The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1913-01-15

Stolen
Singer
By Martha BeIlinger
CHAPTER X.
The Heart Of Youth.

second" She could not instantly
free herself from her sandy coverings
but she was wide awake almost al
Faint as the voice had been. she
recognized the natural tones. the
strongest he had uttered since coming
out of the water.
The night had grown cold and dark,
and at first she was a trifle bewilder.
ed. She was also stiff and sore, al.
most beyond bearing. She had to
lay. The fire had burned wholly out,
and the sand felt damp as she crawled
over it. When she came near, she
reached out her hand and laid il on
Jim's forehead. He was shivering
with cold.
you poor mani And / sleeping
while / ought to be taking care of
sou! I'll make the fire and get some
milk; there is still little left"
AS she tried to make her aching
bones lift her to her feet, she became
aware that the man was fumbling at
ais coverings and trying to say some
thing. She bent down to hear his
words, which were incredibly faint.
81 don't want any fire or any milk.
| only wanted to know If you were
here" he said difiidently, as IL
ashamed of his childishness.
She leaned over him, speaking gen.
lly and touching his head softly with
her firm, cold hands.
You're a little better now, aren't
you, after your sleep? Don't you feel
little stronger"
YES, I'm better, lots better" he
whispered. 81 must have been sleep
ing for ages. When l woke up
thought I had beastly chill or some
hing: but I'm all right now; only
suddenly l felt as if l must know if
you we're there, and if it was you"
He smiled at his own words, and
Agatha was treasured.
81 think you'll be still better for a
little milk" she said, and crept away
10 get the pail, which had been hid
den on a shelf of rock. When she
came back with it, James tried man
fully to sit up; but Agatha slipped
an arm under his neck, in skilful
nurse fashion, and held the bucket
while he drank. almost greedily. AS
he sank back on his bed he whisper
ed: "You are very good to take care
Of me-"
"Oh, no; I'm only too glad! And
now I'm going to build up the fire
again; your hands are quite cold"
mo, don't co." he pleaded. please
stay here; I'm not cold any more.
And you must go to sleep again.
ought not to have wakened you; and,
really, didn't mean to-"
Eyes you ought I've had lots of
sleep; don't want any more"
TITS dark, but it's better than it
was that other night, isn't it?" said
James.
Much better" answered Agatha.
James visibly gathered strength
from the milk, and presently he took
some more. Agatha watched, and
when he had finished, patted him
approvingly on the hand Good boy!
You've done very we'll" she cried.
81 was so thirsty, I thought the
whole earth had run dry. VIII you
think me very ungrateful if I say now
[ wish it had been water?"
ooh, no: l wish 50, too. But Mr..
Hand could only get us a little BIZ
from a spring, for there isn't any
other pail"
II was some time before Jim made
out TO inquire, who's Mr. Hand?"
Hes the man that helped us-out
of the water-when we became ex-
hausted"
Agatha hesitated to speak of the
nights experience, uncertain how far
Jim's memory carried him, and not
knowing how a sick man, in his
weakness. might be affected Still.
now that he seemed almost himself
again, save for the chill, she ventured
to refer to the event. speaking in a
matter-offact way as II such endur-
ance tests were the most natural
events in the world. James speech
was quite coherent and distinct, but
very slow, as II the efforts to speak
came from the depths of a profound
fatigue.
''Hand-that's a good name for him.
I thought II was the hand Of God,
which plucked me. like David, or
Jonah, or some such person, out OF
the seething pillows. But didn't
think of there being a man behind"
Then. after a long silence, where
is he?"
Hes gone of TO find somebody TO
help us get away from here; a car
rage or wagon of some sort. and
some food and clothes"
Something caused Jim to calculate,
though quite feebly "You poor
thing" And then he asked, very slow
ly. where is 'here'2"
II don't know; and Mr.. Hand
doesn't know"