Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1913-07-18

how you happened to escape from
the Jeanne Dare alone in a rowboat.
and what your connection with Mon
sietr Chatelard was. Will you tell
met"
A perfectly vacant look came into
Hands face. He might have been
deaf and dumb.
At last Agatha began again. 81 am
grateful, exceedingly grateful, Mr..
Hand, for all that you have done for
us since that catastrophe, but l can't
have any mystery about people That
is absurd. Did you leave the Jeanne
D'Arc when the others did-when |
fell into the water?"
This time Hand consented to an
swer. mo, Mademoiselle; / did not
know you had fallen into the water
until l brought you ashore in the
morning"
Then how did you get off?"
well, 1t was rather queer. The
men were all tired out working at the
pumps, and Monsieur Chatelard or
dered a seaman named Bazinet ana
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
D,Arc was nearly done for, the boats
had put of. We heard some one
shouting, and Bazinet got frightened
| {ttr 20 hn q Thought
they'd wait for him. 1t was too dark
for me to see whether he made It or
not. / stayed on the yacht for some
time, not knowing anything better to
do" Hand allowed himself faint
smile "and at last, after a hunt. |
found that extra boat, slowed away
aft. 1t was very small. and 1t leaked;
probably thai was why they did not
think of using 1t. But it was better
than nothing. found some putty and
e tin bucket, and got food and lot
Of other things, though the boat filled
SO fast that l had to throw most
everything out But got ashore, as
, you know. / 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
I important. She hesitated before re
, peating 1t, however, and rewarded
Hands unusual frankness with
grateful look.
That was a night of experience fol
, us ALL" she said, with a little sigh al
{ the memory Of it.
3 But tell me" Agatha looked VI
: squarely at Hand, only to encountel
his deaf and dumb expression.
a "If you will excuse me, Mademoi
i. selle," said Hand deferentially, &c
8 think Mr.. Hambleton's broth is burn
; ing"
o "Ah, well, very WELT" said Agatha
d And In spite of herself she smiled.
d Hand found Mrs. Stoddard installed
:, In James Hambleton's room. Docto
Thayer and Aleck had gone. both leav
:, ing word that they would return be
a fore night. Mrs. Stoddard hat
t smoothed James bed, folded dow
/, the sheet with exactness, noted he
l. brothers directions for treatment, an,
8 sat reading her Bible by the window
I, Mr.. Hand stood for a moment, silent
a ly regarding first the patient, then hi
e nurse.
q by the grace Of God, he will pul
n through, firmly believed" calculate
d Mrs. Stoddard.
AS the first words came in that n
4, sonant deep voice. Hand thought tina
r the nurse was swearing, though pres
emily he changed his mind.
d Yes, ma'am," he replied with VI
IT wonted meekness. Then, "I1l slee
y an hour or two, II that is agreeable I
b you. ma'am."
e PERFECTLY" heartily responde
D Mrs. Stoddard, and Mr.. Hand disal
IT peared like the mist before the sun.
ID It was to be an afternoon of excite
b. ment, after all, though Agath
n thought that she would apply hersel
Is to the Strengthening out of much ne,
essary business. But after an hour
;" work over letters at Parson Thayer
n desk, there occurred an ebullition b,
ID low which could be nothing less tina
ID the arrival of Lizzie, Agatha's mai,
with sundry articles of luggage. Sh
a. was a small-minded but efficient cit
girl, clever enough to keep her Job b
ut making herself useful, and sophist
d. Gated to the point of indecency. N
n woman ought ever to have known q
to much as Lizzie knew. Agatha was
III hear how she had been relieved b
Dr. the telegram several days before, no
D, she had nearly killed herself packin
xt in such haste, how she thought 81
was travelling to the ends of the cart
%, coming thus to a region she had new,
heard Of before.
e Big Simon, who had been instructe
rs to watch for Lizzie and bring her ar
her luggage out, presently arrive
IS with the trunks, having sent the ma
w on ahead in the buggy with his SO
of Big Simon positively declined to carr
or the two trunks to the second foe
ou saying he thought they'd like It ju
If as well, or better, II he left them
the hall downstairs. Lizzie WI
IT. angrily hesitating whether to arg,
t. with him or use the persuasion
re one of her mistress silver coin
IT. when Agatha interfered, and saw,
he her from making the mistake Of b
ID life. II Is doubtful II she could ha'
To- lived in lion after having been gull
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