The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1915-02-26
CHAPTER W--contInued.

claimed In hasty but not ungraceful
greeting. you are very punctual. I
was not looking 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.
II was asking a great deal Of you to
come here; but | 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 diversion II our retreat Is
invaded"
The gesture OF diaavowal which he
made was courteous but lnsincere. 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 viii 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-
Their 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 ms Peggy
dear IL doing now. Greatly relieved,
| was taking her away when thought
! heard John calling. Stepping up to
the edge close behind where you are
standing. slr--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
walt moment. sir; want to know
the exact time"
Stopping she pulled out her watch
and looked at It, 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:
Tho time Is important, on account
OF certain demonstration am anx.
a little forward and look where | am
pointing, you win notice at the turn
OF the stream spot OF ground more
open than the rest. Please keen your
eyes on that spot, for 1t was there
! saw az this very hour twelve years
ago the shadow Of an approaching fig.
ure; and II Is there you win presently
see one similar, II the boy have
tried 70 interest in this experiment
does not fail me. Now, now, sirl We
should see his shadow before we see
him, oh, hope the underbrush and
trees have not grown up too thlckl |
tried to thin them out today. Are you
watching, STRIP
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 chung there.
did you sect" she whispered.
Don'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 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 hurried moistenlng OF his
lips. he met her look and responded
with a slight emphasis:
THE boy held a stick. | should
say that he was whiting IT,"
"Ah!" Her tone was triumphant
THAT was what told him TO do. Die
you see anything else?"
mo. do not understand this ex
pertinent or what you hope from IL.
Il will tell you. The shadow which
saw at a moment very like this
twelve years ago, showed a MAJ
whiting a stick and wearing a cal
with a decided peak in front. Nj,
husband wore such cap-the onl,
one | know of in town, What NOR
did | need as proof that 1t was hi
shadow saw"
And wasn't it?"
Judge Ostrander, | never though
differently till after the trial-til
after the earth closed over my poo
/, husbands remains. That was why
could say nothing in his defense
why did not believe him when h
declared that he had left his stick b,
mind him when he ran up the blu
after Reuther. But later, when it wa
all over, when the disgrace of hi
death and the necessity of seekin
n home elsewhere drove me into sci