Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1913-08-21
CHAPTER XXI.
Jimmy RedIvIua

If the occupants Of the old red house
felt over-much inclined to draw a long
breath and rest on their oars after
their anxiety and recent excitement,
Agatha's manager was able to supply
a powerful antidote. He was restless
ness i~ncarnate.
He was combining a belated summer
holiday with what he considered to be
good business, Seeing not only his
prima donna secluded at Ilion, but 9th
er important people all the way from
Portland to Halifax. When he heard
that the man who ran OF with his rae
ing a was also responsible for the
mysterious departure Of Miss Red
mond. his excitement was great.
You mean to say that you were
picked up and drugged in broad day
light in New York;" he demanded of
Agatha.
Practically that"
"And you escaped"
1.-THE yacht foundered."
"And that scamp walked right into
your hands and you let him got"
Agatha forced a rueful smile. II con-
fess I'm not much used to catching
criminals"
Mr.. Straker paused, lacking words
to express his outraged spirit.
Il don't mean you, Of course. This
whole outfit here-what are they do
ing? Think they're put on in a walk
ing part, eh? Don't they know enough
to go in out of the rain?" Getting no
reply to Ills fuming, he came down
from his high horse, curiosity impel--
ling. "Whatd he kidnap you for-ran-
som?"
mo. 1t seems that he mistook me
for Miss Reynier-the lady out there
on the lawn talking with Mr.. Van
Camp"
Mr.. Straker bent his intent gaze
out of the window.
Il don't e any resemblance at
all" His crusty manner implied that
Agatha, or somebody, was to blame
for all the coil of trouble, and should
US Lldue W pay lOT IL.
Even l was puzzled" smiled Aga
tina. Il thought she was some one l
knew" @ u44.t... =.
NONSENSE" growled Mr.. straker.
Anybody with two eyes could see the
difference. She's older, and heavier.
What did the scoundrel want with
herr"
81 don't know. She's a princess or
something"
Mr.. Straker jumped. She Isl" he
cried. Lord. why didn't you tell
me?"
I'm trying TO-"
"A~dvertising!" he shouted joyfully.
"Jimminy Christmas! Well make it
up-all this time lost. Princess who?
Where from? l guess you do look
like her, after all. l see 1t all now
headlines! Strange confusion of
identity! Which is the p~rincess?'
It'll draw crowds-thousands."
Agatha escaped, leaving Mr.. Straker
to collect from others the details Of
his advertising story, which he did
with surprising speed and accuracy.
BY the next morning he had pumped
Sallie, Doctor Thayer and Aleck Van
Camp, and had extracted the promise
of an interview from Miss Reynier
herself.
The only really unsatisfactory sub
ject of investigation was Mr.. Hand,
whom Straker watched for a day or
two with growing suspicion. Straker
had sputtered, good-naturally enough,
over the accident" to his racing-car,
and had taken 1t for granted, in rather
a h~igh-handed manner, that Mr.. Hand
was to make repairs. His name to-
ward the chauffeur was not pleasant,
being a combination Of the patron and
the bully. 1t was exactly the sort of
manner to precipitate civil war,
though diplomacy might serve to COW
err the breach for a time.
But the racing-car, ANONYMOUSLY
towed home by Miss Reynier's white
machine, stood undisturbed In one G.
the open carriage sheds by the church.
Eluded by Hand for the space OF
t~wenty-four hours, and finding that
the injury to the car was beyond his
own mechanical skill to repair, Mr.
Straker sent peremptory word Ia
Charlesport and to the Hillside for the
services of a mechanician, without
satisfaction. Little Simon thought the
matter was beyond him, but informed