Show H i I nr DARK I 1 U U iii By ANNA A KATHARINE KAT GREEN GREEK Author of ot The Tho Leavenworth Caso Cao It Tho The House of tho Whispering Pines II Initials Only II Masterpieces cs of Mystery otc etc Serl Serial 1 rights of thi tory controlled by the McClure Newspaper 1 Syndicate Z- Z The sergeant none too well pleased it nodded slightly Seeing which h the she up m Ie fA I I dont don't know about that I should t L J think it but proper reparation to tho thu dead ll to let lOt It bo Le known that his own story tory of ot innocence has hils received l tItle tIde late hate t confirmation i But Dut the lawyer continued to shako his t head with a n very cr sharp look at nt the sere ser 1 geant If Jf ho could have havo his wa way ho be II would have hwe this matter stop just where here hereit 1 it was Alas Alasi he be not to have O his bis bisa was way a as 38 y ho saw when at nt parting ho c essayed to toS S I a line final protest n against a public as w ll as premature reopening 0 of th this old oM t 4 i ase Sho She did not bot see her ber position as ashe L he did and nud wound up UI her pica b by say in ing The public must lend their aid aill i if vo we are arc to jet ct the evidence c wo we need to hel help us Can Gan we wc find Cud tho man who whittled that stick Never But some fome Ohio ouo else che may mar I am Im going oln to give Ri the tho thernon men mn and women omen of oC this thin town a 3 chan change chaute C Im I'm too anxious to clear wv my husbands husband's memory to shrink from an any publicity You ou s see c I t o blie that the real culprit will yd be he found Thu lawyer dropped argument When ft S woman speaks in an that tone persua persuasion ua S sion I I is worse orso than useless ss Besides she sho t had hail raised cJ her veil cil what a 3 countenance will do o XIV t l f i All Is Ia Clear Olear This is ia my Iny daughter Jall Od- Od Reuther this thit is 18 th the tho judge H Tho introduction took at the outer gates whither the judge had hat to receive them threw abide her hei- veil cH and anel looked up into the face nee bent ben benco co courteously toward ber her It had hull no look of or Oliver r. r Somehow she sho felt fell clad Phe IThe hc coull brill hardly o have restrained herself if ho he at hud met her gaze garo ao with ith Olivers Oliver's If e c oyes tyes They were r fiu fine floo eye ce notwithstanding Liere n Ing bv br nature but just now no mist misty with n ft feeling that took away all her fear Ho Ito was to like her ho saw sass on it in incer every er trembling lino line of hi his countenance ance noel and nd at nt the thou thought ht a smile ro rose o oto to her hor lips lip which if it ticking hooting lent such nn an ethereal aspect to her ber bt beauty aut that hI ho forgave c Oliver then and there thero for lor or a love lo which never ne could bo be crowned but b which bich henceforth no longer lone lonebe bo be regarded re rc- rc by him hini ns as despicable With n it courteous go turc- turc ho invited itol them iu but bot stopping to lock one cato atu before leading them through tho the other Mrs rs Seoville had time tim to observe that ine her last lat visit isit with its a accompany In Ing inroad of ot the populace the two openings s which at this point gave ac ac- ecu cesa to the walk between tho fences had bad hadt t closed up tip with rath boards so rude rud and dingy diniO that they must have bave come como from somo some old oM lumber p pile pilo Jo in attic or cellar The judge o detected her looking at k themI them I i have ha cut off mv ni nightly nat said laid he With youth youth in tho the bou house bouc e more moro cheerful habits h must pre vail Tomorrow I shall have hBo my lawn cut and if it I must walk after sundown I 1 will I-will will walk Talk there The Tho two women omen exchanged ll glances lance Perhaps their gloomy anticipations w wore were r not nol going to be bo realized But once within the hou bou house e tho the judge ibo showed bowed ed embarrassment lie was con con- t-cious t of ot it its for lor their taste aud and yet ret ho hart had not known u how to improve mutters In Jn his best beet days ho had concerned himself very erv little with household affairs affair and for tor tho the b last t few v. fc v C Years veers ho he had riot not givon hn a thon thought ht Jo to anything outside his hin orn OT rooms room 11 1 h hall il dono all and all und Dela Bela wa was pro pre i t eminently a cook cool not a general house servant How would these women wonton regard re re- re gard the tho disorder arid and thip dust lust f I 1 have fow few forts comforts to offer said he ho opening n a door at nt his right and Dud then hastily closing it again aRnin This part of the tho house is ii IS us as you ou see sea completely dismantled and anil not not very very clean But Dut you shall have ha carte carto blanche to arrange to your liking one ono of these rooms for your our sitting room and parlor There is it furniture in the tho and you JOU may ma I bu buy freely whatever else is necessary I dont don't want vant mt to discourage e Thou Reu I thor there As for your O bedrooms bedrooms- Ho He stopped hemmed a little and u hed a vivid red as be ho pointed pointel up the tho dingy flight ht of stairs toward which he lie had hind led them The They aro are above but Lut it is