The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1913-07-18


"See!" she whispered to Aleck. +
touching his shoulder lightly, "he Is c
looking at u.s." When Aleck looked up {
James was indeed looking at them
with large, serious. half-focussed eyes.
1t was as IL he were coming back
from another world where the laws Of
vision were different, and he was only
partially adjusted to the present con-
ditions. He moved his hands feebiy
under the bedclothes, where they
were being warmed by the freestone,
and then tried to moisten his lips
Agatha took a glass of water from
the table, looked about for napkin.
but, seeing none, wet the tips of her
fingers and placed them gently over
James lips. His eyes followed her at
first, but closed for an instant as she |
came near. When they opened again,
they looked more natural. AS he felt
the comfort of the water on his lips.
his features relaxed, and look OF
recognition illumined his face. HIS
eyes moved from Agatha to Aleck'
who was now bending over him, and
back to Agatha. The look was sa-
lutte, happy and peaceful Then his
eyes closed again.
For an hour Agatha and Aleck kept
their watch, almost fearing to breathe.
Doctor Thayer worked. gave quiet or.
. ders, tested the heartbeats, let no
movement or symptom go unnoticed.
J For time James kept even the doc
/. tor in doubt whether he was slipping
into the Great Unknown or into
deep and convalescent sleep. By the
end OF the hour, however, Jimsy had
decided for natural sleep, urged there
i to, perhaps, by that unseen playwright
, who had decreed another time for cur
. tain; or perhaps he was kept by Doc
" tor Thayer's professional persuasions
a. in defiance of the prompter's signal
10 However the case, the heart slowly
= but surely began to take up its 1of
Il. like an honest force-pump, the face
4. began to lose It's death-like pallor. the
u breathing became more nearly nor
ID NAL. Doctor Thayer. with Mrs. Stod
"a dard quiet and efficient at his elbow
. worked and tested and worked again
a. and finally sat moveless for som
- minutes, watch in hand, counting tn
= pulsations OF James heart At tn
NO end of the time he laid the hand care
10 fully back under the clothes, put III
- watch In his pocket, and finally 90
=, IN and looked around the room.
no Mrs. Stoddard was pouring SOM
thing into measuring glass. Agath
- was standing by the window, lookin
~ ont into the blue night; and Alec
-, could be seen through the half-ope
- door. pacing up and down the hal
~ Doctor Thayer turned to his sister.
=. "Giye him his medicine on the ha
.ha hour, and then you go to bed. In
~ man Hand will do now" Then ne we
IA t to the door and addressed Alec
~, "Well. Mr.. Van Camp, unless som
-. ~. thing unexpected turns up. l thil
ss vour cousin will live to jump os'
nm board again"
offhand as the words were, the
ow vas unmistakable satisfaction, nap
s ~. moss even triumph In his voice. q
s;a be returned Alexis hand-clasp with
yise-like grip. His masculinity ignor
s,o Agatha. or pretended to; put sne u
followed him to the door. AS the
tau man clasped hands with Aieck'
T M heard behind him deep. 20 Doctol
~ The next instant Agatha's arms w
ground his neck, and the back OF
.ha hald head was pressed against soi
I.a,s thing that could only have been
own cheek. Surprising as this was
w. W.. daotor did not stampede; but 10y
~ t,ma he had got clear OF Aieck
.soa had reached up his hand TO ma
49, 49, cheek It was gone, and the arms.
Deen Ssson stoddard somehow got mi
~ ~ the general TIE Deunn In
itch. hall. and for the first time, No"
,ans the fight was over, allowed her I
nino feelings--that Is. few tea
.ra tn come to the surface.
anu Alack however, went 70 PIE
!, h,s zone down in that species OF ns
: nlS collapse by which deliberate, 1ud
l n NAN h.come reckless. and strong
81 ,.' ~ become weak. He stepped softly
, msas Into the bedroom and leaned q
'g . - over e the curved footboard, mis-
t toae onite miserable. He went nearer
i 9 held his ear down close TO .ne
.s sos clothes. to hear for himself .ne
Msa lar beating of the heart. SLOW
s.,, = convinced himself that the 40,
! s s,a. words might possibly be true, a.
,,e Mss He turned to Hand. who mao 6, con
'l'A and was adjusting the shades shades
sarad him: eDo you believe
s ~ asleep?" in the tone Of one Wh'
,nyis. mands an oath. !,
eaa q ooh, yes sir; he's sleeping :
: Van Mr. Van Camp. ] saw the cnans
no HE moment came in.
r ne Aleck still hesitated 70 ieass;
1 soras ri, apparently. lest he might TAI
: s held blessed sleep away with him. $,
4 min. stood by the bed, . low put -
,sa hia whistle sounded outside. nen'