The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1915-07-24
CHAPTER ll-Contlnued.

the shadow, considered for a moment,
then said.
Il cannot describe her features, for
she was heavily yelled: neither can !
describe her figure except to say that
she Is tall and slender. But her dress
remember. She wore purple; not an
old woman's purple. but soft shade
which did not take from her youth.
The child did not seem to belong to
her, though she held her tightly by
the hand. In age 1t appeared to be
about six-or that was the impression
] received before"
The sergeant, who had been watch
ing the speaker very closely. leaned
forward with a hasty. inquiring glance
expressive Of something like conster-
nation. Was the Judge falling again
into unconsciousness?
No; for the eyes which had gone
blank had turned his way again, and
only disconnected expression which
fell from the judges lips showed that
his mind had been wandering.
IT'S not the same but another one;
that's all"
Ineonsequent words, but the sergeant
meant to remember them, for with
their utterance a change passed over
the Judge, and his manner, which had
been constrained and hurried during
his attempted description. became at
once more natural and therefore more
courteous.
DO you think you can find her with
such insufficient data? A woman
dressed In purple. leading little
child?"
Judge. not only feel sure that
can find her, but think she is found
already. Do you remember the old
tavern on the Rushville road? ! be-
neve they call It an inn now. or
some such fancy name"
The Judge sat quiet. but the ser
geant, who dared not peer too closely,
noticed sudden construction in the
fingers OF the hand with which his host
fingered a paper cutter lying on the
table between them.
The one where"
Il respect your hesitation. Judge
Yes, the one run by the man you sen
fenced"
A gesture had stopped him He
waited respectfully for the Judges
next words
They came quickly and with stern
and solemn emphasis.
For a hideous and wholly unpro.
voked crime Why do you mention it
and-and his tavern?"
Because OF something have lately
heard in its connection. You know that
the old house has been all made over
since that time and run as a place
OF resort for automobilists in search
of light refreshments. The proprie-
tors name is fardley. We have moth
ing against him; the place is highly
respectable. But 1t harbors a boarder.
permanent one. believe, who has
occasioned no little comment No one
has ever seen her face; unless 1t is
the landlords wife. She has all her
meals served in her room, and when
she goes out she wears the purple
dress and purple veil you've been talk,
ing about. Perhaps she's your visitor
Of today. Hadn't l better find out?"
Has she child? Is she mother?"
Il haven't heard OF any child, but
Mrs. Yardley has seven"
The judges hand withdrew from the
table and for an instant the room was
so quiet that you could hear some far
OF clock ticking out the minutes Then
Judge Ostrander rose and In peremp-
tory tone said:
Tomorrow. After you hear from
me again. Make no move tonight.
Let me feel that all your energies are
devoted to securing my privacy"
The sergeant. who had sprung to
his feet at the same instant as the
Judge. cast last look about him. Gu
rfosity burning in his heart and
sort OF desperate desire to get all he
could out of his present opportunity
For he felt absolutely sure that he
would never be allowed to enter this
room again
But the arrangement Of light was
such as to hold in shadow all but the
central portion of the room. With a
sigh the sergeant dropped his eyes
from the walls he could barely distin
guish and, following Judge Ostrander's
lead. passed with him under the torn
folds OF the curtain and through the
narrow vestibule whose door was made
of iron, into the room where, in q
stronger blaze of light than they had
left, lay the body of the dead negro
awaiting the last rites
Would the Judge pass this body, or
turn away from 1t toward door lead
ing front? The sergeant had come
In at the rear. but he greatly desired
to 60 out front, as this would give him
-~oh odd;<tnu.1 kpowlodca ~ 10