The Washington times., 1912-06-02
House of the Purple Windows
--- By -
MARY KATHARINE MAULE
Copyright. The Frank A. Munsey Co..

mediately. leading the pony. a grave
your pony seems to pretty lame."
he ssf SAID when ! h arr 9s afraid he strained him.
lated. wringing her hands. What
shall 1 Do? must get hack to Hill
lite-of a little child depends upon u:
What am going to do?'
The young. man, who, had been ex-
aInining the pony's shoulder. looked dis
tressed. Then. suddenly his face light
ened.
Il wonder" he said quickly. IF you
%aSs roe or Sourse he is rs not PACK
horse, but
oh, never mind that" broke in An
mabel feverishly. It can ride anything.
Get HIM. get him quick, quick. oh. for
heavens sake make all the haste you
can!'
Leaving the pony stand with droop-
ing head, the young man hastened
roam by the bride.
With scarce a word between them.
the saddles were ioosened end ex-
changed, and the cinch was scarcely
tightened when with a spring, the girl
yaulted to her place and gathered up
the reins.
said the man a bit anxiously. but he's
never been used to lady rider, and
you'n have to look out for him little.
I'll bring. your pony, and come on as
fast as he is able. Perhaps"-some-
able to help some"
Annabel looked at him quickly. She
did not know what was before her;
perhaps this clear-eyed. frank-faced
Perhaps you might she said
Annabel Chisleigh."
The mans face flushed.
Yes, Miss chisleigh," he answered
stant's hesitation, my name is Bar
ber-C. A. Barber. I have been work
ing on farm over near Mason"
The girl scarcely heard the words so
| With nod and cut OF the whip, she
was off like a shot.
She found the big roam much faster
traveller than ora her oS own srI%GG pony aRd' ht
and seemed to wonder just what sort
of a thing he was carrying at this
frantic pace on his back, he was
sensible brute, and after a short time
settled down to his work and seemed
to forget all about 1t.
| AS she drew nearer to Hillcrest. An
nabePs breath came short and her
heart beat heavily. She had been abb
1
tended. What had occurred during her
! absence?
She knew that the Jenningses would
let no time elapse before trying to get
| the child. What had they done? Hel
mother and OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Of
them? In what danger had her reck'
less impulse plunged them? w
The sun was setting as she rode like
a mad thing up the long avenue trant d6e, be,
was open. Sphinx did not come to meet
her. She wondered where he could be
AS she drew nearer she saw that the
side door was open also Her anxiety
redoubled.
MOTHER she called. as she dashed
up to the door. "Oh, mother! Here
Sphinx. here SPHINX but the dog dif
rot come, and from the silent house
there was no answer.
Leaping down from the horse ant
| staying only long enough to throw th'
rein over the post. she rushed into th'
house by the side door.
Mother, OH mother" she shouted
her teeth chattering in spite of her
GRANDMOTHER, gran, where are yo'
a!l2"
In the sitting room her grandmother
white shawl lay over the back Of chai
ard her glasses were on the table. He
rlcther's work basket was overturne'
and its contents scattered over the floor
the Curtains of the window were tori
end partially pulled down. chairs wer
overturned, and her mothers sewing,
dress for Annabel herself, lay in 1
heap on the floor.
With the cold hand clutching he
throat now, as well as her heart, tn
girl ran, calling franticaliy. through
the rooms. but no voice responded t
fer. The house was empty.
Dashing through the front hall. sh
ran to the door. then stopped shor
with a choking cry. There were drop
of blood upon the floor, and on tn
! threshold lay the body OF her dol
, Sphinx, rigid and lifeless.
4 Continuation of This story VII
, BE FOund In TOmorrOw'S
l. Issue OF The TimesS -.