The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1915-06-04

Va 'H0 AiooC CI4tICdI, WITHOUT SUCH
aid as is given by this glass"
No one thought of using a magni-
tying glass on this" blurted out the
sergeant. "The marks made by the
knife were plain enough for all to see,
and that was all which seemed i'm
portant"
Mr.. Black said nothing; he was feel
ing a trif9 cheap-something which
did not agree with his crusty nature.
Not having seen Mrs. Scoville for
| haIt-hour without her veil her infu-
enCe over him was on the wane, and
ne began to regret that he had laid
himself open to this humiliation
She saw that it would be left for her
to wind up the interview and get out
Of the place without arousing too
much much attention. With a self
possession which astonished both men,
knowing her immense interest in this
matter, she laid down the stick, and,
with a gentle shrug Of her shoulders,
remarked in an easy tone:
We'll, it's curious! The ms and
outs Of a crime, | mean. Such a dis
coYery ten years after the event Il
think you said ten years. is very in
teresting." Then she sighed: Alas!
it's too late to benefit the one whose
life it might have saved. Mr.. Black,
shall we be going? l have spent a
most entertaining quarter Of an hour"
Mr.. Black glanced from her to the
sergeant before he joined her. Then,
with one of his sour smiles directed to-
wards the former, he said;
Il wouldn't be talking about this,
sergeant 1t will do no good, and may
subject us to ridicule"
The sergeant, none too we'll pleased,
nodded slightly Seeing which, she
spoke up:
Il don't know about that, l should
think it but proper reparation to the
dead to let it be known that his own
story Of innocence has received this
late confirmation"
But the lawyer continued to shake
his head, with very sharp look at the
sergeant. If he could have his way
he would have this matter stop just
where it was.
|
This is my daughter, Judge Os-
trander; Reuther this is the judge"
The introduction took place at the
outer gates whittier the judge had
gone to receive them.
Reuther threw aside her veil and
looked up into the face bent courte-
ously towards her. 1t had no look of
Oliver. They were fine eyes notwith-
standing, piercing by nature, but just
now misty with feeling that took
away all her fear. He was going to
like her; she saw it in every trembling
| line Of his countenance, and at the
thought smile rose to her lips.
With a courteous gesture he invited
them in, but stopping to lock one gate
before leading them through the 9th
er, Mrs. SCoville had time to observe
that since her last visit with its ac-
companying inroad of the populace,
the two openings which at this point
gave access to the walk between the
fences had been closed up with boards
so rude and dfngy that they must have
come from some old lumber pile in at
! tic or cellar.
The judge detected her looking at
them.
81 have cut off my nightly prom
enade," said he. with youth in the
house, more cheerful habits must pre-
vail. Tomorrow shall have my lawn
cut, and if I must walk after shutdown
l will walk there"
The two women exchanged glances.
Perhaps their gloomy anticipations
were not going to be realized.
But once within the house, the judge
showed embarrassment.
II have few comforts to OFFER" said
he, opening a door at his right and
then hastily closing it again. "This
part of the house is, as you see, COM
pleteIy dismantled and not-very
clean. But you shall have carte
blanche to arrange to your liking one
of these rooms for your sitting room
and parlor There is furniture in the
attic and you may buy freely what
ever else is necessary. l don't want
to discourage little Reuther. AS for
your bedrooms" He stopped,
hemmed little and flushed a vivid
red as he pointed up the dingy flight
of uncarpeted stairs towards which he
led them. "They are above; but it is
with shame l admit that l have not
gone above this floor for many years.
Consequently, I don't know how it
looks UP there or whether you can
even find towels and things, Have l
counted too much on your good ma
ture?"
mo; not at all. In fact, you simply
arouse all the housekeeping instincts
within me-"
The judge drew breath of relief
oDd }od Routhnr towa ride door at tho