The Washington times., 1912-05-31

"A EITHER spoke, and the man
nj worked swiftly. now and then
v emitting a grunt at tough FOOT
Of vine which blocked his pro-
Eress. When he had worked for some
hnoments breaking away the under
growth, he took his spade. and the lis
teners penind the brush could hear its
sharp strokes as it broke through mold
and roots.
Sometires they almost feared that the
loud beating of their hearts or their
deep hurried breathing might betray
them. With one, hand in the dog
COLLAR AMI the other over mis- muzzle.
Annabel knelt on the ground. peering
through the bushes. while Mrs. CHS.
leigh, a STEP behind her. kept her hand
! The work whatever its character. did
not take long. The horror that the two
hidden onlook anticipated. of seeing
lark, inanimste 6nna,s tse draggea gagatior ior-
was not realized. After a few moments
work Jennings Strengthened himself up
land. spoke word to his wife. Then.
the lantern. he walked about In stoop-
ing position. almost In a circle. evil
ldentl" scrutinizinI something upon the
ground against the high bank or the
creek.
Presently he raised himself. took his
garden shears AMI shipped a few twisss
he took from the wheelbarrow behind
him raked aside the broken twigs and
dead leaves and branches litterinC the
ground leaving 1t clean and clear.
With woru to his wit, lie replaced
the TOOLS took up the barrow, and, pre-
ceded BY the woman with the lantern,
started back toward the house. When
the glimmerng circle OF light ana the
sound of footsteps had passed from
their sight and hearing. Mrs. Chisletgh
and Annabel came out of their retreat.
Hurrying. to the spot 80 recently left
by the Jenningses; they turned the eiec;
about. For some time neither spoke.
Finally Mrs. Chisleigh said with a tons
of inexpressble relief in her voice:
There is no grave here"
mo" said Annabel, who had been
fprodding and poking the ground and
Casting the strong light Of the torch
upon It. mo; the place he has dug UP
No-nobody could be buried in that. But
what do, you suppose he was doing
Mrs. Chisleigh shook her head.
''I am sure ] cannot imagine. 1t looks
IAs II he were merely doing little gar
dening and cleaning up"
Eyes, but why here? And why at this
time Of night But there is nothipa nnth
ing The bank Is just the same. the
She was cut short by laugh. as Mrs
Chisleigh rose from the edge OF the
1--WE are a couple of suspicious min
nies, dear" she said, rather shame
facedly. Look here, the Jenningse'
have been doing nothing more crimina
here tonight than fixing a place to keeI
their butter and milk cool. See, herr
IS a sort of little square cupboard Sc
in the bank, and there is a butter-jar
and see, Annabel, down there by thu
edge Of the water is an empty milk bot
tie. Aren't we pair OF suspicious
idiots?
Annabel turned her eyes slowly from
one object to the other.
"Of course, she said at last in a dis
gusted tone. He was clipping away tn
brush to make the opening easier t
get at and cleaned this space In from
so Mrs. Jennings could reach the impFo
Vised spring house more easily. ! gues
there is nothing out of the way or un
usual about that, so we may as we
20 home"
She advanced more closely to the ban
as she spoke, and Sphinx. who was sci
dom far from her heels, followed hel
Suddenly his back bristled, and, sniffin
mt the bank. he began to bark savagelS
Annabel tried to silence him, but 70
once he refused to obey her voice. Teai
ing At the bank with his claws, b