The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1915-09-03

ih'i' ~ NoOu Dhrh or tho mouse,
In which she has a playhouse. n see.
saw. etc. II you wished tc see her
IL would be n simple matter. but |
am ready 10 stake my reputation
on her Sho is absolutely cut 10
our plan"
Which" said semmes. rs NO far
complete mystery TO sturteyant
and myself"
In spite 81 Professor Stllliter's
guarantee. the triumvirate. IA they
were both popularity and unpopular.
ly called. determined to have n look
NJ the little Ameabury girl for them.
selves. In car driven 40 swiftly
that the traffic cops had to look
the other way NO aK not 10 get dust
In their eyes. II did not take them
long 10 reach the hmssbufy house.
They did not. however. draw mp be-
fore the house itself. but IN tho wood
back OF g. Here logged out IN In
dian dress so that she resembled
the ornamental side Of cent. they
found the object of their search. II
was no difficult task for three such
men 10 iuil any suspicion that tho
child'H nurse may have had They
eomplimentef her uoSn the health
and good manners OF her little
charge. inquired after her mistress
and learned with every senibiance
or regret that tho latter WIS sink.
Ing hourly. They jokcd Professor
. Stiillter little on the fear with
which he neemed 10 inspire the
child. But 10 Stilllter. looking far
ahead. perhaps this aversion seemed
serious thing.
Well. he said hrusgueiy, IAN I
rie-'tY II she Gle finest child you
ever saw. or isn't Hheg just see the
breadth OF her skull above the ears"
He would have touched her, but
she shrank from him. when Bar.
clay. however. spoke 10 her she
showed neither fear nor aversion.
only n pleasant shyness.
Il have never seen you before, :"
he said. hut ain very fond OF little
Girls. and since have none OF my
own ! do not propose TO iose sight
OF you in n hurry"
The little Ameabury girl was Of an
age when most Impressions do not
long survive. She would neither re.
member her father nor her mother
nor her nurse. nor her Indian drear.
nor the playhouse. nor the see.saw
Ia the woods. but always she had
a vague recollection OF three great
and important personsEeE. who
treated her az II she were more
important than they were. and who
on parting from her bowed over
her chubby. dlmples hand and kiss
I'd II for all tho world as II she had
been a princess.
I, Ia curious that she should re.
member n little OF all this and moth.
iug OF that message which came
presently from the house mes.
sage brought by one servant 10 an
other ard crudeiy blurted forth In
tho hearing OF n child.
Come quick. MARI. and bring the
baby. the missns ia dend."
The little Amesbury girl continued
10 live on In her fathers honse. The
law said she might until thing. we're
Strengthened out. There were no
relatives to Interfere.
But IL Was q strange life. There
was no longer any discipline in the
house. even the trained nurse with
face like horse had 10 go. The
servants began To neglect their
work and 10 amuse themselves.
There were always gentlemen
friends" In the kitchen.
But being neglected by nurse had
It's advantages. for Tommy Barclay
came every day 10 play with her.
and often many times In one day.
lie wss much better nurse than
nurse was. lie knew more games
and stories: he wasn't always
sharp set for n cup OF tea. he
wasn't always breaking up game
risht In the middle TO talk 10 n
mounted policeman.
He took good care OF her all the
time and she loved him with all her
heart.
Ono night about IL o'clock.
nurses bed in the little Amesbury
girls room was empty. The house
was in darkness. except for the
kitchen. From this camc sounds
OF reyelry and OF Victor talking
machine. The little Amesbury girl
dreamed that n man with immense
hlack-rimmed eyes was bending over
her end she walked with a scream.
For once In her life she had
dreamed true. for Professor Stilliter
was bending over her. and the
fingers OF his left hand were clasped
almost chokingly about her baby
throat In his right hand he held
before her eyes n lump OF rock
crystal the size and shape OF hens
egg.
Very far away she heard n voice
that said very quietly. Now you
can't screnm'
OF course. she tried 10. and found
that she couldn't.
And now" said tho voice. you
can't do anything unless tell you
to. Get MP" She clipped obediently
out Of bed.
Dress yourself" said the voice.
For the first time in her baby life |
the little Amesbury girl dressed her.
self. She even tied her own hair
ribbon In a presentable bow.knot |
and buttoned her own tiny boots.
Professor Stllliter had long since
slipped the crystal back into its
leather case and into his pocket. |
The spell OF hypnotism which he
had cast over her by it's means
would last ms long as he chose.
Show mo-" he said. where nurse |
keeps your coats and hats" He SO.
lected n hat for her and her warm.
est coat.
Now. give me your hand" he |
said. "and don't make any noise"
He led hor downstairs and ont INTO
the night.