Middletown transcript., 1915-02-20
CHAPTER VI-continued.

"Ah, Judge Ostrander," she ex-
claimed in hasty but not ungraceful
greeting, you are very punctual l
was not hooking for you yet" Then,
as she noted the gloom under which
he was laboring, she continued with
real feeling, Indeed, appreciate this
sacrifice you have made to my wishes.
1t was asking great deal Of you to
come here; but saw no other way
OF making my point clear Come over
here, Peggy, and build me a little
house out Of these stones. You don't
mind the child do you, judge? She
may offer a diversion If 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, Il will ask you to
go back with me to the hour when
John ScOville left the tavern on that
fatal day. l am not now on oath, but
might as well be for any slip shall
make in the exact truth. l 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 a broad outlook up and down
the ravine-I glanced In the direction
from which had heard his call-just
wait a moment, sir; l 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 if you will lean
a little forward and look where l am
pointing, you will notice at the turn
of the stream a spot of ground more
open than the rest. Please keep your
eyes on that spot, for 1t was there
i saw at this very hour twelve years
ago the shadow of an approaching fig
ure; and it is there you will presently
see one similar, If 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, l hope the underbrush and
trees have not grown up too thick!
tried to thin them out today. Are you
watching, sir?"
He seemed to be, but she dared moi
turn to look. Both figures leaned
dntent, and in another moment she
had gripped his arm and clung there
Did you see?" she whispered
4'Dos't mind the boy; it's the shadow
] wanted you to notice. Did you OBJ
serve anything marked about it?"
She had drawn him back into the
ruins. They were standing in tina
one secluded corner under the ruin
GUS gable, and she was gazing up a
him very earnestly. Tell me, Judge,
she entreated as he made no effor
to answer.
With a hurried moistening of hi
aips, he met her look and responded
with slight emphasis:
"The boy held a stick ! shoult
say that he was whiting it,"
"Ahl" Her tone was triumphant
That was what told him to do. Dit
you see anything else?"
mo. do not understand this ex
pertinent or what you hope from it.
81 will tell you. The shadow whicl
saw at a moment very like this
twelve years ago. showed a mai
whiting a stick and wearing ca