The state herald., 1915-09-24

ground to raise them slowly but with
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 its shape by daylight. Judge
Ostrander had thus seen 1t many times
In the past, and knew just where 10
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 1t. II
commanded the bluff, summoning up
memories OF an evil race cut short In
q moment by an outraged Providence.
and Judge Ostrander, marking 1t,
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 stoppcu 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 not.
| The utterance OF this name seemed
to startle him. for. with n shudderine
look around. he hastily traversed the
rest of the bridge and took the turn
about the hill to where Factory road
branched of toward the town. Here
he stopped again and for the first time
revealed the true nature of his desti
II was to take the road along the bluff
and not the one leading directly into
town.
This mean a speedy passing by the
lightnlng-struck house. He knew, oi
course, and evidently shrank from the
ordeal, for once mp the hill and on the
level stretch above. he resolutely for
bore TO cast a glance at its dilapidated
fence and decayed gate posts. Hat
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 beer
witness TO strange sight For CLEAN
ing through the demolished heart o
it-between the chimney on the on'
side and the broken line OF the gabl,
1 -. ha hA hal
circle OF the moon suddenly released
from the clouds which had hithert,
enshrouded II. A weird sight. to b'
seen only when all conditions favored
II was to be seen here tonight: bu
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. 4
had been considered an undesirabl,
site by builders. and not 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 theI
the sudden rushing forth OF long lint
OF automobiles proclaimed that thu
fete OF the day was about over ant
that peace and order would soon pre-
vail again In Claymore Inn.
without waiting for the final one 4
pass. the Judge slid around to the rea
and peered In at the kitchen door.
Three women were at work In thii
busiest OF scenes. and the three won
ems heads came simultaneously To
gether. There was reason for thei
whispers His figure. his head. hii
face were all unusual. and at that mo
ment highly expressive, and comm,
as he did out OF the darkness. hi
presence had an uncanny effect upor
their simple minds. They had beer
laughing before: they censed TO laugh
now. Why7