The Detroit times., 1912-04-25

CHAPTER XVI.
Continued.


Agatha called the old dog TO her
again. This time he came neal rnb'
bed hard against her dress. and, when
she SAT down on nat tombstone, laid
his head comfortably In her zap wax
ging his tail in satisfaction.
Danny was companion VINO ala
not obstruct thought but ENCOURAGED
IL. and as Agatha sat resting on tine
stone with Danny close by. In that
Quiet yard full OF the noiseless ghosts
OF the past. her thoughts Went Dack
10 James. His unnatural eyes ana
restless spirit haunted her. she
thought OF that other night In the
water. full OF heartbreaking struggle
as II was, as happy night compared
10 the one which was yet TO come.
She recalled their foolish talk whlie
they were on the beach, and smiled
sadly over II. Her courage was at
the ebb She felt that the hnoyancy
OF spirit that had sustained them
both during the night OF struggle
could never revisit the wasted ana
disorganized body lying In Parson
Thayor's house--her house. A GER
tain practical sense that was strong
| in her rose and questioned whether
she had done everything that could
be done for his welfare. She thought
so. Had she not even prayed, with
all her concentration OF mind and
will? She heard again susan Stou
dard's deep voice: No STRIVING 10,
ward God is ever LOST" In spite OIL
her unfaith, a sense OF rest In power
larger than herself came upon heI
,unawares. Danny. who had wandered
away, came back and sat down heav
lily on the edge OF her skirt, close "a
her. Good Danny" she praised
/ petting him to his hearts content
II was thus that Aleck Van Camp
had found them, as he came over the
! stile from the house. His tones were
slower and more precise than ever
( but his face was drawn and marked
with anxiety. He had careful
thought for Agatha. even in the face
OF his greater trouble.
! you have chosen a bad hour to
wander about, Miss Redmond. The
evening dews are heavy.
Yes, know; Danny and ! were
just going home. Have you been into
the house,"
Yes. l left Doctor Thayer there IN
consultation with the other physician
that came today. They sent me on
Old Jim-well, you know as we'll as
do. With your permission, I'm so
ing to stay the night. I'll bunk In the
hall, or anywhere. Don't think OF
bed for me: l don't want one
I'm glad you'll stay. II seems
somehow, as IL every one helps; tina
lis, every one who cares for him.
Doctor Thayer thinks there will b'
a change tonight, though II Is difficult
to tell Jim's family have my tele
gram by this time, and they will &c
my letter tomorrow. probably. Any
way. | shall wait until morning be
fore / send another message"
The tension OF their thoughts wa
too sharp: they turned for relief u
the scene before them. stopping a
the stile TO look back at the steeple'
, white church, standing under II
! spreading balm-of-Gilead tree.
TT seems strange" said Agatha
ito think that sat out there unde
that big tree as little girl. Every
! thing is SO different now"
"flion. then, was once your homey
| NO. never my home, though II wa
once my mothers home. ] used Z
visit here occasionally, years an
! years ago"
: Aleck produced his quizZical grin
"A gallant person would protest tina
: that Is incredible
II wasn't angling for gallantry.
Agatha replied YEARLY. Il am twer
i ty-six. and I\haven't been here Gel
tainly since I was eight years OLE
, Eighteen yearA are goaj many"
ITO youth, yes" aquiesced Alecl
(Which reminds me, by contrast, c
the hermit; hk was so incredibly oil
lit was he who unwittingly put me o
Jim,s- track. He said that the owne
or proprietor of the Jeanne OAR
was dropped ashore on his island"
Monsieur Chatelard?" cried Aga
tina.
: II don't know his name
"If II was Monsieur Chatelard,
Agatha paused. looking earnestly a
Aleck. IF it was he. IL Is the ma
, who tricke6 me into his motor.car |
!. New York, drugged me and carrie
me aboard his yacht while was III
conscious
!, Aleck turned a sharp, though nc
unsympathetic. gaze upon Agatha.
have told no one but Doctor Thaye
and he did not believe me. But it
, quite true; the wreck saved m,
probably, from something wors,