The Julesburg grit-advocate., 1915-09-09

stepped back and attempted 70 address
the stranger. But before she had gol
much further than q timid and hesi
tatinE Madam" the woman. reused
into action possibly by her interfer
ence. made quick gesture suggestive
Of impatience II not rehnke. and NOV
ing resolutely towards the gate Miss
Weeks had 20 indiscreetly left un
guarded. pushed 1t open and disap
peared within. dragging the little child
after her.
And she's In there still!'
II haven't seen her come out"
Then what's the matter with you p
called burly. high-strung woman,
stepping, hastily from the group and
laying her hand upon the gate still
standing temptingly ajar. It's no
time for nonsense" she announced, as
she pushed 1t open and stepped
promptly In. followed by the motley
group of men and women who. II they
lacked courage to lead. certainly
showed willingness to follow.
One glance and they felt their cour-
age rewarded.
Rumor. which 80 often deceives,
proved itself correct in this case. A
second gate confronted them exactly
like the first. even to the point Of
being held open by q pebble placed
against the post. And Q second fence,
also! built upon the same pattern 10
the one they had just passed through: /:
the two forming . doutss barrier -
mysterious to contemplate In fact a.
1t had ever been In fancy. In casing
at these fences and the canyoulike
walk stretching between then the
band Of curious invaders forgot their
prime errand for q moment.
But whatever the mysteries Of tho
place. . greater one awaited them be-
yond. and presently realizing this, they
burst with one accord through the sec
ond gate into the mass Of greenery
which. either from neglect or inten.
ton. masked this side Of the Ostrander
homestead
Never before had they beheld 20 law.
less = growth or house 10 completely
lost amid vines and shrubbeFy. Two
solemn fir trees. which were all that
remained Of IN old-time and famous
group. kept guard over the untended
lawn. adding their suggestion of age
and brooding melancholy to the air
Of desolation infestins the whole place.
One might be approaching = tomb, for
all token that appeared Of human pres
ence. Even sound vas lacking. II
was like painted scene-a dream Of
human extinction.
lnstinctively the women faltered and
the men drew back; then the very
silence caused = sudden reaction, and
with one simultaneous rush they made
for the only entrance they saw and
burst without further ceremony into
the house.
A common hall and common fur.
nishings confronted them. More they
could not gather; fcs blocked - ths
doorway was by their crowding hx.
ures. the little light which sifted in
over their heads was not enough to
show up details. Hating with one &C.
cord in what seemed to be the middle
Of the uncarpeted floor. they waited
for some indication Of clear passage
way to the great room where the Judge
would undoubtedly be found in conver-
sation with his strange guest.
The woman Of the hard voice and
self-satisfied demeanor who had start.
ed them upon this adventure was still
ahead; but even she quailed when she
found herself face to face with q
heavy curtain instead " a Welding
door.
Look at this!" she whispered. push.
ing the curtain inward with q quick
movement.
Sunshine! A stream of 1t. dazzling
| them almost to blindness and sending
them. one and all. pellmell back upon
each other! However dismal the ap
proach, here all was in brilliant light
with every evidence before them oi
busy life
The room WAS not only filled, but
crammed, with furniture. This wal
the first thing they noticed; then. Al
their blinking eyes became accus
toned to the glare and to the unex
pected confusion Of tables and chair,
and screens and standing receptacle.
for books and pamphlets and boxe,
labeled and padlocked. they behelt
something else.
The Judge was there. but in what
condition.
From the end Of the forty-foot room
his seated figure confronted them, 81
lent. staring and unmoving. Will
clenched fingers gripping the arms o
his great chair and head held forward
he looked like one frozen at the mo
| ment Of doom. such the expression o
features usually SO noble. and nov
: almost unrecognizable were it not TO
the snow white Of his locks and hi
unmistakable brow.
Frozen! Not an eyelash quivered
, nor was there any perceptible move
, ment in his sturdy chest His eye