The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1913-07-18

nal, took another look at James and
one at Hand, then light as cat he
darted from the room and down the
stairs, leaving the house through one
of the tall windows In the parlor. MT.
Chamberlain was standing near the
lilac bushes, his big figure outlined
dimly in the darkness.
Shut up!" Aleck whispered ferce-
ly. as he ran toward him. Hes just
got to sleep, Chamberlain; gone 10
sleep, like a baby. Don't make an In
fernal racket"
ooh, didn't know. Didn't mean
to make racket" began ChamDer'
lain, when Aleck pumped into MIN
and shook him by the shoulders.
He's asleep-like baby!" ne re-
iterated. And Chamberlain, wise com
rade, took Aleck by the arm ana
tramped him off over the hill to settie
his nerves. They walked for an hour
arm in arm over the road that lay IKE
gray ribbon before them IN the
night, winding up slantwise along 'ne
rugged country.
: Dawn was awake on the hills mile
, away and by and by Aleck iouhu
tongue to tell the story OF the night.
which was good for him. He talked
!. fast and unevenly, and even extraVa-
: gantly. Chamberlain listened anu
0 loved his friend in a sympathy 'hal
|. spoke for itself, though his woros
: we're commonplace enough. by 'ne
G time they had circled the fiVe-miie
a road and were near the house again.
e Aleck was something like himself
d though still unusually excited. Cnam'
e. berlain mentioned casually that MISS
1t Reynier had been anxious about MINI
r. and that all his friends at the Dig no
C. tel had worried. Finally. he, Cnam
g. berlain, had set out for the OLD rec
Il. house, thinking he could possibly Of
ly Of service: In any case glad to be neal
'b his friend.
ce "And, by the way" Chamberlain
ne added, you may be interested to hea
,r- that accidentally I got on the tracl
ID of that beggar who ate the hermit
W. eggs. Took tramp this morning. an
In, found him held up at q kind OF sailor !,
ne inn. waiting for money. Grouchy Oh
he marty: no wonder his men snippe
ne him."
re- Aleck at first took but feeble inte
MS est In Chamberlain's discoveries; .
got Was still far from being his precis
judicial self. He let Chamberlain tal
ne on scarcely noticing what ne Sal
Ina until suddenly the identity OF u
ing man whom Chamberlain was descfi
sck ing came home to him. Agatha
Zen story flashed back in his memory.
all. stopped short in his tracks, ha,'l'
:. his companion with stretchea'o
an. forefinger.
hat mook here, Chamberlain" he sa
ent .y,ve beep half loony and didn't Ia
,ck IN what you said. II that's the own
me- or proprietor of the Jeanne pare
ink man known as Monsieur Chatela
yer FRENCH accent, blond, above medi'
s,za prominent white teeth-We wa
lere him right away. He kidnapped NJ
ppi. Redmond in New York, and should
and wonder IL he kidnapped old Jim .
III a stole the yacht besides. He's a !
,le. one" :.
had Mr.. Chamberlain had the ar OF
ola moring lunatic Well wna.s 20
ne dome? Is It q case for the iaws
orr share any evidence to be had!"
we're ' saw, Evidenced" cried Als
his a, should think SO. You 60 70
ome. Simon, Chamberlain ana nnu
vho.s sheriff, and we'll get war;
the w" run him down. Heavens! A
the u una that would sell his mother!'
and : chamberlain looked frankly ske
tne cal and would not bulge until a.
too. bod related every circumstance
,ixed ~ knew about Agatha's inyolun
i the AZ a.uht from New York. He was
that sor going to the red house and IN
femi- tirating Agatha herself, Du' Aieci
ars-- fused to let him do that.
'1 "she,s worn out and gone to
leces. v can't see her. But It's stra
Iental sou take my word. We must 9
dicial s scoundrel and bring him her
men identifcation--to be sure there
BACK 81, mistake. And II 1t Is ne, It'll Dc
as ssea enough for him" ,,.,.
, aad Chamberlain doubted wne'h
r anu ,.as the same man. and put up Q
pea lions seriatim to each propositit
!, .es ~ Alexis, but finally accepted ther
~ - ne made point. however, OF
'I ,o.ss IN his quest alone.
20 .s. a. sYou go back to the red nous'
me n y 90 TO bed, and I'll round UP EgI
: |, he's S think / know how the trick ca
no de- DONE"
- A,eck was stubborn about a
....a,v n.rv,np Chamberlain. but the En-
50 the man plainly wouldn't have It. Il
= Aleck he could do 1t better aion'
fear led him by the arm back to u
10 the red house, where the kitchen
As he stood Hospitality open. sailie =
,, al Work in her pantry. The kettl
''' ss.sr singing on the stove. and the