Middletown transcript., 1915-01-09

would not leave for court till his re-
turn-he had never, in all the eight
years she had been sitting in that
window making buttonholes, shown
any hesitation in his methodical re-
locking Of the gate and subsequent
quick departure.
But this morning he had fingered in
the gateway peering to right and left
in a way so unlike himself that the mo-
ment he was out of sight she could not
help running down the lane to see If
her suspicious we're correct. And they
were. Not only had he left the gate
unlocked, but he had done so pur-
posely.
She had about decided that it was
only proper for her to enter and make
sure that all was right with the Judge
when she saw woman looking at her
from the road-a woman all in purple
even to the veil which hid her fea-
lures. A little child was with her, and
the two must have stepped into the
road from behind some of the bushes.
as neither of them were anywhere in
sight when she herself came running
down from the corner.
1t was enough to startle anyone, es.
pecially as the woman did not speak,
but just stood silent and watching her
through a veil the like of which was
not to be found in Shelby, and which
in itself was enough to rouse a decent
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 hesi-
tating Madam" the woman, reused
into action possibly by her interfer-
ence, made a quick gesture suggestive
of impatience 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?"
II haven't seen her come out"
Then what's the matter with your"
called a burly, high-strung woman,
stepping hastily from the group and
laying her hand upon the gate still
standing temptingly aiar. "It's no
time for nonsense" she announced, as
she pushed 1t 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 a pebble placed
I against the post. And a second fence
also! built upon the same pattern as
the one they had just passed through ;
the two forming a double barrier as
mysterious to contemplate in fact as
1t had ever been in fancy. In gazing
at these fences and the canyonllke
walk stretching between them the
band of curious invaders forgot their
prime errand for a moment.
But whatever the mysteries Of the
place, 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 a tomb, for
all token that appeared of human pres
ence. Even sound was lacking. II
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 conver.
sation with his strange guest
The woman of the hard voice and
selg-satisned demeanor wLO had start