did out of the darkness, his presence had an uncanny effect upon
their simple minds. They had been laughing before; they ceased to
laugh now. Why?

Meanwhile, Judge Ostrander was looking about him for Mrs. Yardley.
The quiet figure of a squat little body blocked up a certain
doorway.

"I am looking for Mrs. Yardley," he ventured.

The little figure turned; he was conscious of two very piercing
eyes being raised to his, and heard in shaking accents, which yet
were not the accents of weakness, the surprised ejaculation:

"Judge Ostrander!"

Next minute they were together in a small room, with the door shut
behind them. The energy and decision of this mite of a woman were
surprising.

"I was going--to you--in the morning--" she panted in her
excitement. "To apologise," she respectfully finished.

"Then," said he, "it was your child who visited my house to-day?"

She nodded. Her large head was somewhat disproportioned to her
short and stocky body. But her glance and manner were not
unpleasing. There was a moment of silence which she hastened to
break.