The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1913-05-17


even before the leak was discovered
One of their mates on the voyag
over was a fortune-teller, and h
prophesied danger to them all on thei
next trip. After they had come int
port, the fortune-teller himself dice
And who can blame them for thei
fear? They are all superstitious; an
as no one ever regarded their fears
now they have no regard for any
body's feelings but their own"
But We are in the middle OF III
Atlantic, no one knows where. w
may drift for days-we may starve-
the Lord only knows what will hap
pen to u.s."
Agatha, who had been floating
swan little nearer and laid he
hand on Jim's shoulder. until h
looked into her face. Il was full o
strength and brightness
The sea is His Also" she quoted
gently Resides. we may get picked
up, she went on. I'm very well of
for my part, as you see. Can swim
or rest floating. thanks to this blessed
cork thing, and not at all hurt by the
fall from the rope But I must gel
rid OF my shoes and some of my
clothes. n have 10 swim"
1t Is awkward to kick of ones
| shoes and divest oneself of unneces-
sary clothing in the water. and
Agatha laughed at herself as she did
1t. Not exactly a bathing suit. but
this one black skirt will have to do.
The others must go. II was my skirts
that caused the mischief with the
rore at first. And was scared"
You had a right to be-" Jim helped
her keep afioat. and presently he saw
that, freed from the ENHANCEMENT OF
so many clothes, she was as much
at home in the water as he. Sud
denly she turned to him, caught by
some recollection that almost eluded
her.
Il don't think we are anywhere
near the middle of the Atlantic" she
said thoughtfully. James was silent,
eating the bitter bread OF despair. In
spite or the woman's brave wish to
comfort him. They were swimming
slowly as they talked. still hoping to
reach the yacht. They rose on the
breast Of the waves, paused now and
then till quieter moment came. and
always kept near each other In the
pale blue darkness
old Sophie said something-that
some one had tempered with the
wheel. think. At any rate. she said
wee never get far from shore with
this crew"
James considered the case. But
even suppose we are within a mile
or two, say, Of the shore, could you
ever swim two miles in this heavy
sea-"
1T is growing calmer every min
ute. See, can do very well, even
swimming alone. 1t must be near
morning, too, and that's always a
good thing" There was the shadow
Of a laugh in her voice.
Morning? That depends" gIowl-
ed jim He was being soothed in
spite Of himself, and in spite of the
Of their situation. But bad
as the situation was, and would be
In any case. he could not deny the
proposition that morning and day.
light would make it better.
But aren't you tired already? You
must be-" James turned closer to
her, trying to read her face. 1T was
long night Of anxiety, even before |
we left the boat. Weren't you fright
ened?"
Yes. Of course; but I've been get
ing used to frights of late, IL one can
get used to them" Again there was
he laugh in her voice, under all its
seriousness, even when she added:
I'm not sure that this isn't safer
han being on board the Jeanne
)Arc. after ALL"
1t was characteristic Of James that
lie forbode to take advantage of the
opening this speech offered. The pos
ible reason Of her abduction, her
reatment on board the yacht. her
citation to Monsieur Chatelard-it
vas all a mystery, but he could not,
t that moment. seek to solve 1t. Her
remained unanswered for a
title time; at last he said: Then
be Jeanne Dare must have been
retty bad"
1T was" she said simply.
Jim wondered whether she know
lore about the crime of which she
'as the victim than he knew. or II
he had discovered aught concerning
while she was a prisoner on the
acht. Granting that her person was
D valuable that a man Of Monsieur
hatelard's caliber would commit a
rime to get possession of It. why
hould he have abandoned her when
here was plainly some chance of
afety in the boats? He could not
onceive of Monsieur Chatelard.s
skiing his neck in an affair OF gal.
Intry; cupidity alone would account ,
'r his part In the drama. James
ent over and over the situation as
n as he understood It, but he did ,
one Of his thinking aloud. II flashed d.
D his mind that Miss Redmond must .
ready have separated him, In her .
loughts, from the other people on =
le yacht; though perhaps her trust
as instructive, arising from her own
eed OF help. How could she know