The Washington times., 1912-06-01
CHAPTER vi lContinuedl

ieturn 10 Interest De1ore the usual
breakfast hour.
The sparkling air, the freshness OF the
morning, the Joy she always expert
enced In the association of the little
creatures of wood and tree, had 80
raised her spirits and banished dark
thoughts that she had almost forgotten
the mystery connected with the House
OF the Purple Windows, when a sudden
ehriil, wild cry split the air.
With the blood prickling in her veins.
she stopped short; then with her heart
IN her mouth turned about and ran like
a deer through the woods in the direc-
lion from which 1t proceeded.
She was back OF the old house. and
stili some distance away, when the
shrieks came again and yet again.
pain and terror, and Annabel set her
teeth and cried out angrily as she ran.
Leaping and crashing through the
prush and trees, the girl rushed on.
back door was thrown violently open,
ana the little girl, Lizzie. ran shrieking
Out, with Mrs. Jennings after her. Still
screaming, the child ran down the steps
and through the rubbish heaps of the
sunken garden.
AS she ran. half blind with terror. her
root caught in trailing vine, and she
tell Almost at the same instant the
woman was upon her. With words that
Annabel was too far away to hear, she
caught the child by the arm and jerked
her to her feet. The little one writhed
breath:
''oh, don't! Don't! Please don't beat
me any more-I won't tell won't tell
! promise you I wonn't talk to ayone-
The shrill, childish voice broke Off
IN agonized cries. as the woman, hold
ing her by one arm, began lashing her
Viciously with buggy whip.
with u cry. Annabel ran forward.
What she would do when shs got there
,S iev.I entered her mind. Her sole
thought was to rescue the child at any
cost. Bot before she had reached the
house, before. Indeed. the woman was
aware Of her presence in the wood. she
bad dragged the almost sensrless child
up the steps and shut the deer.
In the shelter of the woods the girl
stool still. Her heart was beating like
a. sslrdgehammer; ragen mn, S: A rage such she
For moment she thought she would
storm the door anil. rushing in upon
tnem. take the child by force.
vas clear, activs brain. and it told
E'r tnat this would not do. Instead,
kne STOOD silent moment, while her
nv art,be slowed down and her blood
cooled. Then she turned slowly away
She had gone but few steps when
she stopped and. turning quickly about.
faced ia, he grin old house, with It's dark
p'FIas saa can't 0lsnf Safe 'gntless eyes cried
shskinp her fist at it. you can't dis
courage me or throw me off the trail.
! mean to find out this mystery: I
t'at little child from the clutches Of
those fends IL 1t takes forever"
Then. ming about IN the path. she
Her mother ani grandmother were at
the table when she got there. Her
mother looked up quickly as she entered
Where have you been. Anrabel?" she
."Oriy out for a morning run. mother"
CHE answered, and said no more. A
plan was forming In her mind. and she
had resolved to speak of it TO no one.
l.st she should be prevented from car
ryinE IL out.
almost in silence. she rose from the
Mother" she said, II am going for
a long ride this morning. may not be
exercise for several days, and 1 need
"a Ees' Es1o" tSSisi%gIkh SaliiSgI;Ih looked up with tho
ouick-seeIng mother gaze and detected
the blue shadows under the eyes, the
tired lines about the red lips.
"A very good idea, my dear" she
said, cheerily. II wish you would ride
into the village and bring out the mail
mabel: you know he has not been out Of
the barn for a week. and may be pretty
frisky And don't be late, dearie, for
Ellen is going to spend Sunday with her
cousin. and we will be alone"
AnnabeI Laughed as she kissed her
mother on the forehead.
Don't You worry; dearle:" she said;
into 'S trouSle's en Then: runnins quickly I ki
around the table. she. put her arms
about her grandmother's neck.
.."Goodby, Gran" she said, STOPPING
kiaSinR
cheek very tenderly. ~Be good, and
take good care, of yourself while your
The old lady looked up at her. and
the soft, bright cheek.
II will darling" she said; lovingly;
Gran ever do without her baby giri?''
How little the girl guessed at the
time. as she stopped to smooth back
curl OF the. gray hair and kiss her
them.
Full OF her plans, Annabel mounted
iaee. Having finished her errands there
she started home, the mail in the pocket
OF her riding habit. a bundle of papers
and magazines under her arm.
As she rode swiftly along by a short
cut across the field she saw that the
back door Of the House of the Purple
WINDOWS was open and the little girl
E1ttlnB on the step. ActlnB upon sud-
den impulse, the girl rode her pony up
to the side Of the house, and leaving 1t
standing united, ran up the steps.
At the sound the child, who was sit
ting in huddled. miserable little bunch.
with her head upon her hands, started
up. Annabel greeted her gayly. But the
little girl simply started at her with
hollow, frightened eyes, and made no
answer. Annabel looked quickly around
There was no sound In the kitchen, the
house seemed quiet and deserted.
Where is Mrs. jennings" she asked
The child hesItated looked up and all
around her before she answered. in a
whispering voice: she has gone to the
store"
Annabel's heart bounded.
And Mr.. .Jennings?" she questioned
Again the child glanced about her with
anxious, fearful eyes.
II don't know" she whispered. HE
went away-with the buggy"
"Ah"' there was a tone of triumph in
the small exclamation. Taking the
child's hand, Annabel led her into the
house. She had bag Of fresh cakes
under her arm, and, seating herself in
the nearest chair. she drew the little
girl to her side. Smiling at her reassur-
ingly, she put a cake into her hand
Somewhat to her surprise. the child
grabbed at 1t eagerly. and began to de-
Are you hungry. dearieT" she asked,