IN THIS TOWN NOW TO FIND OUT."




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. Deborah Scoville wondered at the blankness of his gaze and
the slow way in which he seemed to take in this astounding fact.

At last he found voice and with it gave some evidence of his usual
acumen.

"Madam, a shadow is an uncertain foundation on which to build such
an edifice as you plan. How do you know that the fact you mention
was coincident with the crime? Mr. Etheridge's body was not found
till after dark. A dozen men might have come down that path with
or without sticks before he reached the bridge and fell a victim
to the assault which laid him low."

"I thought the time was pretty clearly settled by the hour he left
your house. 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."