Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1913-08-29
II fancy So"

you get Tlu Ol ukm Inc oOtCcI. OudnSoo
are he's a man Of no principle. and
he'll do you"
Agatha was silent. Meantime Mr..
Straker got his second wind.
"Of course he knows what he's
about when It comes to a machine"
he knows too much for an honest man.
Looks to me as IL there wasn't any
thing on this green earth he can't
| do"
Green ocean, too-he's quite az
much at home there" laughed Aga
| tina
4-umph!" Mr. Straker grunted in
disgust. Let me assure you. Miss
Redmond, that it's no joking matter"
Tradition to the contrary, Agatha
was content to let the man have the
last word. Mr.. Straker turned to
some business matters, wrote out tele-
graphic material enough to occupy
the leisurely Charlesport operator for
some hours, and then disappeared
Agatha was impressed by the man
ayers words somewhat more than her
manner implied She had no swift
and sure judgment of people, and her
experience Of the world. short as 1t
was, had taught her that recklessness
is a costly luxury She was meditat-
ing as to the wisest course to pursue.
when the ex-chauffeur appeared.
Hand wore his accustomed loose
shirt and trousers without coat or
waistcoat, and It seemed as II he had
never known a hat His thick hair
was tumbled back from the forehead.
His hands were now spotless, and his
whole appearance agreeably clean and
wholesome. He even looked as II he
were going to be frank, but Agatha
knew that must be a delusion- II was
impossible. however. not to be some
what cajoled-he was 80 eminently
Iikable. Agatha took lesson from
his own book, and waited In silence
for him to speak
"Mademoiselle?' His voice had an
undertone of excitement or nervous
ness that was wholly new.
well, Mr.. Hand?"
| He remained standing by the door
for a moment, then stepped forward
with the abrupt manner Of a STRIPPING
who, usually inarticulate, has sudden
ly found tongue.
why did you do 1t, Mademoiselle!"
DO what, my friendr"
Back me up before the sheriff
Give me a slick walkout like that"
Agatha laughed good-humoredly.
why should / answer your ques-
lions, Mr.. Hand, when you 30 persist
emily ignore mine?"
Hand made a gesture Of impotence.
"Mademoiselle, you may think me
all kinds of a scamp, but I'm not idiot
enough to hide behind q woman. Don't
you know me well enough to know
that?" he demanded so earnestly that
he seemed very cross.
Agatha looked into his face with a
new curiosity. He was very young
after all. Something In the way OF
} experience had been grinding philoso
ply, of a sort, into him-or out Of
him. Wealth and position had been
his natural enemies, and he had some
how been led to an attitude Of antag
onism that was, at bottom. quite for
eign to his nature.
/ So much Agatha could guess at, and
for the rest, instinct taught her to be
kind. But she was not willing now to
J take him so seriously rs he seemed to
be taking himself. She couldn't re
sist teasing him a bit, by saying:
Nevertheless, Mr.. Hand, you did hide
behind me; you had to-"
He did not reply to her banterine
smile, but, in the pause that followed
J stepped to the bookcase where she
had been standing. gingerly picked NJ
a soft bit of linen and lace from the
} floor and dropped II into her hap. Then
J he faced her in an attitude Of pugna
cious irritation. For a brief moment
his silence fell from him
: 81 didn't have to-" he contradicted
Il let 1t go because ! thought you
were a good sport, and you WOULDN'T
catch me backing out Of your game
; not by a good deal! But there's 9
darned sight-pardon me, Mademot
, seile!-there's too much company
round here to suit mel You know me
! you know you can trust me, Mademoi
! selle! But what about Tom, Dick and
Harry all over this place-castint
: eyes at a manr
Agatha, almost against her win
was forced to meet his seriousness
halfway. Il don't know what ycS
mean" she said.
Tell 'emi" he burst out. Tell EN-
the whole story. Tell that blamet
snoopin' manager that I'm a crool
and a kidnaper, and then he'll stoI
nosing round after me. I'll have ar
: hours start, and that's all want
. DIGGING a man-running him dovr
under his own automobilei" HAND
permitted himself a dry smile at hii
own joke, but Immediately added: II
goes against the grain, Mademoi
sellel"
: Agatha's face Frightened. as sht
grasped the clue to Hands wrath
I've no doubt" she answered grave
ly. She knew the manager. But VII,
should l tell him, as you suggestr
Cro BE CoNTINUED.)
Sublime Thoughts.
Tor oil our NANNY xufod0rn g. ~