with shame I T admit 1 that I have bave not gone above this thi floor for mun many years yours Consequently Consequent I dont don't know ho how it looks up the there dr Or whether r vou voLt can CAD oven even find towels and things Perhaps you will go up lip first Mrs yule villo I will ivill sta stay hero while whilo you 1 0 take a n look I really couldn't have a strange o I cleaning clanin woman n here bere or nn any ono one who would mal make c remarks remark Have I T counted too much on 00 your our good nature naturel I INo It No No not at zt all nU In rn fact act you si simply sun sim n. n ply arous ail 11 the housekeeping pinS in in- within me ate I r will ihl bo down lown in n a minute I leave o you ou with the judge c. c She ran Tan Ji lightly up Tho ho next instant instant in in- stant tb thoy 1 ht heard ard her sneeze then they caught caught- tho sound o of a n window rattling up tip followed follo by a streak of light ht falling fall fall- I jug inK slantwise J the dismal stairs threw drew Ir w a t breath of ot relief rele and led wards a n door loor at nt tho end endot I of ot tho thit hall hail C This I Th l is is the way to th the tho dining linin room and kitchen he lie le explained ll 1 havo lv been accustomed to having m my m meals meals' ls served cl in my own room hut but after this I Ishall Ishall shall loin at table Here lIer I you ho lie conI continued con con- I Je leading her up to the iron door loor is His the tho entrance to my don You ma may knock here i it if you ou want me rue but there fa is faa Is' Is Isa I In a n curtain beyond bo which no onu on lifts but m 8 myself You understand my dear nut and will excuse C an m old mans man's eccentric eccentric- tie l She smiled rejoicing out only in the caressing yoke and in iii the yearning al nl almost almost al- al most fatherly manner with which ho he surveyed l herI herI her bel I HI quite understand said aid ht she hc and anal so o will vill mother it ho now observed eal with a strange c intermixture of gentleness and authority 10 there is one tiling 1 J wish to Fa say to O at the very erv shirt I mn may grow row to love 10 YOU yon yon-Goel Go l l knows that a little lit lit- tie tle Ion affection would be a n welcome change c in m my life but life but I want you von voU to know and know knot that all the ho now noon hove lovo in the tho world will Till not change chanco my mr decision an as anto asto to the impropriety ty of a it match between cn you ou and aud my son sou Oliver That settled there ia Us no rio reason why Thy 3 all not bb bo clear between us C All CAll bi is I clear It Faint a ut find and n-J n far br off ocr the words founded though she be was standing eo so near he ho could have e laid his hand on her ghoul ghoul- tier der er Then she ho gave O one ono fob sob as ns though in saying liu this bho ho heard hoard the last clod dod fall faIt upon what would never nover eC see eco resurrection n again oin in iii this life UCc and lifting her In-ad In looked him strai straight ht in ill th thin Cl with wit a dec and a sweetness I which bow ben eu d lila bin spirit an lau caused cd hie itie head hrad in turn to lt fall upon his breast C What n a father can n do 10 for a n child I t will Viii do io for or von ho murmured cd and led leti her hr ba it ik k to hor hr mother who was I now comin coming downstairs A V 1 week nel e and Deborah Seo had evolved a honit- honit out of oC mot That Thal is h limit limit- ro Jn ono one door on that upper tipper lor tr ho she had bad opened and shut nor had she entered the judges judge's o s 's rooms or oven even offered to do 80 so The Tho ban which hal had been laid upon her dau daughter sho she felt felL applied equally to herself hersell i that is for tho the present Later there thero must be bo a i change So particular particular par par- a man as ns the judge would soon dud himself too uncomfortable to en en- duro luro the lack Jack of those attentions which he had been Leen usel used to in in Bellis Belli's day lIe He had bad not 1191 even oven asked for clean sheets and sometimes she sho had found herself won wondering during dering with a strange c shrinking of her heart it if his bed was over o made or where ho had not been driven dri at times to lie He down in iu his hia clothes She Sho had sonic some reason for these doubtful doubtful doubtful doubt doubt- ful conclusions In her laer ramblings s through h tho the house she sho had come omo upon room It was as in in a loft over O tho kitchen and she sho had been much amazed at its condition In ru respects it looked as decent as sho ho could expect but in the tho matter of bed and bedclothes it pre presented an aspect somewhat start start- lin ling hug The clothes were there thero tossed in inn ina n a heap on the tho floor noor but bat there was no bed bet in iu si sight ht nor anything which could havo have served as ns such It had been drafted ed out Evidences Evidence's of this were wore everywhere prag Dragged ed out and down tho the narrow twisted staircase staircase stair stair- case which was tho the only medium of communication between the thc lower and this loft As she sho not noted cd tho the marks made by its passa passage o down the steps the tho unhappy vision islon rose before her of the judge jud immaculate in attire and unaccustomed