Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1913-06-27

VGRY INJURIOUS G8pm N me TAGh6 IN
old woman was talking 10 ne n
Fronch-a strange medley that / could
make nothing Of When l was better
she questioned me about everything,
saying Non Dieul' at every answer |
made Then she left and was gons q
long time; and when she came back,
that man was with her. l learned Aft.
erward hat he was called NonsiauJ
Chatelard. They both looked at ma
arguing nercsly IN such . furious
French that l could not understand
more than half they said. Tnsy
looked as II they we're appraising me
like an article for sale. but Madame
Sole held out steadily. on acme point,
against Monsieur ChAtelaf& and final
ly It appeared that she converted him
to her ewn point OF view, HS went
away very angry. and I did NOT ZEE
him again. except at a distance. until
the night OF the wreck"
did you find out where they ware
going. or who was back Of their
scheme?"
No. nothing: or very little, There
was money involved. | could tell that
But no names we're mentioned nor
any places that | can remember. You
see, l was Ill from the effects Of the
chloroform. and frightened. too
think"
81 don't wonder" said Aleck. wrink-
ling his homely face, He remained
silent while he searched. mentally,
for a clue.
Il found out, through my maid, who
arrived today, that some one of the
kidnapping party had been clever
enough to send a false message to the
hotel. explaining my sudden depar
ture."
Il see, l see," said Aleck. going over
the story in his mind. And presently,
Where does Hand come in? And
how did Jim happen to be aboard the
Jeanne D'Arcf"
Hand was some sort of henchmar
to Monsieur Ch~atelard. 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 we're tacitly
waiting for the doctors to descend and
give them. II 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 70
be explained. Aleck vas slow, as al
ways. in thinking 1t through. but he
figured 1t out, finally. to a certain
point, and expressed himself thus:
That's the way with your steady fel
lows: they're all the bigger fools when
they do Jump"
Pardon me, I didn't catch"
"Oh. nothing" said Aleck, half ir
rttably. II only said Jim needed a
poke, like that heller over in the next
field"
Agatha understood the boyish irri
tation, cioaking 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 40 anybody"
well, however 1t happened. he's
here now!"
Though II It had not been for his
fearful struggle for me he would not
have been 10 ILL.," said Agatha miser-
ably. Aleck. with one foot on the low
step Of the piazza, stopped and turned
sQuarely toward her. His face was no
less miserable than Agatha's. but b.
hind his wretchedness and anxiety
was some masculine reserve of power.
and O longer view down the corridors
of time. He held her eye with q look
of great earnestness.
II love old Jim. Miss Redmond.
We've been boys and men together.
and good fellows always. But don't
think that I'd regret his struggle for
you, as you call 1t. even II It should
mean the worst. He couldn't hav,
done otherwise. and I wouldn't have
had him. And II it's to be IA homS
run-why. then, Jim would like that
far better than to die Of old age OF
liver complaint. It's all right, Miss
Redmond"
Alexis slow words came with Q
double meaning to Agatha. She heard.
through them, echoes of James Ham.
bleton's boyhood; she saw a picture OF
his straight and daunthes1 youth. She
held out to Aleck a hand that sremA
bled, but her face shone with grati
tude.
Aleck took her hand respectfully,
kindly, in his warm grasp. Besides
he said simply, I'VE won't give up
He's got a fighting chance yet"
(To BE CoNTINUED.)
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