The Washington times., 1912-06-10
CHAPTER XIV.
, An, Unexpected Meeting.

y it was from. Blushtps rosily, she
carried 1t to the window and
broke the seal. Lord Barhmore's eyes
followed her uneasily. The letter was a
short one, but her eyes shone. and the
color still fingered in her checks, as she
read. 1t was but a singleSpage, and
ran:
Dear Miss Chiseigh:
Something has occurred winch calls
me away for a time on business, l am
sorry to go without seeing you, but the
matter Is an important one ans1 can
not delay. L will see you again before
/ long. I hope. In the meantime believe
me that will be thinking of yosI and of
our mission. / learn through Ellen, with
whom 1 am leaving this note, Chat you
have visitor. Ask him if he can tell
YOU anything about the man James
YOU with some valuable information. I
have clue upon which 1 am working,
and hope to be able to bring You good
news soon.
Mrs: Chisleigh, and with humble re-
CARDS to yourself. l remain.
Yours devotedly.
: c. A. BARBER.
When she looked up from the letter II
was to find Lord Baramore's eyes fast
1T is from 8. friend who has been very
kind to US in our trouble" she ex-
planned, returning to the table and TAX
ing her place with a shy smile. He Is
mystery that is so worrying US here"
A mystery? That scarcely sounds
american, commented Lord Bara
child?"
oh! I had forgotten that you didn't
know. 1t has occupied SO large a place
In our own lives and thoughts for the
last few weeks that 1t seemed to me
mind world
full OF it,"
Then. while the trio fingered over
their breakfast. the mother and daugh-
ter together told the tale. Lord Bara-
more listened attentively.
HIM, very peculiar and mystifying."
ne exclaimed, when all the circum-
stances had been rehearsed TO him.
You say that no trace has even been
discovered of the strange woman"
None whatever"
But If she was murdered-done away
with by this queer couple-the author
tiles should take it in hand
mo murder can be proved without
the corpus deficit. Lord Baramore," in
terrupted Mrs. Chisleigh. and the body
of this woman cannot be found"
This man and woman-has no trace
been found Of them or the child?"
Not trace" replied Annabel.
But II they were English, as you
supposed, would 1t not be the most nat
ural thing for them to go back to their
native country and escape across the
water?''
1T would seem So" replied Mrs CHS
leigh, and, OF course, we have thought
Of that But a watch had been set on
all outgoing trains and steamers. and
no sign of them has been seen. OF
course, the man and woman might have
disguised themselves and so escaped
hut the police have been furnished with
very perfect description Of them, and
also OF the child, and 1t would be hard
to disguise that child so that she would
escape unnoticed
why, is she so noticeable a child? p
Yes. She is very beautiful child, ol
would be were she not so wretched, sc
starved and beaten and something In
her manner. her way of carrying her
self. would draw attention to her any
where"
When the whole story had been ex
planned to him he sat many minutes il
silence, staring into the fire.
1T Is evident" he said at last, "tha
there Is some dark mystery here.
should be sifted to the bottom. Tha
these people were countryrnen OF minc
and that dear Madam Paign suffered
such a Gala nifty at their hands. give
me a great interest in it, You are right
my dear he said. turning to Annabc,
this child must be found, and the peo
pie who have so abused her brought t
justice.
They tell me-" he went on a momen
later, that anything may oe accom-
plished with money. If that is true, W
will succeed in finding them. for hay
little use for my fortune now, and know
OF no use to which it could better b
put than in ferreting out these criminal
and restoring the child to those VIII
love her. 1t is what my own chill
would have liked one to do
oh! good, good!'' exclaimed Annabe
Il am so glad. Somehow feel that W
must win IL you will help U.s."
And now" he went on. III you hav
finished your breakfast, my dear youn
lady, what do you say to taking me
see this strange mysterious House @
the Purple Windows"
Nothing could please me better.
cried Annabel
1t was not until they were we'll upo
their way that the suggestion containe
/ in Barber's note required to the girl.
Lord Baramore," she asked sudder
IL, breaking in on his comments on tn
beauty of the scenery. did you eve
know a man in England by the nan
of James Hoskins?'
Had a thunderbolt descended on the
heads, Lord Baramore could scarcel
have shown. more astonishment. =,
"Hoskins?" he, he cried With b. a sI gres
lanes Hoskins? why do you ask N
thatT'
Because" she replied, staring at hin
her big gray eyes wide ytt6 with ast6nisl haG lis:
duced upon him. "because-I-a man
met recently told me that he. saw Il
fellow we know as Paul Jennings. an
says tnat Is not Hla HdHe' Tie say u
right name Is James Hoskins and thi
he was q groom in family he knew
England"
LORD Baramore looked at her quickl
He had recovered his self-possession.
who is this man you speak ot-yol
friend?" he asked, sharply.
"His name is Barber-Al Barber"
rs he an Englishman himself"
II don't know"
Where did he see this man who cal
himself Paul Jennings? 1 thought
had disappeared"
"He had-he has disappea red-no oil
ho"s ne .-a,' I'2 nc a. the ,,io,
watching the house-it was after tho
strange circumstances we told yC
about-and this man came sneakir
through the wood. He was going to II
house. Mr.. Barber saw him"
How long ago was this?
"BIst before YOU came"
Ibid he know this man PERSONAL!