The Washington times., 1912-06-03

A B HEle EYES fell upon the life
IN leesdform of her faithful friend
alh companion, a blind, un.
re; tso ming terror took possession
of the girl.N Thought and motion alike
seemed froz en- within her. SO paralyzed
seemed all hei' faculties by the blow that
she could on w stand and stare, moaning
and; crying to herself, unaware of any
presence. un tN Barber stepped up on
the porch be. ud,e her. Then she looked
mp at him du ny, white to the lips.
My-motheI -" she gasped, my
srandmother-ta Q little girl-they are
6one-the houset is empty"
Gone?" ejac sllated Barber. "Gone
where? What sas happened? 1t looks
SSH your dog ad been killed here"
With marble lace and staring eyes
the girl gazed bwn upon the body of
her favorits.
Yes" she whi spered in a CHASTITY
tone. somebody has killed him" Then
suddenly she rot sed and smote her
hands together. Perhaps my mother
my grandmother! left them here safe
and well-Oh, grea t. Heaven, what has
become OF them?'
She sank upon Il 10 step and moaned
aloud. .Hesitatingly, Barber approached
and essayed to com tort her. but at his
words she sprang t., her feet, the first
paralysis of terror gpne.
Come" she cried wildly, I'VE must
hnd them. There Is not an instant to
lose. This is the work of those Jen-
nings fends! 7 am going straight to
"Going where? To, whose house %
said young Barber ha a puzzled voice.
Then approaching the girl, he took her
lEhakihg hand and said slowly.and dis
"IIsten. Miss Chis leigh. 1t looks to
me az IL this was a Iretty serious bust
mess here. and want to help you. But
II can't help unless know a little more
calm yourself little and tell me
best to do?'
The girl looked up, and something in
the gaze OF the steady blue eyes seemed
to strengthen and quiet her. Her Sob
biEg breath ceased and she said quickly:
I'VE must lose no time. The first thing
child Is there, and what has become c.
my mother and grandmother. 1t Is pos
sibie they have gene with the child.
Come; as We cross the field I will tell
you"
It waa now almost dark, and as tha
two ran down the path and struck out
across the field :he girls limbs trembled
her. Quietly young Barber came, to he,
side and drew her arm through his.
You must let me help ycu." he said
In a determined tone that she had not
general of this expedition. 1t Is neces-
sary to its success that you preserve
your strength"
When she had recovered aylittle she
told him briefly, succinctly, hhe main
points OF the mystery. AS they ap-
| preached the House of the Purple Win
dows. however. her terror and trembling
returned.
AS they passed into the shadow of
the trees and saw dark figure rushing
toward them she lost her neTve' COM
IAkA nlN III
was answered by another, and an IN
slant later she was locked in her moth
er's arms.
Mother, mother" cried the girl when
pened? Where have you been? Where
Is grandmother? What has become of
Mrs Chisleigh, white as a ghost in
the dusk, held tightly to her chnd and
stared into her face with streaming
Grandmother? The little girlo" she
cried. IT do not know! Annabel. ah!
Annabel thank Heaven that 1 have
found you alive! They told me that
We're hurtDperhaps killedIthat I would
find you in the wood"
who told you that?" broke in An
paul Jennings He came to the house
short time after you had left and
told me that your horse had thrown
you, that you were lying out there in
were dead. He said:
"The liar!" Annabel's eyes blazed.
"But. mother. oh! mother dear. don't
wanted only to get you away from the
house! And when you had gone-ohl
mother. what has happened? The house
IS open from top to bottom. Sphinx is
the little girl are gone"
,.Gone?" Mrs. Chisleigh's voice was
scarcely more than whisper. Gomez
oh hot n n "a n
Yes Tell me-tell me all you know
quickly. oh. mother think Of what may
have occurred. Grandma-at her age
and that little helpless child"
1T know nothing, nothing" replied
Mrs. Chisleigh. with hollow groan
brought her out of her faint. Then, as
she seemed to be perfectly exhausted
and at the point of collapse. we fed
her and put her to bed.
ST had Just come downstairs wher
Jennings came. He looked so excited
and his story was so plausible-and sc
never occurred to me not to believe
''I forgot the child I forgot every.
thing bTt you, you and dnnnnS Tnshed away TO nm
after that know no more than you do
s'N'hat has he done? What has be
come Of the mother?"
We viii find her. mother" comforted
Annabed: we, must find her-and thC
poor little child. too. We will only hav'
made her fate thousand times worse
than 1t was before II she has fallen mt:
their hands. The first place to go is t
their house.
THE most natural supposition is tha
we will hnd them there. Come, let IL
lose no more time. but go at once.
Then suddenly SHE thought of the MAJ
who had Deen so anxious to help her
He stood little apart among the treci
az Is unwilling to in:rude on their con
Versation.
'Mr. Barber" she said, ''I would lik,
you to :nsct my mother Mr. Barhe
came To nv rescue when the pony wen
lame mother. and lent me his horse.
met him Oh the road near Mason"
Mrs. Chisleigh shook hards with him
and he fingered rather wistfullv as IN,
ladies started away Suddenly Annahe