The Democrat-sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1906-1935, 1909-04-08


Agatha seconds rod began to bend
and jerk, and Immediately there was
so much action going on that in my ex-
citement | forgot what was about to
say. am fisherman OF some skill
myself. Well. the pole began to bend
and the Agatha on the rock began to
scream, and Vincent shouted dlrec.
tons from the Easy there
easy" he entreated her; give him
more line, Aggie, more line"
II can't" she screamed at the top
of her voice; something's caught, and
he pulls so"
The reel!" | shouted, jumping UP
and down The reel! Press the knob
and let her go!"
| knew in moment the sort she
had. 1t was just like mine patent
one with spring reel-mine often
stuck that way. All this time the
fish was leaping about, sometimes
jumping out of the water so that we
could see him. and he was a big fel.
low
Let me alone; can do 1t myself"
cried the girl, as Vincent started to
help her, but even as she spoke her
trim little foot slipped on the wet
stone, and losing her balance COM
pletely, she fell backward into the
upstream.
|, In moment Vincent was running at
top speed along the bank till he came
to little point of land near which the
drowning girl must pass. AS she ap.
preached he leaped into the water,
and, striking diagonally upstream,
seized her by her clothing, and, fight.
ing his way back, safely gained the
point Of land Meantime | had rue
up the river toward boat that | had
observed near the bank. Jumping in
| soon reached the spot where lay the
unconscious form of Agatha Second.
All this time | was dimly aware OF the
fact that Agatha Third had never
stopped screaming and was now run
ming up and down on the opposite
bank sobbing and wringing her hands.
When | reached Wilfred he was ahX-
iousy bending over the girl but ap-
parently without the slightest idea
what to do.
Immediately fell to chatting her
hands and resorting to the other we'll
known eXpedents for reviying the
drowned. and to enable her to breathe
more freely | removed the tight'tltunS
dickey of her sailor suit. 1t was not
long before she began to regain con
seriousness, and it was at this mo-
ment that | made most amazing dis
covery. for around the neck of the
girl | saw a little silver chain, and
on it was strung heavy gold ring set
with a large cross of old-fashioned en-
eralds.
called to Vincent, and as ! pointed
at the magnificent and telltale piece
of iewelry we both gazed at it,
speechless with surprise at discover
ing in such manner the secret of the
Honorable Agatha's identity Before
she had quite regained her conscious
ness | readjusted her dickey, and
when she was able to stand we
wrapped her in our coats and carried
her to the boat. There wasn't room
in it for more than two, so ! made
Vincent get in with her and row back
to the castle So they left us, and
Agatha Third and |, too thoroughly up
set by the accident to wish to carry
through our picnic, followed them
back, walking one on each side of the
Stream until we reached the bridge,
where we joined forces.
AS we returned | did a great deal
of thinking. So it was Agatha Second,
after all, who was the real Honorable
Agatha. For certainly her possession
of the Wyckhoff ring, mentioned in
the will, was proof positive. Now that
| thought Of it, the suspicious circum-
stance OF Agatha Thirds seemingly in
voluntary rising when Vincent toasted
the Honorable Agatha, admitted of
many explanations. At any rate,
whatever her reason for her action,
the presence of the Wyckhoff ring on
the neck of Agatha Second had proved
to me the falsity Of that other clew
and the identity of our fair but mys-
terious hostess.
The next morning when she came
down to breakfast | inquired with
great concern as to the effects of the
accident of the day previous. She
replied most kindly that she felt very
nearly as well as ever and thanked
me earnestly for my share in her res
cue. In fact, her gratitude was so
p.ofuse as to make me uncomfortable
and | protested volubly that what |
had done was nothing. Nevertheless,
from that day on Agatha Second clung
to me in manner that was almost
touching. Vincent, to my surprise. in
stead OF taking advantage OF his part
as hero, seemed rather anxious to
avoid the girl, whereas, before our
mutual discovery, he had seemed to be
quite taken with her Although his
conduct was puzzle to me, yet could
only rejoice that it was So for it left
the field absolutely free to me, and |
felt as each day passed that now, in
deed, was hotter on the trail Of that
twenty millions than had yet been.
1t was the first Sunday after the ac-
cident and the fourth of our stay. We
had breakfasted at eight and were
sitting around aimlessly waiting until
1t was time to go to church
When it was finally time to get
ready my head ached from the sun,
for ! had been sitting without my hat,
and ! decided that | would not go that
morning, though there was a fiattering
chorus of DrotestS when I mada thiS