Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1913-03-14

very luxurious cabin in the yacht, this
old woman was talking to me in
French--a strange medley that coulc
make nothing OF. When | was better
she questioned me about everything
saying Mon Dieun at every answer
made. Then she left and was gone q
long time and when che came back
that man was with her. learned aft
erward that he was called Monsieur
Chatelard. They both looked ut me
, arguing fierceiy in such q 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
~ it appeared that she converted him
to her OWN point OF view. He went
away very angry, and did not see
him again, except at distance. until
the night OF the wreck
did you find out where they were
going, or who was back OF their
scheme?"
"No, 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 i'll from the effects OF the
chloroform. and frightened. too,
think"
II don't wonder" said Aleck, wrink-
ling his homely face He remained
silent while he searched. mentally,
for clue.
81 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."
Il see. see," said Aleck, going over
the story in his mind. And presently,
Where doess Hand come in? And
how did Jim happen to be aboard the
Jeanne D'Arc?"
Hand was some sort OF henchman
to Monsieur Chatelard, l 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 a whistle
and remained silent. They had arrived
at the porch steps, and were tacitly
waiting for the doctors to descend and
give them, If 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 1t out, finally, to certain
point. and expressed himself thus:
That's the way with your steady fell
lows: they're all the bigger fools when
they do jump"
Pardon me, I didn't catch"
"Oh, nothing" said Aleck, half tr-
ritably. II 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 it had not been for his
fearful struggle for me ne would not
have been so 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 longer view down the corridors
of time. He held her eye with a look
OF great earnestness.
81 love old Jin, Miss Redmond.
We've been boys and men together,
and good fellows always. But don't
think that 70 regret his struggle for
you, as you call it, even il 1t should
mean the worst. He couldn't have
done otherwise, and / wouldn't have
had him. And If It's to be IA home
Tu0-WHy, IuSu, Jill "cUiu ihU Ih1t
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 picture of
his straight and dauntless youth. She
held out to Aleck a 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, "we won't give up
He's got fighting chance yet"
(To BE CONTINUED.)