Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1915-04-15

acknowledged her defeat, which she
already saw mirrored in his eyes.
Taking it for an answer. he said
gently enough:
That we may understand each 9th
er at once, I will mention the person
who has been made the subject Of
these attacks. He"
Don't speak the name," she prayed,
leaning forward and laying her gIoved
hand upon his sleeve. 1T is not neces-
sary. The whole thing is an out
rage"
His admiration was quite evident
It did not prevent him, however, from
saying quite abruptly:
Men who indulge themselves in
writing anonymous accusations sell
dom limit themselves to one effusion.
l will stake my word that the judge
has found more than one on his lawn"
She could not have responded if she
would; her mouth was dry, her tongue
half paralyzed. What was coming?
The CLINT in the lawyers eye fore
warned her that something scarcely in
consOnance with her hopes and wishes
might be expected.
THE judge has seen and read these
barefaced insinuations against his son
and has not turned this whole town
topsy-turvy! A lion does not stop to
mediate; he springs. And Archibald
Ostrander has the nature of a lion.
Mrs. ScOville, this is a very serious
matter. l do not wonder that you are
| a trifie overwhelmed by the results
Of your ill-considered investigations"
Does the town know? Has the
thing become a scandal byword?
Miss Weeks gave no proof of ever hav-
ing heard one word of this dreadful
business
THAT is good news. You relieve
me. Perhaps it is not a general topic
as yet" Then shortly and with law
yerlike directness:
Look over these. DO they look at
all familiar"
She glanced down at the crumpled
sheets and half-sheets he had spread
out before her. They were similar in
appeal dlSS W LllC JIG SlS Ddd pIChSu
up on the judges grounds, but the
language was more forcible, as wit
ness these:
When man is trusted to defend an
other on trial for his life. he's supposed
to know his business. How came John
Scoville to hang. without a thought be-
ing given to the man who hated A. Ether
idge like poison? I could name a certain
chap VINO more than once in the old days
boosted that he'd like to kill the fellow.
And it wasn't Scoville or any one of his
low-down stamp either.
a high and mighty name shouldn't
shield man who sent a. poor, unfriended
wretch to his death in order to save his
own bacon.
"Horrible!" murmured Deborah,
drawing back in terror OF her own
emotion. Its the work of some i'm
placabIe enemy taking advantage of
the situation l have created. Mr..
Black, this man must be found and
made to see that no one will believe,
not even ScoviIle's widow"
There! you needn't go any fur
Their with that" admonished the law
yer. Have you any idea who this per-
son is?"
Not the least in the world"
81 ask because Of this" he explained,
picking out another letter and smiI-
ingly holding it out toward her. She
read it with flushed cheeks.
Listen to the lady. You can't listen to
mir What oh T7+S cGo
get. There's a witness you never saw or
| heard of.
A witness they had never heard of!
What witness? Scarcely could she lift
up her eyes from the paper Yet
there was possibility, of course, that
this statement was a lie.
Stuff, isn't it?" muttered the law
yer. Never mind, we'll soon have
hold of the writer" His face had
taken on a much more serious aspect,
and she could no longer complain of
! his indifference or even of his sar-
/ casm.
You will give me another opportu-
nifty Of talking with you on this mat
/ ter" pursued he. If you do not come
here you may expect to see me at
/ Judge Ostrander's. I do not quite
like the position into which you have
been thrown by these absurd insinua-
/ tions. 1t may even lead to your losing
| the home which has been so fortu-
| nately opened for you. If this oc-
ours you may count on my friendship,
Mrs. ScoviIe. I may have failed you
once, but will not fail you twice"
| Surprised, almost touched, she held
/ out her hand, with a cordial Thank
! you," in which emotion struggled with
her desire to preserve an appearance
of complete confidence liz Judge Os-
| trander, and incidentally in his son.
! Then she turned to go.
The lawyer appeared to acquiesce in
! the movement of departure. But
| when he saw her about to vanish
/ through the door some impulse of
| compunction, as real as it was surpris-
/ ing, led him to call her back and seat
! her once more IN the chair she had so
| lately left.
q cannot let you CO." said he, "un-
| til you understand that these insinua-
| tons from a self-called witness would
| not be worth our attention if there
| we're not a few facts to give color to
| his wild claims. Oliver Ostrander
, hoor, -