Suddenly he lifted up his head. “Have you searched the stable?”
“The stable—no, sir,” ejaculated poor Betty.
“Come with me, Titus,” said the Judge, “that child is a peculiar one. I do not think that she has run away.”
“Go tell the servants that she is found,” said the Judge to Titus.
CHAPTER VII
Birds of Heaven
The Judge walked calmly out through the house to the garden and through the garden to the stable.
Arrived in the stable, he called to Roblee, who was unharnessing, to turn on all the electric lights above and below. Then he and Titus went up to the pigeon loft.
The Judge pushed open the screen door. It was just as he had thought. On a little stool by the door sat Bethany sound asleep, a white owl pigeon in her lap, another on her head. Her own head was thrown back against the wall, one hand resting caressingly on the beautiful creature in her lap.
The owls opened wide their large eyes and gazed at the Judge and Titus in mild surprise. Other pigeons eyed them from nest boxes and perches. They were all very tame, but not all would have allowed Bethany to handle them as did the gentle owls.