The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1913-07-04


ment, In order to take up another
matter.
II was wondering" she began again,
"how you happened to escape from
the Jeanne D'Arc alone in a rowboat,
and what your connection with Mon
sieur Chatelard was. Will you tell
me-"
A perfectly vacant look came into
Hands face. He might have been
deaf and dumb.
At last Agatha began again. u am
grateful. exceedingly grateful, Mr..
Hand, for all that you have done for
US since that catastrophe, but can't
have any mystery about people. That
is absurd. Did you leave the Jeanne
dare when the others did-when l
fell into the water?"
This time Hand consented to an
swer. mo, Mademoiselle; l. did not
know you had fallen into the water
until | brought you ashore in the
morning"
Then how did you get OFF,"
We'll, 1t was rather queer The
men were all tired out working at the
pumps, and Monsieur Chatelard or
! dered seaman named Bazinet and
me to relieve two of them. He said
| he would call us when the boats were
lowered, as the yacht was then get
| ting pretty shaky. Bazinet and
worked a long time; and when finally
we got on deck. thinking the Jeanne
Dare was nearly done for, the boats
had put off, We heard some one
shouting, and Bazinet got frightened
and Jumped for the boat. He thought
they'd wait for him. 1t was too dark
for me to see whether he made 1t or
not. stayed on the yacht for some
time, not knowing anything better to
do" Hand allowed himself faint
smile land at last, after a hunt.
found that extra boat, slowed away
aft. 1t was very small, and 1t leaked !;
probably tina. was why they did not
think Of using It, But It was better
than nothing. found some putty and
a tin bucket, and got food and lot
of other things. though the boat filled
so fast that ] had to throw most
everything out. But | got ashore, as
you know. l didn't even wait to see
the last Of the Jeanne Dare"
Agatha's eyes shone. Hands story
was perfectly simple and plausible.
But the other question was even more
important She hesitated before re.
peating 1t, however, and rewarded
Hands unusual frankness with q
grateful look.
THAT was night of experience for
us ALL" she said, with a little sigh at
the memory of It,
But tell me- Agatha looked up
squarely at Hand, only TO encounter
his deaf and dumb expression.
IF you will excuse me, Mademoi.
selle," said Hand deferentially, II
think Mr.. Hambleton's broth is burn
ing"
"Ah, well. very well!" said Agatha.
And in spite of herself she smiled.
Hand found Mrs. stoddard installed
in James Hambleton's room. Doctor
Thayer and Aleck had gone. both leav.
ing word that they would return be-
fore night. Mrs. Stoddard had
smoothed James bed. folded down
the sheet with exactness, noted her
brothers directions for treatment, and
sat reading her Bible by the window.
Mr. Hand stood for moment, silent
ly regarding first the patient. then his
nurse.
"By the grace OF God, he will pull
through, / firmly believed" calculated
Mrs. Stoddard..
| As the first words came in that re.
sonant deep voice, Hand thought that
the nurse was swearing, though pres.
emily he changed his mind.
"Yes, ma'am," he replied with un.
wonted meekness. Then, I'll sleep
an hour or two. II that is agreeable to
you, ma'am."
Perfectly" heartily responded
| Mrs. stoddard,s and Mr.. Hand disap.
peared like the mist before the sun.
1t was to be an afternoon of excite.
ment, after all, though Agatha
| thought that she would apply herself
to the Strengthening out of much nee
essary business. But after an hours
work over letters at Parson Thayer's
desk, there occurred an ebullition be
| low which could be nothing less than
the arrival of Lizzie, Agatha's maid
with sundry articles Of luggage. She
was small-minded but efficient city
| girl, clever enough to keep her Job by
making herself useful, and sophisti
Gated to the point Of indecency. Nc
woman ought ever tn have known &c
much as Lizzie knew. Agatha was to
hear how she had been relieved by
the telegram several days before, how
she had nearly killed herself packing
In such haste, how she thought she
was travelling to the e1ds Of the earth
coming thus to a region she had never