The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1913-06-20

On the mainland opposite encouraged
his benevolent delusion, II delusion II
might be called. They contrived 10
send him provisions at least once a
week; and they had supplied him with
flag which, 1t was understood, ne
would fly in case he was in actual
need. So, alone with his COW and MS
fowls. the old hermit spent his days.
winter and summer. tending his lamp
when the dark came on.
Aleck and Mr.. Chamberlain mac
picked up some of this information at
| the last port which the Sea Gull made;
but what was Of new and real interest
to them was the story which the OLD
man told them of a castaway on the
island few days before.
All hands had abandoned the
yacht just before she went down, II
appears. The owner was robbed oy
his own men and marooned on the her
mit's island-that's the gist OF It.,
said Aleck.
THE hermit said the man wouldn't
eat off his table," went on MIR. Cham
berlain; but asked him for raw eggs
and ate them outdoors. Said that ex-
| cept when he asked for eggs he never
spoke without cursing. At least the
7 hermit couldn't understand what ne
: said, so he thought 1t was cursing
7 And while the old man was talking,
3 added Chamberlain resentfully. THAI
q blooming peacock squawked like 8
Y demon"
r 1.-THE yacht that went down, accord
4 ing to the man, was the Jeanne DArc,
e said Aleck, who had been grav'
y enough between all their light-hearte'
y talk. 81 didn't tell you, Chamberlain
o that my cousin, my old chum. wen
n off quite Unexpectedly on boa
called the Jeanne Dare. Where h
II went or what for. don't know. G
,r course, it may have been anothe
le Jeanne Dare; 1t probably was Blu
re- 1t troubles me"
il. Melanie was instantly arouse'
Z "Oh, had an uncanny feeling whe
you first mentioned the Jeanr
D'Arc!" she cried. But could you nj
ou find out more? What became OF II
sh man that was marooned?"
1t He got off the island day or tv
at, ago." said Aleck. THE people tn
brought provisions to the old ms
q took him to the mainland. to Charlie
port"
i'd. THE beggar left without so mu
,u- as thanking the old man for
ks. eggs" added Chamberlain.
sh. We'll put into Charlesport tonigl
es, If you don't mind" said Aleck.
| can find the man that was maroont
Igh may be able to learn somethi
ng, about Jim, If he really was on
ey- Yacht. You can all go ashore. il
like. There's big summer hotel ne
sed by and it's lovely country"
,rs' wen stay wherever it's most c.
yauient for you to have US" 81
of, Melanie, looking at Aleck, for on
to with more than friendly interest
me her eyes
and and perhaps ] can help you. VI
ser- two heads, you know" said Chant
ND. lain.
like The village still rang, II 30 stall
The community could be said to ring, "
ace reports OF the event of the week
fore, Doctor Thayer had been spin
and like and Little Simon had been In
( in NATIVE and voluble: and 1t would b
not been difficult to say which had tea
] In the popular curiosity the more, AL
the found a tale ready for his ears at
ling the launch and its three passeng
.yed with many conflicting details. >
en- said that a great singer had ,
that wrecked OF Rams Head. others
they II was the captain and mate OF
with Jeanne Dare. others that It wa
the daughter of old Parson Thayers su
,hief heart and two sailors that c
, It's ashore Little or nothing was KIN
about the island castaway. Aleck
aims lowed the only clue he could
ward thinking to get at least some I'M
!. ne of the truth.