XI
"I WILL THINK ABOUT IT"
Judge Ostrander was a man of keen perception, quick to grasp an idea,quick to form an opinion. But his mind acted slowly to-night. DeborahScoville wondered at the blankness of his gaze and the slow way in whichhe seemed to take in this astounding fact.
At last he found voice and with it gave some evidence of his usualacumen.
"Madam, a shadow is an uncertain foundation on which to build such anedifice as you plan. How do you know that the fact you mention wascoincident with the crime? Mr. Etheridge's body was not found till afterdark. A dozen men might have come down that path with or without sticksbefore he reached the bridge and fell a victim to the assault which laidhim low."
"I thought the time was pretty clearly settled by the hour he left yourhouse. 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."
"I saw the tall figure of a man, whom I afterwards made sure was Mr.Etheridge, coming down Factory Road on his way to the bridge when Iturned about to get Reuther."
"All of which you suppressed at the trial."
"I was not questioned on this point, sir."
"Madam,"--he was standing very near to her now, hemming her as it wereinto that decaying corner--"I should have a very much higher opinion ofyour candour if you told me the whole story."
"I have, sir."
His hands rose, one to the right hand wall, the other to the left, andremained there with their palms resting heavily against the rottingplaster. She was more than ever hemmed in; but, though she felt a triflefrightened at his aspect which certainly was not usual, she faced himwithout shrinking and in very evident surprise.
"You went immediately home with the child after that glimpse you got ofMr. Etheridge?"
"Yes; I had no reason in the world to suppose that anything was going tohappen in the ravine below us. Of course, I went straight on; there werethings to be done at home, and--you don't believe me, sir."
His hands fell; an indefinable change had come over his aspect; he bowedand seemed about to utter an ironic apology. She felt puzzled andunconsciously she began to think. What was lacking in her statement?Something. Could she remember what? Something which he had expected;something which as presiding judge over John's trial he had been madeaware of and now recalled to render her story futile. It couldn't bethat one little thing--But yes, it might be. Nothing is little where agreat crime is concerned. She smiled a dubious smile, then she said:
"It seems too slight a fact to mention, and, indeed, I had forgotten ittill you pressed me, but after we had passed the gates and were well outon the highway, I found that Reuther had left her little pail behind herhere, and we came back and got it. Did you mean that, sir?"
"I meant nothing; but I felt sure you had not told all you could aboutthat fatal ten minutes. You came back. It is quite a 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. I was intent on finding the baby'spail, and having found it I hurried back home all the faster."
"And tragedy was going on or was just completed, in plain sight fromthis gap!"
"I have no doubt, sir; and if I had looked, possibly John might havebeen saved."
The silence following this was broken by a crash and a little cry.Peggy's house had tumbled down.
The small incident was a relief. Both assumed more natural postures.
"So the shadow is your great and only point," remarked the judge.
"It is sufficient for me."
"Ah, perhaps."
"But not enough for the public?"
"Hardly."
"Not enough for you, either?"
"Madam, I have already told you that, in my opinion, John Scoville was aguilty man."
"And this fact, with which I have just acquainted you, has done nothingto alter this opinion?"
"I can only repeat what I have just said."
"Oh, Reuther! Oh, Oliver!"
"Do not speak my son's name. I am in no mood for it. The boy and girlare two and can never become one. I have other views for her--she is aninnocent victim and she has my sympathy. You, too, madam, though Iconsider you as following a will-o'-the-wisp which will only lead youhopelessly astray."
"I shall not desist, Judge Ostrander."
"You are going to pursue this Jack-o'-Lanthorn?"
"I am determined to. If you deny me aid and advice, I shall seek anothercounsellor. John's name must be vindicated."
"Obstinacy, madam."
"No; conscience."
He gave her a look, turned and glanced down at the child piling stone onstone and whimpering just a little when they fell.
"Watch that baby for a while," he remarked, "and you will learn thelesson of most human endeavour. Madam, I have a proposition to make you.You cannot wish to remain at the inn, nor can you be long happyseparated from your daughter. I have lost Bela. I do not know how, norwould I be willing, to replace him by another servant. I need ahousekeeper; some one devoted to my interests and who will not ask me tochange my habits too materially. Will you accept the position, if I addas an inducement my desire to have Reuther also as an inmate of my home?This does not mean that I countenance or in any way anticipate her unionwith my son. I do not; but any other advantages she may desire, sheshall have. I will not be strict with her."
"Judge Ostrander!"
Deborah Scoville was never more taken aback in her life. The recluseopening his doors to two women! The man of mystery flinging aside thereticences of years to harbour an innocence which he refused to letweigh against the claims of a son he has seen fit to banish from hisheart and home!
"You may take time to think of it," he continued, as he watched theconfused emotions change from moment to moment the character of hermobile features. "I shall not have my affairs adjusted for such a changebefore a week. If you accept, I shall be very grateful. If you decline,I shall close up my two rear gates, and go into solitary seclusion. Ican cook a meal if I have to."
And she saw that he would do it; saw and wondered still more.
"I shall have to write to Reuther," she murmured. "How soon do you wantmy decision?"
"In four days."
"I am too disturbed to thank you, judge. Should--should we have to keepthe gates locked?"
"No. But you would have to keep out unwelcome intruders. And the rightsof my library will have to be respected. In all other regards I shouldwish, under these new circumstances, to live as other people live. Ihave been very lonely these past twelve years."
"I will think about it."
"And you may make note of these two conditions: Oliver's name is not tobe mentioned in my hearing, and you and Reuther are to be known by yourreal names."
"You would--"
"Yes, madam. No secrecy is to be maintained in future as to youridentity or my reasons for desiring you in my house. I need ahousekeeper and you please me. That you have a past to forget andReuther a disappointment to overcome, gives additional point to thearrangement."
Her answer was:
"I cannot take back what I have said about my determined purpose." Inrepeating this, she looked up at him askance.
He smiled. She remembered that smile long after the interview was overand only its memory remained.