The Washington times., 1912-06-02
CHAPTER VII.
A Crisis.

Y N the quiet sitting room at Hillcrest
Mrs. Paign and Mrs. Chisleigh were
i sitting over their sewing, when the
furious clatter of hoofs on the drive
way startled them; a moment later An
mabel dashed into the room. a dark.
inanimate bundle in her arms.
Rushing across the room, she laid 1t
in her mothers arms.
DO something for her quick" she
painted. 1T is little Lizzie. l think she
has tainted. The Jennings woman
would have killed her, I believe: If I
mother; can't stop. l must go for
the officers. I ran away with her-I
know 1t will make lot of trouble.
We will have to be backed up by
on to her; know they will be after
her, but don't give her up. Whatever
xou 40. don't let them get her into
And before either of the women could
speak she was gone. The sharp clack
OF the pony's hoofs ratified furiousiy
away down the driveway. and the two
the resusciation of the senseless child.
While she galloped madly along the
road Annabers quick mind was acting
clearly. She knew that her impulsive
action would bring matters to a climax
that Jennings and his wife would stop
at nothing to recover the child, and
that II she would save the little crea-
ture from still worse fate she must
throw the protection Of the law about
her.
She knew little or nothing about how
this was to be accomplished; but her
quick wit told her that the, first thing
Giving the custody of the child into
her mothers hands pending an investi-
cation. And this, she reasoned, should
be obtained at the county seat, eight
miles away.
Her pony was fresh, fleet and strong
OF wind and limb, and for once she did
not save him, but urged him to his top
speed.
When she reached the county court
house it was already noon. On the steps
OF the building she saw Squire Finley,
the county judge, an old friend of her
fathers summing himself in a great arm
chair.
Dashing up to the rail. she threw her
self from her saddle. dropped her bride
over the pony's head and ran up the
steps,, steps to his SIDE In as few words as
related her story. A quarter of an hour
later she was back in the saddle and
racing over the hilly road, a legal-look-
Ing document buttoned tightly inside her
jacket against her breast.
At the fork where the Mason road
ran into the Hillsdale, she rounded a
curve at breakneck speed. Her pony S
foot slipped in a little puddle OF mud
and horse and rider came to the ground
together and rolled over into the ditch.
Annabel was stunned by the fall, and
. II was several minutes before she could
collect her wits. When she did so II
: was to find herself lying on the grass by
the roadside. her hair and forehead wet
and a man kneeling by her side. With
a confused stare she sat up and looked
about her. Then in a fash it all came
back to her.
Where is my pony?" she cried. stag,
gertnE to her feet. "Oh, how silly OF
me! must go-I must not lose another
: minute-did-did Trixy get away?"
The man who had been supporting heI
head upon his knee rose quickly. anc
his face flushed as he met her eyes.
mo" he answered, ''he is all right
, caught him running down the road
and tied him back here. I hope you are
not hurt, mlss?"
Annabel put her head to her fore
head. She still felt confused and giddy
mo" she replied, II don't think
am hurt at all, only little shaken up.
Then quickly. "Will you bring ny
horse. pieaseT am on an errand O.
I life or death. I have not an instant t.
I lose"
The man, Young and brown. with
frank. open face and friendly blue eyes
hurried away. He returned almost in