Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1913-09-04
the9ry that chalslard be- naas

theory that Chateiard hs4 mad
straight for New York"
Not q BIT of IL Aleek and l. LEI
you all believe that, for the sake o.
the ladies. But the evidence is all the
other way. We would surely have
caught him II he had been on any o.
the New York trains. | believe he'l
about here and means mischief yet"
IF he's abont here, there's no doubi
about the mischief"
t. I'm going down tonight to bunk OF
the Sea Gull. Aleck let the men of
to go to a sailors dance over on one
of the islands. They'll probably be al
II all night, so I'm going back"
why not let me go? I'm fine as
fiddle. You've had your full share o.
nasty detective work"
Not at all. I'm booked to e this
thing through"
"All right" laughed Jimsy. But l
you change your mind, let me know
Arriving at the house, the men fount
1t deserted. Windows were open ant
doors unattached, but no one, not ever
Danny, responded to Jim's call. Cham
berlain started for the Hillside in the
car, and Jim wandered about lone
somely, wondering where everybody
was. With Jim, as in most cases
everybody meant one person; ant
presently Sallie, appearing slowly
from the upper regions. gave him his
clue. He started nimbly for the pine
wood.
The wagon road stretched alluring
ly into the sun-fecked shade lof the
grove. A hush like that of primeva'
day threw its uncanny influence ovel
the world. Jim felt something tuggins
at his spirit that was unfamiliar, dis
quieting. He began to whistle Just
for company, and in a moment, as Il
at a signal call, Danny came along the
path, sedately trotting to meet him.
"Hullo, old %pardner! So this Ii
where you are"
Danny said yes, and led Jim into
the clearing and up to a pine stump
where everybody sat, quite alone, chin
propped on hand. No singing, no book
and-or did Jimmy imagine it?-s
spirit decidedly %quenched. Her eye
lids we're red and her face was pale.
$50, dear lady, | have found you.
But l was listening for the song"
There is no song today" Agatha's
manner resembled an Arctic breeze.
May one ask why?"
One can not always be singing"
NO? Why not? / could--if l
could"
Agatha was obliged to relax a triie
at Jimmy's foolishness, but only to
reveal, more and more distinctly, a
wretchedness Of spirit that was quite
battling. 1t was not feminine wretch
edness waiting for a masculine com
forter, either, as James observed with
regret; 1t was a stoical spirit, braced
to meet a blow-or to deal one.
Jimmy was not used to being
snubbed, and instinctively prepared
for vigorous protest. He began with
a little preliminary diplomacy.
you haven't inquired what I'm 60
ing to do with the remainder of my
holiday" he remarked.
Il supposed you would return soon
to Lynn. Shall we walk back to the
house?"
Tho nm u,ordo v,ara cpolyao IL n
rare-sweet voice, c~ourteously enough.
Jim looked at the speaker a moment,
then emphatically said mol"
1T is quite time l was returning"
Have you anything there to do
that is more important than listening
to me for fifteen minutes"
Agatha did not pretend not to I'M
derstand him. She turned toward him
with unfinching eyes.
Truth to say, yes, Mr.. Hambleton,
l have. / don't wish to listen to-
anything"
"Oh-if you feel like that! Your
Mr.. Hambleton' is enough to strike
me dumb"
Believe me, 1t is the best way"
Again, may one ask why?"
"You are going back to your own
people, % your own work. And I to
NINE"
But that's the very point. My idea
was TOTO combine them"
81 guessed It,"
Jimmy smiled his ingenious smile
as he suavely asked; "And don't YOU
-er-like the idea?"
Agatha turned her wretched white
face toward him, Into 1t there had
come a grim determination that left
Jimmy quite out in the cold.
81 have no choice in liking or dis
liking it," she said quite evenly. "But
there are plenty Of reasons why
can't think of 1t, And you shouldn't
think Of it any more l assure you,
you are making a mistake"
She got up as If ready to walk
away, her face averted.
"Agatha!"
At the name she turned to Jim. as
much as to say she would be quite
reasonable If he would be. But her
face suddenly flushed gloriously.
Agatha, dear, hear me. | did not
intend to tell you all my secret to.
day; not until l should be on neutral
ground, 80 to speak. But l can't lei
you leave me this way"
You will have to. l am going bach
to the house"
Up to this point, James had merely
been playing tag, as 1t were. The
game wasn't really on. A little Skin
mishing on either side was in order
But Agatha's last words were the cal
to action. They reused the ghost O
tome old Hambleton ancestor who
A1oc1xa &C G,