable brow.
d Frozen! Not an eyelash quivered
e nor was there any perceptible move
}, ment in his sturdy chest His eyes
[ h,,3 I,