River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1913-04-03

and was adjusting the shades, and
asked him: do you believe he's
asleep?" in the tone of one who de-
manG5 an oath.
"Oh, yes, sir; he's sleeping nicely
Mr.. Van Camp. / saw the change the
moment 1 came in"
Aleck still hesitated to leave, fear
full, apparently, lest he might take the
blessed sleep away with him. AS he
stood by the bed, low but distinct
whistle sounded outside, then, after
a moments interval, was repeated.
! Aleck lifted his head at the fret ssg-
nal, took another look at James and
one at Hand, then light as cat ne
darted from the room and down the
stairs, leaving the house through one
| of the tall windows in the parlor. Mr.
| CHAMBERLAIN was standing near the
lilas bushes, his big figure outlined
dimly in the darkness.
"Shut up!" Aleck whispered fierce
ly, as he ran toward him. Hes just
got to sleep, Chamberlain; gone to
sleep, like a baby. Don't make an IN
fernaI racket"
"Oh, | didn't know. Didn't mean
to make a racket" began Chamber
lain, when Aleck pumped into him
and shook him by the shoulders.
Hes asleep-like a baby!" he re
iterated And Chamberlain, wise com
rade, took Aleck by the arm and
tramped him off over the hill to settle
his nerves. They walked for an hour
arm in arm over the road that lay like
a gray ribbon before them in the
night. winding up slantwise along the
rugged country.
Dawn was awake on the hills mile
away, and by and by Aleck found
tongue to tell the story of the night,
which was good for him. He talked
fast and unevenly, and even extrava-
gantly. Chamberlain listened and
loved his friend in sympathy that
spoke for itself, though his words
were commonplace enough. By the
time they had circled the f1ve-mile
road and were near the house again,
Aleck was something like himself,
though still unusually excited. Cham
berlain mentioned casually that Miss
Reynier had been anxious about him,
and that all his friends at the big no.
tel had worried. Finally, he, Cham
berlain, had set out for the old red
house, thinking he could possibly be
of service; in any case glad to be near
his friend.
And, by the way" Chamberlain
added, "you may be interested to hear
that accidentally / got on the track
of that beggar who ate the herm1ts
eggs. Took a tramp this morning, and
found him held up at kind of sailors
inn, waiting for money. Grouchy old
party; no wonder his men shipped
him."
Aleck at first took but feeble inter
est in Chamberlain discoveries; he
was still far from being his precise,
judicial self. He let Chamberlain talk
on, scarcely noticing what he said,
until suddenly the identity of the
man whom Chamberlain was describ-
ing came home to him. Agatha's
story flashed back in his memory. He
stopped short in his tracks, hating
his companion with stretched-out
forefnger.
Look here, Chamberlain" he said,
give been half loony and didn't take
in what you said. If that's the owner
or proprietor of the Jeanne Dare
man known as Monsieur Chatelard,
French accent, blond, above medium
size, prominent white teeth-we want
him right away. He kidnapped Miss
Redmond in New York, and shouldn't
wonder if he kidnapped old Jim and
stole the yacht besides. He's bad
one"
Mr.. Chamberlain had the air of hui
moring lunatic We'll, what's to be
done? Is it a case for the law? Is
there any evidence to be had?"
Law! Evidenced" cried Aleck.
81 should think so. You go to Big
Simon, Chamberlain, and find out
who's sheriff, and we'll get warrant
and run him down. Heavens! A man
like that would sell his mother!"
Chamberlain looked frankly skepti-
cal, and would not bulge until Aleck
had related every circumstance that
he knew about Agatha's involuntary
fight from New York. He was all
for going to the red house and inves-
tigating Agatha herself, but Aleck re-
fused to let him do that.
"She's worn out and gone to bed;
YOU can't see her. But it's straight,
YOU take my word. We must catch
that scoundrel and bring him here for
identification-to be sure there's no
mistake. And if it is he, it'll be hot
enough for him."
Chamberlain doubted whether it
was the same man, and put up objec-
lions seriatim to each proposition of
Alexis, but finally accepted them all
He made a point, however, of going
on his quest alone.
"You go back TO the red house and
go to bed, and I'll round up Eggs.
| think | know how the trick can be
done"
Aleck was stubborn about accom-
panying Chamberlain, but the English
man plainly wouldn't have it. He told
Aleck he could do it better alone, and
led him by the arm back to the old
red house, where the kitchen door
stood Hospitality open. Sallie was al
work in her pantry. The kettle was
singing on the stove, and the milk
had already conle from neighbor's
dairy.
Sallie's temper may not have beer