Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1915-01-07
cHAPTEa n-conslaued.

LET me hear her description, your
1onor.H c es
The judge, who had withdrawn into
the shadow, considered for a moment,
then said: = To :
Il cannot describe her features. for
she was heavily yelled; neither can !
describe her figure except to say that
sfs4 In tall and slender. But her dress
1 remember. She wore purple; not an
old woman's purple, but a soft shade
which did not take from her youth.
The child did not seem to belong to
her, though she held her tightly by
the hand. In age it appeared to be
about six-or that was the impression
I received before" 81 Sass W "a e4i
The sergeant, who had been watch
ing the speaker very closely, leaned
forward with a hasty, inquiring glance
expressive of something like conster-
nation. Was the judge falling again
snto unconsciousness?
No; for the eyes which had gone
blank had turned his way again, and
only a disconnected expression which
fell from the judges lips showed that
his mind had been wandering.
TITS not the same but another one;
that's ALL"
Enconsequent words, but the sergeant
meant to remember them, for with
GfIeir utterance a change passed over
the judge, and his manner, which had
been constrained and hurried during
his attempted description, became at
VI more natural and therefore more
courteous.
"Do you think you can find her with
such insufficient data? A woman
dressed in purple, leading a little
child"
Judge, | not only feel sure that
can find her, but | think she is found
already. Do you remember the old
tavern on the Rushville road? / be-
lIieve they call it an inn now, or
some such fancy name"
The judge sat quiet, but the SER
Eeant, who dared not peer too closely,
noticed a sudden construction in the
fingers of the hand with which his host
fingered a paper cutter lying on the
Gable between them.
THE one where"
Il respect your hesitation, Judge.
Yes, the one run by the man you sen
fenced"
A gesture had stopped him. He
waited respectfully for the judges
next words.
They came quickly and with stern
and solemn emphasis.
For a hideous and wholly unpro-
vuKed crime. Why do you mention it
and-and his TAVERN"
Because of something l have lately
heard in its connection. You know that
the old house has been all made over
since that time and run as a place
rof resort for Automobiles in search
of light refreshments. The proprie-
tors name is Yardley. We have moth
ing against him; the place is highly
respectable. But it harbors a boarder,
a. permanent one, l believe, who has
Gccasioned no little comment. No one
has ever seen her face; unless it is
the landlords wife. She has all her
meals served in her room, and when
she goes out she wears the purple
dress and purple veil you've been talk
3fng about. Perhaps she's your visitor
of today. Hadn't I better find out?"
HAS she a child? Is she a mother?"
Il haven't heard of any child, but
Mrs. Yardley has seven"
The judges hand withdrew from the
table and for an instant the room was
so quiet that you could hear some far.
on clock ticking out the minutes. Then
Judge Ostrander rose and in a peremp.
tory tone said:
Tomorrow, After you hear from
me again. Make no move tonight.
Jet me feel that all your energies are
devoted to securing my privacy"
The sergeant, who had sprung to
his feet at the same instant as the
Judge, cast a last look about him, Gu,
yrtosity burning in his heart and a
sort Of desperate desire to get all he
could out of his present opportunity
For he felt absolutely u that he
would never be allowed to enter this
room again.
But the arrangement Of light was