Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1913-06-05


may think Of us" she said. But the
men we're already crazed with fear.
even before the leak was discovered.
One Of their mates on the voyage
over was a fo~rtune-teller, and he
p~rophesied danger to them all on their
next trip. After they had come into
port, the fortune-teller himself died.
And who a blame them for their
fear? They are all superstitious; and
as no n ever regarded their fears,
now they have no regard for any
body's feelings but their own"
But we are in the middle OF the
Atlantic. no one knows where. We
may drift for days-we may starve-
the Lord only knows what will hap
pen to us!"
Agatha, who had been floating,
swan a little nearer and laid her
hand oil Jim's shoulder. until he
looked into her face. 1t vas full OF
strength and brightness.
1.-The sea is His Also" she quoted
gently. Besides, we may get picked
up" she went on. "Tm very well on,
for my part, as you see, Can swim
or rest floating, thanks to this blessed
cork thing, and not at all hurt by the
fall from the rope. But I must get
rid Of my shoes and some Of my
clothes, If ! have to swim"
1t Is awkward to kick OF ones
shoes and divest oneself of unneces-
sary clothing in the water, and
Agatha laughed at herself as she did
it. Not exactly a bathing suit, but
this n black skirt will have to do.
The others must 60. 1t was my skirts
that caused the mischief with the
rope at first. And l was scared"
"You had a right to be-" Jim helped
her keep a1oat, and presently he saw
that, freed from the ENHANCEMENT OF
so many clothes, she was as much
at home in the water as he. Sud
denly she turned to him, caught by
some recollection that almost eluded
her.
Il don't think we are anywhere
near the middle of the Atlantic" she
said thoughtfully. James was silent,
eating the bitter bread Of despair. in
spite Of the woman's brave wish to
comfort him. They we're swimming
slowly as they talked, still hoping to
reach the yacht. They rose on the
breast OF the waves, paused o and
then TILL a quieter moment came, and
always kept near each other In the
pale blue darkness.
"OlG Sophie said something-that
some m had tempered with the
wheel, l think. At any rate, she SAID
we'd get far from shore witt
this crew"
James considered the case. "Bui
even suppose we are within a mile
or two, say, OF the shore, could yor
ever swim two miles in this heavy
sea-"
1T Is growing calmer every min
ute. See, l can do very we'll, ever
swimming alone. 1t must be neal
morning, too, and that's always
good thing" There was the SHADOW
of a laugh in her voice.
Morning? That depends" growl
ed Jim. He was being soothed IL
spite of himself, and in spite Of tn,
direfulnes of their situation. But ba,
as the situation was, and would b
, in any case, he could not deny tn
proposition that morning and day
light would make 1t better.
, But aren't you tired already? Yo'
must be-" James turned closer t
her, trying to read her face. 1T wa
a long night Of anxiety, even befor
we left the boat. Weren't you frigh'
ened"
/ Yes, Of course; but I'VE been ge
ting used to rights Of late, II one ca
: get used to them" Again there wa
/. the laugh In her voice. under all II
1 seriousness, even when she added
I'm not sure that this isn't safe
than being on board the Jeann
dare, after ALT"
g 1t was characteristic Of James ths
he forbode to take advantage Of th
opening this speech offered. The pc
sible reason of her abduction, ht
r treatment on board the yacht, ht
relation to Monsieur Chatelard-
y was all a mystery, but he could nc
at that moment, seek to solve it H,
remark remained unanswered for
o little time; at last he said: "The
the Jeanne Dare must have bee
pretty bad"
d 1T was" she said simply.
y Jim wondered whether she kne
more about the crime Of which 81
n was the victim than he knew, or
n she had discovered aught ~concernil
J. it while she was a prisoner on Il
Is yacht. Granting that her person W
k SO valuable that q man Of Monsie
Q Ch~atelard's caliber would commit
a. crime to get possession of it, wi
" should he have abandoned her VIII
there was plainly some chance
safety In the boats? He could n
conceive Of Monsieur ChatelarC
ID risking his neck in an affair of g
W. lantry; cupidity alone would accou
~ for his part in the drama. Jam
ly went over and over the situation,
IS. far as he understood 1t, but he I
n, none OF his thinking aloud. It flash
m Cd his mind that Miss Redmond m,
re alxeady have separated him. in /
thoughts. from the other people
ey the yacht: though perhaps her tr,
was instructive, arising from her O.
sr. need Of help. How could she KIN