The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1915-01-29

ground 10 raise tnem SLOWLY DuL Win
deep meaning. to something which
rose from the brow of the hill In stark
and curious outline not explainable In
itself, but clear enough to one who
had seen It's shape by daylight. Judge
Ostrander had thus seen 1t many times
in the past, and knew just where to
look for the one remaining chimney
and solitary gable of house struck
many years before by lightning and
left grinning shell to mock the eye
of all who walked this path or crossed
this bridge.
Black amid blackness. with just the
contrast of its straight lines to the
curve of natural objects about It, 1t
commanded the bluff, summoning up
memories Of an evil race cut short In
a moment by an outraged Providence,
and Judge Ostrander, marking it.
found himself muttering aloud as he
dragged himself slowly away: why
should Time, so destructive elsewhere.
leave one stone upon another of this
accursed ruin?"
When he had reached the middle
of the bridge he stopped short to look
back at Dark Hollow and utter in a
smothered groan. which would not be
repressed. name which by all the
rights OF the spot should have been
Algernon's. but was lot.
The utterance OF this name seemed
to startle him. for, with shuddering
look around, he hastily traversed the
rest of the bridge and took the turn
about the hill to where Factory road
brancheJ off toward the town. Here
he stopped again eud for the first time
revealed the .rle nature of his desti-
nation. For when he moved on again
1t was to take the road along the BLUM.
and not the one leading directly into
town.
This mean speedy passing by the
| lightning-struck house. He knew, OF
course, and evidently shrank from the
ordeal, for once up the hill and on the
level stretch above, he resolutely for.
bore to cast glance at its dilapidated
fence and decayed gate posts. Had
he not done this-had his eyes fol
lowed the long line of the path lead
| ing from these topping posts to the
| face OF the ruin. he would have been
4 witness to strange sight. For gleam
| ing through the demolished heart OF
| it-between the chimney on the one
/ side and the broken line of the gable
/ on the other-couId be seen the half
4 circle of the moon suddenly released
/ from the clouds which had hitherto
! enshrouded it. A weird sight, to be
seen only when all conditions favored
1t was to be seen here tonight; but
the judges eye was bent another way
and he passed on, unnoting.
The ground was high along thi:
blum; almost fifty feet above the leve
of the city upon which he had jus
turned his back. OF stony formation
and much exposed to the elements, l
had been considered an undesirable
site by builders, and not a house wal
to be seen between the broken shell o
the one he had just left, and the long
low, brilliantly illuminated structure
ahead, for which he was evidentl.
making.
The pant of dozen motors. tn
shouting Of various farewells and thel
the sudden rushing forth of long lin
of automobiles proclaimed that tn
fete of the day was about over an
that peace and order would soon pre-
vail again in Claymore inn.
Without waiting for the final one t
pass, the Judge slid around to the rea
and peered in at the kitchen door.
Three women we're at work in thi
busiest Of scenes, and the three won
ems heads came simultaneously t
J gether. There was reason for thei
} whispers. His figure. his head. hi
. face were all unusual. and at that mt
i ment highly expressive. and comm
as he did out of the darkness. hi
, presence had an uncanny effect upo
their simple minds. They had bee
/ laughing before; they ceased to laug
} now. Why?
i, GRO BE coNTrNUED)