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


confident that ! had done my hus-
band great injustice"
You found? What do you mean
by that? What could you have
found?"
His peaked cap lying in corner
OF the garrett He had not worn II
that day; for when he came back to
be hustled of again by the crowd
he was without hat OF any kind. and
he never returned again to his home
you know that, Judge. had seen the
shadow OF some other man approach
ing Dark Hollow. Whose, | am in
this town now to find out"
Judge Ostrander was a man of
keen perception. quick to grasp an
idea, quick to form an opinion. But
his mind acted slowly tonight. Debo-
rah Scoyille wondered at the blank
ness OF his gaze and the slow way
In which he seemed to take In this
astounding fact.
At last he found voice and with II
gave some evidence OF his usual acu-
men.
Madam, a shadow Is an uncertain
foundation on which to build such an
edifice as you plan. A dozen men
might have come down that path with
or without sticks before Mr. Etheridge
reached the bridge and fell victim
to the assault which laid him low"
Il thought the time was pretty
clearly settled by the hour he left
your house. The sun had not set
when he turned your corner on his
way home. So several people said
who saw him. Besides"
yes; there is a BESIDES I'm sure
OF IT,"
Il saw the tall figure of a man,
whom | afterwards made sure was
MIR. Etheridge, coming down Factory
road on his way to the bridge when
turned about TO get Reuther."
All of which you suppressed at the
trial"
Il was not questioned on this point.
sir"
"Madam"-he was standing very
near to her now, hemming her as 1t
were into that decaying corner-"I
should have very much higher opin-
ion of your candor II you told me the
whole story"
Il have, sir"
| His hands rose, one to the right.
hand wall, the other to the left, and
, remained there with their palms rest
ing heavily against the rotting plas-
ter. She was more than ever hemmed
in; but. though she felt a trifle fright
ened at his aspect, which certainly
was not usual. she faced him without
shrinking and in very evident surprise.
1T seems too slight fact to men.
ton, and, indeed, had forgotten 1t till
! you pressed me, but after we had
passed the gates and we're well out
on the highway. found that Reuther
had left her little pail behind her
here, and we came back and got it.
/ Did you mean that, sir?"
| Il meant nothing; but felt sure
| you had not told all you could about
| that fatal ten minutes. You came
back. 1t is quite walk from the road.
The man whose shadow you saw must
have reached the bridge by this time.
| What did you see then or--hear?"
! Nothing. Absolutely nothing, Judge.
| was intent on finding the baby's pail
and having found 1t | hurried back
/ home all the faster"
And tragedy was going on or was
just completed, In plain sight from
this gap!"
Il have no doubt. sir; and IL had
looked. possibly John might have been
saved"
The silence following this was
broken by crash and little cry
Peggy's house had tumbled down.
The small incident was relief
Both assumed more natural pastures
$50 the shadow is your great and
/ only point" remarked the judge.
Il shall not desist. Judge ostran
der"
"You are going to pursue this jack
o'-lantern?"
Il am determined to. II you deny
me aid and advice shall seek another
counselor. Johns name must be vim
dictated"
He gave her a look, turned ant
glanced down at the child piling stone
on stone and whimpering just a little
when they fell.
Watch that baby for WHILE" h,
remarked. "ana you viii learn the les
son of most human endeavor. Madam
have proposition to make you. You
cannot wish to remain at the inn, no
can you be long happy separated
from your daughter. have lost Bella
do not know how. nor would | b,
willing. to replace him by anothe
servant. | need housekeeper; som
J one devoted to my interests and VIII
J will not ask me to change my habit
too materially. Will you accept tn
position. if l add as an inducemen
my desire to have Reuther also as al
inmate of my home? This does no
+ mean that l countenance or. in an
way anticipate her union with my SOL
: do not; but any other advantage
, she may desire she shall have. wi
not be strict with her."
Z |