The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1913-06-13


The doctor turned his searching
blue eyes toward Agatha again, a
courteous but eager inquiry under
meath his brusque manner.
1t Is a strange story, Doctor Thay-
err" said Agatha somewhat reluctant
ly; "but some time you shall hear it.
| must tell it to somebody, for l need
help My name is Agatha Redmond,
and am from New York; and this
gentleman Is James Hambleton of
Lynn-so he told me- He risked his
life to save mine, after we had aban-
doned the ship"
Il don't doubt It," said Doctor
Thayer gruffly Some blind dash in
to the future is the privilege Of youth.
That's why it's all recklessness and
foolishness."
Agatha looked at him keenly, struck
by some subtle irony in his voice. Il
think 1t is what you yourself would
have done, SIR" she said.
The doctor thrust out his chin in
his disconcerting way, and gave not
the least smile; but his small blue
eyes twinkled
my business is to see just where
I'm going and to know exactly what
I'm DOING" was the dry answer. He
turned watchfuI look toward James,
lying still there between them; then
he knelt down, putting an ear over
the patients heart.
"All right" he assured her as he
came up. "But we never know how
those organs are going to act" Sat
isfying himself further In. regard to
James, he waited some time before
he addressed Agatha again. Then he
said, very deliberately: THE ocean is
savage enemy. My brother Hercu-
les used to quote that old Greek phil
osopher who said, Praise the sea, but
keep on land And sometimes | think
he was right"
Agatha's tired mind had been try
ing to form some plan for their fu-
ture movements. She was uneasily
aware that she would soon have to
decide to do something; and, OF
course. she ought to get back to New
York as soon as possible, But she
could not leave James Hambleton,
her friend and rescuer, nor did she
wish to. She was bordering the ques-
ton as the doctor spoke; then sud
denly, at his words, curtain of mem
ory snapped up. my brother Her
cules" and "Charlesport!"
| She leaned forward. looking earnest
ly into the doctors face. "0h, tell
me-" she cried impulsively, is it pos
sible that you knew Hercules Thay-
err? That he was your brother? And
are we in the neighborhood of Ilion?"
"Yes-yes-yes," assented the doc
| tor, nodding to each of her questions
in turn; "and I thought it was you,
Agatha Shaw's girl, from the first.
But you should have come down by
land." he dictated grimly,
"Oh, didn't intend to come down
at ALL" cried Agatha: either by land
or water! At least not yeti"
Doctor Thayer's jaw shot out and
/ his eyes shone, but not with humor
this time. He looked distinctly irri-
tated. but my dear Miss Agatha
Redmond. where did you intend to
go?"
Agatha couldn't, by any force of
| will keep her voice from stammering,
/ as she answered: Il wasn't g-going
anywhere. | was kidnapped"
Doctor Thayer looked sternly at
her. then reached toward his medicine
| chest. my dear young woman"
| tWhy Is 1t that when a person is par
| ticularly out Of temper, he is con-
strained to say My Dear SO and SOP
my dear young woman" said Doctor
Thayer that's all right, but you must
/ take a few drops Of this solution. And
let me feel your pulse"
Indeed, doctor. 1t is all SO. just as
/ say interrupted Agatha. I'm not
feyerish or out Of my head, not the
least bit. / can't tell you the whole
story now; I'm too tired"
"Yes. that's soS my dear child!'
said the doctor. but in such an evi-
dent tone Of yielding to delirious
nerson that he nearly threw her into
. a fever with anger But on the whole
4 Agatha was too tired to mind. He
/ took her hand, felt Of her pulse, and
slowly shook his head; but what he
! had to say, II he had anything. was
necessarily postponed. The launch
was putting into the harbor Of
i Charlesport.
/ Even on the dull day of their ar
rival. Charlesport was pleasant look
1 ing place, stretching up q steep hill
beyond the ribbon of street that Dor
4 dered its harbor Fsh.houses ane
small docks stood out here and there
j and one larger dock marked the far
thest point OF land A great derrick
stood by one wharf, with piles O
/ granite block near by.
4 Little Simon was calling directions
back to Hand lat the engine as the!
4 chugged past fishing smacks and moor