Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1913-03-27

matter.
Il was wondering" she began again,
how you happened to escape from
the Jeanne Dare alone In a rowboat.
and what your connection with Mon
sieur Chatelard was VIII you tell
me?"
A perfectly vacant look came into
Hands face. He might have been
deaf and dumb
At last Agatha began again. 81 am
grateful. exceedingly grateful. Mr..
Hand, for all that you have done for
us since that catastrophe, but can't
have any mystery about people. That
is absurd. Did you leave the Jeanne
D'Arc when the others did--when i
fell into the water?"
This time Hand consented to an
swer. mo, Mademoiseile; / did not
know you had fallen into the water
until hCought you ashore in the
morning"
Then how did you get OFF,"
Well, it was rather queer. The
men were all tired out working at the
pumps, and Monsieur Chatelard or
dered a seaman named Bazinet and
me to relieve two of them. He said
he would call US when the boats were
lowered as the yacht was then get
ting pretty shaky. Bazinet and |
| worked long time; and when finally
we got on deck, thinking the Jeanne
D'Arc was nearly done for, the boats
hod Nff
shouting, and Bazinet got frightened
and jumped for the boat. He thought
they'd wait for him. 1t was too dark
for me to see whether he made 1t or
| not. l stayed on the yacht for some
time, not knowing anything better to
| do" Hand allowed himself faint
smile %and at last, after hunt. l
| found that extra boat, slowed away
aft 1t was very small, and it leaked;
probably tina. was why they did not
| think OF using it. But it was better
| than nothing. | found some putty and
tin bucket, and got food and lot
of other things, though the boat filed
| so fast that I had to throw most
everything out. But I got ashore, as
4 o1S
the last of the Jeanne Dare"
Agatha's eyes shone. Hands story
| was perfectly simple and plausible.
But the other question was even more
important. She hesitated before re-
peating 1T, however. and rewarded
Hands unusual fraukness with a
| grateful look.
THAT was a night of experience for
us ALL she said, with little sigh at
the memory of it.
But tell me-" Agatha looked up
! squarely at Hand, only TO encounter
his deaf and dumb expression.
'If you will excuse me, Mademoi-
selle,~ said Hand deferentiaIly, Il
think DIR. Hambleton's broth is burn
ing"
'sAh well, very Welt" said Agatha.
And in spite of herself she smiled.
Hand found Mrs. Stoddard installed
in James Hambleton's room. Doctor
Thayer and Aleck had gone, both leav.
| ing word that they would return be-
fore night. Mrs. Stoddard had
smoothed James bed, folded down
| the sheet with exactness, noted her
brothers directions for treatment, and
sat reading her Bible by the window
| Mr. Hand stood for moment, silent
| ly regarding first the patient, then his
nurse.
by the grace of God, he will pull
| through, l firmly believed" calculated
Mrs Stoddard
| AS the first words came in that re-
sonant deep voice, Hand thought that
! the nurse was swearing, though pres
emily he changed his mind
Eyes, ma'am," he replied with un-
wonted meekness. Then. TN sleep
an hour or two, if that is agreeable to
| you, ma'am."
Perfectly" heartily responded
! Mrs. Stoddard, and Mr.. Hand disap-
peared like the mist before the sun.
| 1t was to be an afternoon of excite
ment. after all, though Agatha
| thought that she would apply herself
to the Strengthening out of much nee
essary business. But after an hours
work over letters at Parson Thayer's
| desk, there occurred an ebullition be-
low which could be nothing less than
the arrival of Lizzie, Agathas maid,
with sundry articles of luggage. She
was a small-minded but efficient city
| girl, clever enough to keep her Job by
making herself useful, and sophisti-
/ Gated to the point of indecency. No
| woman ought ever to have known SO
much as Lizzie knew. Agatha was to
hear how she had been relieved by
the telegram several days before, how
she had nearly killed herself packing
in such haste, how she thought she
was travelling to the ends of the earth,
coming thus to a region she had never
1 heard Of before.
! Big Simon, who had been instructed
to watch for Lizzie and bring her and
her luggage out. presently arrived
with the trunks, having sent the maid
on ahead in the buggy with his son.
lBig Simon positively declined to carry