The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1912-05-07
THE, IN
81
SINGER @
A GREAT SERIAL STORY By W.
MARTHA BELLINGER. Al

oCNNAin6 Oi AculuIcS. VIC just
thought! Do you s'pose I'm paying
hotel bills all this time at The
Larue?"
Hand grinned unsympathetically.
IF you engaged room, sir. and
didn't give II up, believe it's the
custom
"Thatll do for now. Handy Andy.
II you can't get up any better answer
than that Lord, what's that" Jim
suddenly exclaimed, as II he hadn't
been waiting. all ears, for that very
step In the passage.
II guess likely thatll be Miss Red
mond," replied the respectful Hand.
And SO II was.
Agatha, fresh as the morning,
stood in the doorway for con-
templative moment. before coming
forward to take Jim's outstretched
hand
'Samson-shorn!" she exclaimed
gaily. Il hardly know you, all fixed
up like this"
"Oh, | look much better than this
when I'm really dressed up, you
know" Jim asserted. Agatha pat
ted his knuckles indulgently, looked
at the thinness and Wilderness OF the
hand, and shook her head.
mot gaining enough yet" she said.
That isn't the right color for q
hand"
1T needs TO be held longer"
oh, no, II needs more quiet. Fewer
visitors. no talking, and plenty OF
fresh milk and eggs"
Jimmy almost stamped his foot.
Down with eggs" he cried. And
milk, too. I'm going to institute a.
mutiny. Excuse me, l know I'm Wis
ting and ought to be polite, but no
more inyalids food for rue. Handy
Andy and | are going out TO kill
moose and eat Itch, Andy?"
But Hand was gone Agatha sat
down in big rocker at the other
window. In that case" she said de-
murely, well all have TO be think
ing OF Lynn and New York and
work"
Jim shamelessly turned feather.
"Oh, no." he cried. I'm very ILL.,
I'm not able to go to Lynn. Besides.
my time isn't up yet. This is my vaca-
ton" He looked up smiling into
Agatha's face, ingenious as a boy OF
seven.
DO you always take such-such
venturesome holidays she asked.
II never took any before; at least,
not what | call holidays" he said.
IF you don't come over here and sit
near me. shall get up and go over
To you. And Andy says I'm very wob-
bly, on my legs. | might by accident
drop into your lap"
Agatha pushed her chair over to. .
ward James, and before she could sit
down he had drawn IL still closer 10
his own. The doctor says my hand
has to be heidi" he assured her, as
he got firm hold OF hers.
For shame," she cried. Mustn't
tell fbs."
Tell me-" he begged. rs this your
house, really'n truly?" II brought.
as he knew II would, her ready smile.
Yep" she nodded
And is that your tree out there?"
Yep"
"Ah!" he sighed. Its great, It's
Paradise. I'VE dreamed OF just such
a heavenly place. And Andy says
we've been here two weeks"
"Yes-and a little more"
MY holiday half gone!" His mood
suddenly changed from its jocund
and boyish manner. and he turned
earnestly toward Agatha
Il don't know, dear girl, all that
has happened since that night-with
you-on the water Hand shuts me
off most villainously. But know It's
Heaven being here, with Aleck and
every one so good to me, and you,
You've come back, somehow, like a
reality from my dreams. I watch for
you. You're all think of, whether
I'm awake or asleep.
Agatha earnestly regarded his
frank face, with its laughing, true
eyes. Jimmy" she said-he had
begged her to call him that--"lt
seems as II /. too. had known you a
long time More than these little
two weeks"
az is more; you said So" put in
Jim.
Yes; a little more. And IL IL
hadn't been for you, shouldn't be
here, or anywhere. l often think OF
| that"
You see!" he cried II had to
have you. even IL followed you half
way round the globe; even il had
to jump into the sea. Kismet-you
can't escape me-"
But Agatha was only half smiling.
NO" she protested, at is not that,
| | owe"
To Be Continued