Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1913-06-19
He smiled at his own words. and

little milk" she said. and crept away
to get the pail. which had been hid
den on a shelf Of rock. When she
came back with it, James friedman
fully to sit up; but Agatha slipped
an arm under his neck. In skilful
nurse fashion, and held the bucket
while he drank, almost greediiy. AS
be sank back on his bed he whisper
ed: You are very good to take care
of ma"
"Ol. no; I'm only too glad! And
now I'm going to build up the fire
again; your hands are quite cold"
mo. don't 60" he pleaded. please
stay here; I'm not cold any more.
And you must go to sleep again. l
ought not to have wakened you; and,
really, l didn't mean to-"
Yes. you ought. I've had lots of
sleep; l don't want any more"
ITS dark, but it's better than 1t
was that other night, isn't it?" said
James.
Much better" answered Agatha.
James visibly gathered strength
from the milk, and presently he took
some more. Agatha watched, and
when he had finished, patted him
approvingly on the hand. Good boy!
You've done very WELL" she cried.
"I was so thirsty, I thought the
whole earth had run dry. VIII you
think NE very ungrateful II say now
| wish 1t had been water"
"Oh, no; l wish so, too. But Mr.,
Hand could only get us a little Bit
from a spring, for there isn't any
other pail"
1t was some time before Jim made
out to inquire, who's Mr.. Hand?"
Hes the man that helped us-out
Of the water-when we became ex'
hausted."
Agatha hesitated to speak Of the
nights experience, uncertain how 'ar
Jim's memory carried him, and not
knowing how a sick man. in his
weakness, might be affected. STU
now that he seemed almost himself
again, save for the chill, she ventured
to refer to the event, speaking In a
matter-of-fact way, as II such endur
ance tests we're the most natural
events in the world. James speech
was quite coherent and distinct, but
very slow, as II the efforts to speak
came from the depths Of a profound
fatigue.
"Hand-that's a good name for him
| thought 1t was the hand Of God
which piucked me, like David, OF
Jonah, or some such person, out OF
the seething pillows. But I didn't
think of there being a mar behind
Then, after a long silence, Where
is he?"
Hes gone of to find somebody tc
help US get away from here: a car
riage or wagon Of some sort, and
some food and clothes"
Something caused Jim to calculate
though quite feebly, "You poor
thing" And then he asked, very slow
ly, Where is 'here'?"
II don't know; and Mr.. Hand
doesn't know"
"And we've lost our tags" laughed
Jim family.
Agatha couldn't resist the laugh
though the weakness In Jim's voice
was almost enough to make her weeI
as we'll.
Eyes, we've lost our tags, more's
the pity. Mr.. Hand thinks we're
either on the coast of Maine, or or
al island somewhere near the coast
I myself think it must at least be
Nova Scotia, or possibly Newfound
land. But Hand will find out and be
back soon, and then we'll get away
from here and go to some place where
we'll all be comfortable"
Agatha stole away, and with much
difficulty succeeded in kindling the
fire again. She tended 1t until a good
steady heat spread over the rocks, ant
then returned to James. She curlet
up, half sitting, half lying. against
the rocks.
NlOuuD Iou lloOh III JhO lOCCul
hours, and it was much darker thar
the night before had been. The ocean
washing It's million pebbles up on the
little beach, moaned and complained
necessarily. In the long interval be
tween their talk, Agatha's head would
fall, her eyes would close, and she
would almost sleep; but an under
current Of anxiety concerning he,
companion kept her always at tn,
edge Of consciousness. James him
self appeared to have no desire t.
sleep. He was trying to piece to
gether, in his mind, his conscious an,
unconscious memories. At last b,
said:
q" guess l haven't been much goo,
for a while-have II"
Agatha considered before replying
you were quite exhausted, l think
and we feared you might be ILL.,"
And Handy Andy got my Job?
She laughed outright at this. as nue.
for the feeling Of It CAV
her as for the jest itself.
Handy Andy certainly had a jot
with us two on his hands!" she laugh
ed.
81 bet he did" cried James. wit,
more vigor than he had shown before
"He's a great man; I'm for him
When's he coming back?"
Fairly in the morning. l hope" sal
Agatha, swallowing her misgivings.
That's good" said James. Il thin
I'll be about and good for somethin
! myself by that time"