Baxter Springs news., 1915-03-04
CHAPTER VI-contlnusd.

"Ah, Judge ostrander," she ex-
claimed in hasty but not ungraceful
greeting, you are very punctual. ]
was not looking for you yet" Then.
as she noted the gloom under which
he was laboring, she continued with
real feeling. Indeed, l appreciate this
sacrifice you have made to my wishes.
It was asking a great deal Of you to
come here; but l saw no other way
Of making my point clear. Come over
here, Peggy. and build me little
house out Of these stones. You don't
mind the child, do you, judge? She
may offer a diversion II our retreat is
invaded"
The gesture Of disavowal which he
made was courteous but insincere. He
did mind the child, but he could not
explain why; besides, he must over
come such folly.
Now" she continued as she re-
Joined him on the place where he had
taken his stand, II will ask you to
go back with me to the hour when
John Scoville left the tavern on that
fatal day. ! am not now on oath, but
might as we'll be for any slip shall
make in the exact truth. ! was max
ing pies in the kitchen, when some
one came running in to say that Reu-
ther had strayed away from the front
yard. And here found her, sir, right
in the heart OF these ruins. She was
playing with stones just as Peggy
dear is doing now. Greatly relieved.
was taking her away when / thought
heard John calling. Stepping up to
the edge close behind where you are
standing. sir-yes, there. where you
get such broad outlook up and down
the ravine-I glanced in the direction
from which l had heard his call-just
wait a moment, sir; want to know
the exact time"
Stopping, she pulled out her watch
and looked at 1t, while he, faltering
up to the verge which she had pointed
out, followed her movements with
strange intensity as she went on to
say in explanation Of her act:
"The time is important, on account
OF a certain demonstration l am anx-
ious to make. Now II you will lean
little forward and look where am
pointing, you will notice at the turn
of the stream spot Of ground more
open than the rest. Please keep your
eyes on that spot, for it was there
l saw at this very hour twelve years
ago the shadow of an approaching fig.
ure; and 1t is there you will presently
see one similar, II the boy l have
tried to interest in this experiment
does not fail me. Now, now, sir! We
should see his shadow before we see
him. Oh, ! hope the underbrush and
trees have not grown up too thick! l
tried to thin them out today. Are you
watching, sir?"
He seemed to be, but she dared not
turn TO look. Both figures leaned,
intent, and in another moment she
had gripped his arm and clung there.
Did you see?" she whispered.
Don't mind the boy; it's the shadow
l wanted you to notice. Did you OBJ
serve anything marked about 1T"
She had drawn him back into the
ruins. They were standing in that
one secluded corner under the ruin
GUS gable, and she was gazing up at
him very earnestly. "Tell me, judge"
she entreated as he made no effort
to answer.
With q hurried moistening OF his
lips, he met her look and responded,
with q slight emphasis:
The boy held q stick. I should
say that he was whiting IT,"
"Ahi" Her tone was triumphant.
THAT was what told him to do. Did
you see anything else?"
mo. ! do not understand this ex.
pertinent or what you hope from Il"
Il will tell you. The shadow which
l saw at q moment very like this.
twelve years ago, showed a man
whiting a stick and wearing q cap
with q decided peak in front My
husband wore such a cap-the only
one know Of In town. What more
did / need as proof that It was his
shadow l saw"
"And wasn't it7"
Judge Ostrander, / never thought
differently till after the trial-till
after thu earth closed over my poor
husbands remains. That was why
could say nothing in his defense
why ! did not believe him when he
declared that he had left his stick be-
hind him when he ran up the blufi
after Reuther. But later. when II was
all over, when the disgr9cR Of his
death and the necessity 6f seeking
q horne aIaawhera drove me into nali.