The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1916-02-03

purpose, by quick gesture Of so much
dignity and resolve that even the lout
himself was impressed and dropped
some Of his sullen bravado
Il have something to say to this fel.
low" he announced. Perhaps he
does not know his folly. Perhaps he
thinks because was thrown aback
today by those public charges against
my son and a string Of insults for
which no father could be prepared,
that am seriously disturbed over the
position into which such unthinking
men as himself have pushed Mr.. OH
yer Ostrander ! might be If there
were truth In these charges or any se-
rious reason for connecting my up
right and honorable son with the low
crime of highwayman. But there is
not aver 1t and SO will this lady
here whom you have doubtless recog.
nized for the one who has stirred this
matter up You can bring no evidence
to show guilt on my sons part"-these
words he directed straight at the dis.
comfited poster of bills-"because
there is no evidence to bring"
Mr. Blacks eyes sparkled with adm-
ration. He could not have used this
method with the lad. but he rec. gnized
the insight of the man who could
Brides were sign of weakn. IS. so
were force and counter-attack but
scorn-a calm ignoring Of the powe,
of any one to seriously shake Oliver
Ostrander's established position--that
might rouse wrath and bring avowal:
certainly it had shaken the man; he
looked much less aggressive and self.
confident than before
However. though impressed, he was
not yet ready to give in Shutting
about with his feet, but not yet shrink
Ing from an encounter few men of his
| stamp would have cared to subject
themselves to. he answered with re-
mark delivered with a little more civil.
tty than any Of his previous ones:
What you call evidence may not b.,
the same as calls evidence IT you're
satisfied at thinkin' my words no
good, that's your business know
how ! should feel If | was Ol Ostran-
ders father and knew what ! know"
Let him co. spoke up wavering
voice 1t was Deborah's
But the Judge was deaf to the warn
! ing. Deborah's voice haC but remind
ed him Of Deborah's presence It's
| tone had escaped him. He was too en-
crossed in the purpose he had in mind
TO notice shades Of infection.
But Mr.. Black had and quick as
thought he echoed her request:
| He is forgetting himself Let him
go, Judge Ostrander."
But that astute magistrate, wise in
all other causes but his own, was no
more ready now than before to do
this
In moment" he conceded Let
me first make sure that this man un.
derstands me. | have said that there
exists no evidence against my son
This | aver; and this the lady here
will aver. You have probably already
recognized her. If not. allow me to
tell you that she is the lady whose
efforts have brought back this case
to the public mind: Mrs Scoville. the
wife of John Scoville and the one of
all others who has the greatest inter.
est In proving her husbands inno-
cence. If she says. that after the most
careful inquiry and conscientious
reconsideration of this case, she has
found herself forced to come to the
conclusion that justice has already
been satisfied in this matter. you will
believe her, won't you?"
81 don't know" drawled the man.
a low and cunning expression lighting
up his ugly countenance "She wants
I,,,,
Any live dog is better than dead
one; guess her opinion don't go for
much"
Recoiling before cynicism that
pierced with unerring skill the one
Joint in his armor he knew to be vul.
nerable, the Judge took minute in
which to control his rage and then ad.
dressing the halfaverted figure in the
window said:
Mrs Scoville. will you assure this
man that you have no expectations Of
marrying your daughter to Oliver Os.
trander?"
With slow movement more sugges.
tive of despair than any she had been
seen to make since the hour Of her In.
decision had first struck, she shifted
In her seat and finally faced them. with
the assertion:
"Reuther Scoyille will never marry
Oliver Ostrander Whatever my wishes
or willingness in the matter, she her.
self is so determined Not because
sne does not believe in his integrity
for she does; but because she will not
unite herself to one whose prospects
In life are more to her than her own
happiness"
The fellow stared, then laughed:
She'S q gOOdun," he sneered "And