The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-11-19

TO his feet. AS he remembered II af-
forwards. he did experience tlngling
thrill at the roots on his hair: Here
was n new sensation at last!
He rushed toward the hallway, ana
into the big dining room, In the al
Again all seemed quiet and the en-
tire floor deserted. On the broad
stairway, however, lay n clutter or
, dishes. cold meat. bread and salad.
where tray had fallen!
lie paused and rubbed his chin.
All, a hungry ghostW he muttsr
| Then he drew his automatic revolver
from his hip-pocket and spPang up
peered. expecting to see tho burly
visage OF some desperate tramp.
In HAWKING room there was a most
noticeable movement, as disclosed py
ed across the rag-carpet to the bed /;
bthere. beneath a coverlet. drawn up
yover the Wallets head. wobbled two
very tremulous knees. Hawkins could
/ not have been the guilty miscrennt,
Boob! COCOON" groaned Roberts
with AN irresistible desire to give hts
timid man Friday some real cause
| from his room into the hall once
more. Down the corridor he saw n
figure, which darted up the rickety
steps to the garnet ON the floor above.
/
sible hiding place. But now he sped
! after the nocturnal forager with his
! weapon ready. When hes reached the
garrett room. lighted By the moon
| through a >dormer window. he looked
about In establishment. Even now
the mysterious visitor had disappear
ed AS though completely swallowed
UP Ia thin air.
Protrudlng from beneath a tattereo
old crazy-quilt were two small. white
bare feet!
Roberts stopped and observed that
| they were of unmistakable feminine
architecture. indeed. OF the Queen
| Anne. rather than the Mary Ann
| school.
Come out. Miss Ghost. OF ! will
shoot" lie commanded sternly.
The toes wrigged nervously, but hi,
| summons was not oDeyed. A second
! order brough: results. The coverleI
| was lowered and he bebeld mass OF
thngle dcurls. two frightened. fawn'
like eyes. and n dlmpled race which
VAS enhanced ir>its pale beauty by
the apparent terror of itS owner. She
rose unsteadllS and then raised her
rlance to the kind face above.
"Oh, please don; shoot! l was-so-l
hnd-io take NJ were the tremuloui
words
you are bad. bold wicked burg
lar replied her cuptor. with a witch
Ing about the stern mouth. Come dowi
lie lie caught her--not ungently--b,
the loDe ~ pink little ear. and led he
Ia tile lower floor DOWN the corridor h
passed. with peremptory order to tn
still webbing Hawkins.
In the library he stood her before him
and with the air OF supreme cour
Judge studied the pathetic little figure
the girl. apparently eighteen, was dress
ed in u strange sarment--an ancien
lpa.r Of farm urc:Hlla. above whicl
lnPpnRd a nh Nh int al 10
arms wero as hare as her ankles.
We'll, Miss Ghost--eXplain yourself
Remember. that everything YOU ga
shall he used by the law against you.'
Then lee laughed mrrrily, dispeilin
the timidity OF 'he girl. Hawkins. al
tired IN bathrobe and slippers, no,
advanced incredulously down the stair:
= Here's this hungry ghost. who zoe
, Swimming" cried Roberts. The gil
drew back. afTriehted once more. bu
the novelist gently commanded her {
proceed with her story, while Hawkln
wns dispatched 10 prepare 81 hot supper
Well she hesitated at first. Iran
D away from my foster father, lie beat
4 me. See my arms and the bruises!"
"IIe won't do II again" obserbed Rob
2 erts But who are YOU
Q 81 don't know. Nobody knows. for
n was washed up here when | was a tin
little girl. during Dig storm at sea
: Hv lessllp was a fisherman-it was h
who sold the fish to this other MAJ
$ I saw him from the garrett window. III
= was kinder 10 me long ago. when Mr.
a Jessup took me in. But she died. an
e ny drinks all the time now. He beat
3 me when | cook well and when COO
n badly. And he made me stop goin
[ 10 the village school. So, three days az
Z The was so cruel and mean that 1 jus
: ran away. That's all there tx. l cam
! nm here because they said the hoNs
was haunted and l knew no one woul
come here. But ] saw you come, la.
, night. and this morning. I was
z frightened and so hungry that didn
z know what 10 do.