The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1913-03-29

very luxurious calm in the yacht, this.
old woman was talking to me IN
| French-a strange medley that could
make nothing OF. When ! was better
-she questioned me about everything,
| IS ying Mon Dieu' at every answer
made. Then she left and was gone
long time; and when she came back.
that man was with her. learned aft
erward that he was called Monsieur
| Chatelard. They both looked at me.
! arguing fiercely In such furious
French that could not understand
more than half they said. They
looked as II they were appraising me,
like an article for sale. but Madame
Sofie held out steadily, on some point.
against Monsieur Chatelard, and final
| ly IL appeared that she converted him
to her own point of view. He went
away very angry, and l did not see
him again. except at a distance. until
the night OF the wreck"
did you find out where they were
going, or who was back of their
scheme?"
mo, nothing; or very little. There
was money involved. could tell that,
But no names were mentioned. nor
any places that can remember. You
see, | was Ill from the effects OF the
chloroform. and frightened. too. !
think"
| "T don't wonder" said Aleck. wrink-
ling his homely face. He remained
silent while he searched. mentally.
for clue.
Il found out, through my maid, who
arrived today, that some one OF the
KIDNAPPING party had been clever
enough to send false message to the
hotel, explaining my sudden depar'
ture."
81 see, see." said Aleck. going over
the story in his mind. And presently,
Where does Hand come In! And
how did Jim happen to be aboard the
Jeanne D'Arc?"
Hand was some sort of henchman
to Monsieur Chatelard, believe. And
he told me that your cousin was
picked up in New York harbor, swim
ming for life. It appeared. No one
seemed to know any more"
| Aleck stopped short, looked at
Agatha, pursed his lips for whistle
and remained silent. They had arrived
at the porch steps. and were tacitly
waiting for the doctors to descend and
give them. II possible. some encour.
agement for the coming night. But
| the story OF the Jeanne D'Arc had
grown more complicated than Aleck
had anticipated. and much was yet to
be explained. Aleck was slow, as al
ways. in thinking 1t through, but he
figured It out, finally. to certain
point, and expressed himself thus:
That's the way with your steady tel-
lows; they're all the bigger fools when
they do jump"
Pardon me, didn't catch"
"Oh, nothing" said Aleck. half IT.
ritably. 81 only said Jim needed a
poke, like that heifer over In the next
field
Agatha understood the boyish irri-
tation, cloaking the love Of the man.
you may be able to get more infor-
nation about your cousin from Mr..
Hand" she said. "He would be likely
to know as much as anybody"
We'll. however 1t happened, he's
here now!"
Though II 1t had not been for his
fearful struggle for me he would not
have been 80 ill.," said Agatha miser-
ably Aleck. with one foot on the low
step OF the piazza. stopped and turned
squareiy toward her. His face was no
less miserable than Agatha's, but be-
hind his wretchedness and anxiety
was some masculine reserve of power,
and a longer view down the corridors
of time He held her eye with look
of great earnestness
II love old Jim, Miss Redmond.
We've been boys and men together.
think that I'd regret his struggle for
you, as you call IL, even II it should
mean the worst He couldn't have
done otherwise, and wouldn't have
had him. And II It's to be IA home
run--why. then. Jim would like that
far better than to die of old age or
liver complaint. It's all right, Miss
Redmond"
Alexis slow words came with a
double meaning to Agatha She heard,
through them, echoes of James Ham
bleton's boyhood; she saw a picture Of
his straight and dauntless youth. She
held out to Aleck hand that trem.
bled. but her face shone with graft
tude.
Aleck took her hand respectfully
kindly, in his warm grasp. Besides"
he said simply. I'VE won't give up
He's got fighting chance yet"
CTo BE CoNTINUED.)