Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1913-06-26


dock Agatha appealed to the docto
with great earnestness.
Surely. Doctor Thayer, It ia
Providence that we came in Just her,
where people viii know me and wi
help me. need shelter for a litti
while. and care for my sick frien
here. Where can we so?"
Doctor Thayer cast a judicial ey
over the landscape, while he held hi
hat UP into the breeze. TITS going +
clear; it'll be a fine afternoon" sal
he. Then deliberately: why doa'
you go up to the old red housed saiN
Ktngsbury's there keeping 1t, Just q
she did when Hercules was alive
waiting for you or the lawyer or some
body to turn her out, l guess. An,
it's only five. miles by the good road
You couldn't go to any Of these sailo
shacks down here, and the big sum
mer hotel over yonder isn't any piac,
for a sick man, let alone q lady with
out her trunk"
Agatha looked in amazement at tn,
doctor. go to the old red house
TO stay"
why not? If you're Agatha Red
mond, it's yours, isn't It? And
guess nobody's going to dispute your
being Agatha Shaw's daughter. look
ing as you do. The house is biz
enough for all creation; and. besides
they've been on pins and needles wait
Ing for you to come. or write, or dc
something" The doctor gave a grin
chuckle. Hercules surprised them al
some. by his will. But they'll all be
glad to see you. l guess, unless it Is
Sister Susan. She was always pretty
hard on Hercules: and she didn't ap.
prove Of the will-thought the house
ought to go to the Founding Asylum"
Agatha looked as if she saw the
gates of Eden opened to her. "But
could I really go there? Would 1t be
all right? I've not even seen the law.
yer" There was no need of answers
to her questions; she knew already
that the old red house would receive
her, would be a refuge for herself and
for James, who needed a refuge so
The doctor was already making his
plans. I'll drive this mar here" in
dicating James, "and he'll need some
one to nurse him for a while, too.
You a go up in one of Simon Nash's
wagons; and I'll get a nurse up there
as soon as / can"
The launch had tied up to the
dock. and Hand and Little ST.
mon had been waiting some minutes
while Agatha and the doctor con-
together. Now, as Agatha hest
,ated. the businesslike Hand was at
1er elbow. Il can help you, Made
noiselle, II you will let me. l have
lad some experience with sick men"
Agatha looked at him with grateful
Eyes, only half realizing what 1t was
le was offering. The doctor did not
wait, but Immediately took the ar
'angement for granted. He began CIV
ng orders in the tone of a man who
rnows just what he wants done, and
Knows also that he will be obeyed.
You stay here. Mr.. Hand, and help
With this gentleman; and Little ST.
non, here, you go up to your fathers
livery stable and harness up, quick as
'ou can. Then drive up to my place
md get the boy to bring my buggy
Town here, with the white horse.
you understand? Tell them the
loctor's waiting"
Agatha sat in the launch while the
Ioctor's orders were carried out. Lit
lie Simon was off getting the vehi-
les; Doctor Thayer had run up the
.ock to the village street on some
rrand, saying he would be back by
he time the carriages we're there;
nd Hand was walking up and down
he dock, keeping a watchful eye on
he launch. James was lying in the
heltered corner of the boat, ominous-
quiet. His eyes were closed, and
is face had grown CHASTITY in his i'll
ess. Tears came to Agatha's eyes
s she looked at him, seeing how
much worse his condition was than
7hen he had talked with her, almost
in the night. She herself
cit miserably tired and i'll; and as she
she had the sensation one
ometimes has in waiting for a train;
hat the waiting would go on for
yer, would never end.
The weather changed, as the doc
or had prophesied. and the rain
eased. Fresh gusts of wind from the
ca blew clouds of fog and mist in
and, while the surface of the water
urned from gray to green, from green
o blue. The wind, blowing against
he ~receding tide. tossed the foam
Jack. toward the land In fantastic
fumes, Agatha, looking out over the
ca, which now began to sparkle in the
light, longed In her heart to take the
eturn of the sunshine as an omen of
God. It warmed and cheered her.
'ody and soul.
AS her eyes turned from the sea to
he village tossed up beyond its high
'st tides, she searched, though in vain,
or some spot which she could iden.
ify with the memories Of her child
lood. She must have seen Charles
,ort in some one of her numerous Wis
is to Ilion as q child: but though she
'ecalled wildly many Of her expert
,nces, they were in no way sugges
i've OF this tiny antiquarian village, or
II the rocky hillside stretching off to-
yara the horizon. A narrow road
wound athwart the hill, leading into
he country beyond. II was steep and