The Washington times., 1912-06-08
House of the Purple Windows
- ~ -------
MARY KATHARINE MAULE
Copyright. The Frank A. Munsey Coz

No response came, and, though the light
burned on, the stiffness within was that
of the grave.
At last, despairing of gaining an en-
trance, he ran to his horse. threw him
self on It's back, and tore away.
Riding up to the back of the house,
he threw himself from his horse, and,
iinding no one about, went through the
house and softly entered the library.
The house was lighted, and two
ncighhors with nournful faces sal
IN tue rarlor.' Above, in the room that
had been Mrs. Paign's, he could hear
heavy footsteps.
He thought of Annabel, and a lump
rose into his throat.
He could no: disturb those two yatl
women Will, his tale Of horror. Steal
ING to the desk where he had seen
.tnnahel hang the keys Of the House
oi the Purple Windows. he took them
silently, uptcrd out of :he room. threw
himself on his horse and dashed away,
the memory of the cries still ringing in
his ears.
AS he left the driveway and turned
into the road he met old Dr. Billings
"whsse hMa,lo," wa g cried ed,, that II worthy man.
Barber told him. hastily. Tho doc
tors eyes opened.
wait" he cried, II must 90 lid to
t!illcrest for a moment; then 1 will
E,,,t Barber. o, who felt felt some hesitation
horror haunted house, waited.
TIL" doctor was gone but a few mo-
ments. When he returned he mounted
his own horse. and the two men Sc. of
at full speed toward the old house
GA thci:, arrival they saw that tn" light
was still burning. Barber drew his
while Dr. Billings unlocked the door.
II opened with dull creak, and a
dank. cold ,noldy air blew out in their
faces. Catching up candle that stood
In curionsly- wrought iron candlesttck
on the hall table, Barber lighted it:
and thev cautiously began II circuit OF
the rOornS.
Barrier, held his revolver ready. and
DR.. Billings clitched heavy riding
Cr,p In his hand.
Passing from room to room. dark
ness anil silence met them-nothins
more. No sign of any living creature
was visible. no voice responded to
their shouts. save the hollow echo of
their own.
In the room upstairs, where Barber
had first seen the light, a window
stood open. He rushed to 1t and looked
out. The window had a wide ledge. and
Below this BALCONY was a great syca-
more tree, its branches brushing the
railing.
Dr. Billings had followed him to the
window, and stood looking over his
shoulders.
That's It," he exclaimed. a tone of
relief in his bluff voice: "of course.
who ever IL was got out of this win
dow. and escaped when they heard us
coming"
''But-a woman-it was a woman's
voice I heard-and a woman could,
never get down by this tree. man
might. What has been going on here?
Who is 1t that seems to have free ac-
"Im pass, son." responded DR.. Bill
lings. with shake of his shaggy
head. when It comes to conundrufns
like that. you'll have to get some
other fellow to solve them. And. by the
same token. don't see that we are
doing much good by hanging around
that S sure. whatever there may have
been an hour ago. I'm for getting
out and going home to bed" ,r
II suppose we may as WELL" sighed
Barber, reluctantly; but hate to
give up and go away without making
sure that the woman who was scream
ing does not need our help
"I don't see how we can help her
much by standing here catching cold"
calculated the doctor. Besides, boy"
he went on, as they turned away from
the window and started to leave the
room, I'm not so derned sure that
you heard anything. You've been
thinking too much about this matter.
You might have dreamed It,"
Dreamed it?" snorted Barber indig-
nantly. How do you account for
that?'
With a hand that trembled he pointed
at the lighted candle.
A Continuation Of This Story Will
BE Found In TOmOrrow's
Issue of The Times.