Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1913-08-29
Which is impossible"

lily, 81 course, as my DOT. Or-or' II
l should die-in that case Stephen
inherits the money. And there Is no
doubt but that Stephen needs money"
Aleck pondered for several minutes.
while grave shadows threatened his
face. But presently his smiling. I'M
quenchable good temper came to the
surface, and he gleefully tucked Me-
lanie's hand under his arm
las / said before, you need a h1s-
band very badly"
"Oh, | don't know" she laughed.
The result of Alexis moment OF
grave thought came few days later,
with the arrival of two quietly-dressed
men. He told Melanie that one man
was her chauffeur for the white ma
chine, and the other was an extra hand
he had engaged for the return trip
on the Sea Gull The chauffeur, how
ever, for one reason or another, rare
iy took the wheel. and could have
been seen walking at a distance be-
hind Melanie whenever she stirred
abroad. The extra hand for the Sea
Gull did just the same as the chauf-
feur.
From the day of the arrival of the
manager, Mr.. Hands rather mysteri.
Gus but friendly temper underwent
change for the worse. He not only
continued silent, which might easily
be counted virtue, but he became al
most sulky, which could only be called
a crime There was no bantering
with SaIlie in the kitchen, scarcely a
friendly smile for Agatha herself. Mr..
Hand was markedly out of sorts.
On the morning following Mr.,
Straker's request that Hand should re-
pair the car, the manager found him
tinkering in the carriage shed near
the church. The car was lacked upon
a horse block, while one wheel lay
near the road. Mr.. Hand was as grimy
and oily as the law allows. working
over the machinery with a sort OF
vicious earnestness. Mr.. Straker how
cred around for a few moments, then
addressed Hand in that tone OF
eudo-geniality that marks a certain
type of politician.
Look here, colonel, understand
you were in the employ of that French
anarchist"
II was an unlucky moment for at
tack, though Mr. Straker did not al
once perceive it, Hand carefully wip
ed the oil from a neat ring of metal
slid down on his back under the car
and screwed on a nut. AS Mr.. Strak
er, hands in pockets and feet wide
apart, watched the mechanician. there
came through the silence and the
sweet air the sound Of thrushes call
ing from the wood beyond. Mr.. Strak
er craned his head to look out at the
church, then at the low stone wall
as II he expected to see the songsterf
performing on a stage before a row Of
footlights. He turned back to Mr.
Hand.
That's right, Is IL? You worked fol
the slippery Mounseer?"
"Uh-m," Hand grumbled, with q
screw In his mouth. Something like
that"
| WuAt yOu wi
I've found where she was wrenchet
in the turnover. Got to have a new
pin for this on wheel before she goes
much farther"
"All right, I'll order one by telegraph
today. What'd you do. asked"
Hand wriggled himself out from un
der the car and got on his feet. He
thrust his grfmy hands deep into hii
pockets, stood for a moment con
templative and belligerent, as II un
decided whether to explode or not
and then silently walked away.
AS Mr.. Straker watched his figure
moving slowly toward the kitchen, b.
started a long low whistle, expressive,
of suspicion and doubt. Midway. how
ever, he changed to a lively tune
whose title was I've got him on tn,
run"-a classic Just then spreading VI
and down Broadway. He took a few
turns about the car, looked at the gear
ing with knowing air, and then wen
into the house.
II he had been q small boy, hii
mother would have punished him fol
stamping through the halls: being /,
grown man and a visitor, he may b,
described as walking with firm, bold
tread. Finally he was able to ruI
down Agatha, who was conferrin,
with Sallie In the library.
Sallie smiled In scorn Of Mr.. Strak
er, whom she disliked far worse thai
Mr.. Hand; nevertheless, as she lef
the room she twisted up her ginghan
apron and tucked 1t into its band in
vague attempt at company manners
Mr.. Straker lost no time in ATTACKING
Agatha.
What dyou know about that chaui
feurnurse and general roustabou
that's taking care of your young gen
tleman upstairs" he inquired bluntly
Innocent Of subtlety as Mr.. Strake
was, he was nevertheless keen enough
to see that Agathas instincts tool
alarm at his words. Indeed. one skilled
in reading her face could have detect
ed the nature Of the uneasiness writ
ten there. She could not lie again, a
she had unhesitatingly lied to tn,
sheriff; neither could she abandon he
position as protector to Mr.. Hand
She wished for cleverness of the sor
that could throw her manager OF tn,
scent, but saw no way other than the
direct way
Nothing know almost nothing