Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1919-03-11

| lighted candle In the hand of the
schooimaster. He led US through q
door into narrow corridor. He thrust
a big key into the lock of heavy iron
grating and threw it open and babe US
step in. We entered an ill-smelling
stone-foored room with a number of
| cells against its rear wall He locked
the door behind US. / saw face and
figure in the dim candle light, behind
the grated door of one of these cells.
How lonely and detected and helpless
was the expression of that fgurei The
sheriff went to the door and un-
locked it.
Hello, Grimshaw," he said sternly.
Step out here"
1t all went to my heart-the man.
ners of the sheriff so like the cold iron
Of his keys and doors-the dim candle
light, the pale. frightened youth who
walked toward US. We shook his hand
and he said that he was glad to see
US. l saw the scar under his left ear
and reaching out upon his cheek,
which my stone had made, and knew
that he bore the mark of Cain.
He asked if he could see me alone
and the sheriff shook his head and said
sternIy:
Against the rules"
Amos, I've boy o. my own an 1
feel for ye," said the schoolmaster
I'm going to come here, now and
then, to cheer We up and bring We some
books to read. If there's any word
of advice can give ye-let me know.
Have We lawyer?"
"Tha-e's one coming tomorrow"
Don't say word about the case,
boy. to anyone but your lawyer-mind
that"
We left him and went to our home
and beds, l to spend half the night
thinking of my discovery, since which,
for some reason, 1 had no doubt of
the guilt of Amos, but spoke not of
| it to anyone and the secret worried
me.
Next morning on my way to school
/ passed scene more strange and
memorable than any in my long ex-
perience. l saw the shabby figure of
old Benjamin Grimshaw walking in
the side path. His hands were In his
pockets, his eyes bent upon the ground,
his lips moving as If he were in deep
thought. Rowing Kate, the ragged,
silent woman who, for the fortune of
Amos, had drawn a gibbet, the shadow
| of which was now upon him, walked
| slowly behind the money lender point
ing at him with her bony forefnger.
Her stern eyes watched him as the cat
watches when it's prey is near it. She
did not notice me. Silently, her feet
wrapped in rags, she walked behind
the man, always pointing at him.
! When he stopped she stopped. When
he resumed his slow progress she fol-
lowed. 1t thrilled me, partly because
had begun to believe in the weird,
mysterious power of the Silent Wom-
an. l had twenty minutes to spare
end so turned into the main street
behind and close by them. l saw him
stop and buy some crackers and an
apple and a piece of cheese. Mean
while she stood pointing at him. He
saw, but gave no heed to her. He
walked along the street in front of
the stores, she following as before.
How patiently she followed!
1 started for the big schoolhouse and
a number of boys Joined me with
pleasant words.
Sally ran past us with that low
lived Wills boy, who carried her books
for her. His father had gone into the
grocery business and Henry wore
boughten clothes. / couldn't tell Sally
how mean he was. I was angry and
decided not to speak TO her until she
spoke to me. l got along better in
school, although there was some tit
tering when l recited, probably be-
cause 1 had a broader dialect and big
ger boots than the boys in the village.