unaccustomed unac unac- of hand tu tugging at nt this bed and aud alternately pushing antI and pulling it by main strength th down this contracted many cornered staircase a e. e A smile half pitiful half self scornful curved her lips as us sho she remembered the tho tat rat she sho had land heard beard l on 00 that dismal ni night bt when hon sho she clun listening to the tho fence nUll and wondered now not if it had not been the bumping of this cot sliding from stop ston to step But no nol aol the repeated stroke of a hammer ham ham- mer iner i is j unmistakable lie Ire had played the carpenter that night as ns well a ag as the moer mo and with no visible results Mystery 1 still re reigned in the house for or orall all tho tb charm non and she hall hail brought into it a n mystery which I int interested inter r o ested her ber anti and which she yet to solve sol notwithstanding its remoteness from the real problem of oC her existence XV I The Picture atilt and Deborah S waiting anxiously ly for R to sleep leep that she might michl brood undisturbed over O a n now new r and disturbing disturbing- i event which for the whole day had bad shaken her ber out of her ller wonted poise and civen aa as it were ere a new pha phase e to her life in thi this hou house e. e Already she hc had bad stepped several times to her dau daughters daughter's 5 room anti and looked in only to meet unquiet I eye 0 turned turn towards towar s hers bers in silent inquiry in in- in Was 09 her own Om uneasiness infectious mice mice- Was as the child determined to share 11 hey her vigil i il She Sho would wait nit a n little lit lit- tie tIc longer this time timo and see sec c Their choir rooms were rere over the parlor and nd thus as UI far removed na 8 possible o from rozi tb the tho iud Judges Judge's 5 len hen In her own which whir was front she sho felt at perfect t ease an and it was without any fe fear fer r of disturbing either him binl or Reuther leuther that she he finally rai raised raid d her window and anti allowed the tho cool Q I wind to soothe her heated lion How calm the tho aipe t of ot tho lawn and till its clustering shrubs Dimly sewn seen t n thou though h they rl through the leaves c I of the tho vines vines she aho had but hut part partial IJ clip clipped pad she felt eIt tho the clement of or peace which h comes with perfect quiet and Ind was lain fain to i forgot forget r ot for awhile tho the t terrors I it so o conceals Tho moon which bad been invisible up lip to this ino- ino mont moat emerged from n clouds na ns she Ibo quietly watched the scene an ant l in nit instant her pea peace o c was gone on and nud andall andall all nil time tho thronging of her position came camo ru rushing back Lac-It upon her hr herm herin m in full force a as nil all the details of ot th the seene so mercifully hidden just now I again upon her visIon blon Perched as she lr wa was In Jn a window winlow overlooking o the Jane lane abc ho had bad hut but to lift IUt her eves even from tb the double fence I that symbol ol of sn s to o B light lighton bt on the trees rilin rising above c that nil un- black blad with memories a she 10 felt fit tran J l' l t forgetting to to- I I ni night ht Beyond Devond how it stood stool out on the tho tho bluff it had hal never seemed to stand out more threateningly f. f tl the tho e bifurcated mass of dismal ruin from which men inca had bad turned their eyes many years now But the tho moon loved cJ it iti caressed it dallied with it lighting up its chimney and empty staring There where tho thio black streak could bo ho seen sho she ha had stood with the tho jull o in that struggle sti of wills which had left its scars sears upon them both to this very day lar There hidden hut but always seen b by those who remembered the traditions of the place moldered away awny tho the walls of that old closet closel wh where rc the t timorous tim tim- m. m orous God Goel stricken suicide had breathed out his soul She had stood in it only tho oth other r da day penned l from outsiders' outsiders view by the thc judges judge's cs c's outstretched outstretched out out- stretched arms arms' Then she ba had no for bygone horrors hor her own tragedy weighed hed too heavily upon her but tonight to night as she gazed fascinated anxious ious bus to indulge e in any ally thought ht which would relieve her from dwelling on tho the question she ehe must settle before sho she slept she ehe allowed her wonder and her revulsion revulsion sion to have havo free course Instead In In- stead of i ignoring oring sho she would wouW recall tho the stor story of the tho place as it had been told her when she first came to settle RettIe in its neighborhood Spencers Spencer's Poll Folly 1 Well WeH it had ball been that and Bud spencer Spencer's s 's den of dissipation too tool There were ivOre great reat tales but tales but it ti as was as not of or these sho she was thinking but butof butof butoi of oi the nj night ht of or storm of storm of the greatest greatest great great- reat est cst storm of which any nn rn- rn in iu Shelby when whon the wind i lf t tore ro I down branches and toppled down lown chimneys chim- chim u when cattle were smitten in the field and aud men inca on th the hi highwayS highway hway when whon tho the old oll brid bridge since buckled up |