The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1913-09-18

Aleck lifted his head at the first Gig
nal, took another look at James and
one at Hand, then light as a cat he
stairs, leaving the house through one
OF the tall windows in the parlor. Mr..
Chamberlain was standing near the
lilac bushes, his big figure outlined
dimly in the darkness.
Shut up!" Aleck whispered fierce
ly, as he ran toward him. Hes Just
got to sleep, Chamberlain; gone to
sleep, like a baby. Don't make an In
fernal racket"
"Oh, / didn't know. Didn't mean
to make a racket" began Chamber
lain, when Aleck pumped into him
and shook him by the shoulders.
Hes asleep-like a baby!" he re-
iterated. And Chamberlain, wise com.
rade, took Aleck by the arm and
tramped him off over the hill to settle
his nerves. They walked for an hour
arm In arm over the road that lay like
a gray ribbon before them in the
night. winding up slantwise along the
rugged country.
Dawn was awake on the hills a mile
away, and by and by Aleck found
tongue to tell the story of the night,
which was good for him. He talked
fast and ~unevenly, and even ~extrava-
gantly. Chamberlain listened and
loved his friend In a sympathy that
spoke for itself, though his words
were commonplace enough. BY the
time they had circled the fve-mile
road and were near the house again,
Aleck was something like himself,
though still unusually excited. Cham
berlain mentioned casually that Miss
Reynier had been anxious about him,
and hat all his friends at the big no.
tel had worried. Finally, he. Cham
berlain, had set out for the old red
house, thinking he could possibly be
of service; in am case glad to be lear
his friend.
And, by the way" Chamberlain
added, you may be interested to hear
that accidentally l got on the track
of that beggar who ate the hermits
eggs. Took a tramp this morning, and
found him held up at a kind Of sailors
inn. waiting for money. Grouchy old
party; no wonder his men shipped
him"
Aleck at first took but feeble inter
est In C~hamberlain's discoveries; he
was still far from being his precise,
judicial self. He let Chamberlain talk
on. scarcely noticing what he said,
until suddenly the identity OF the
man whom Chamberlain was describ-
ing came home to him. Agatha's
story flashed back In his memory. He
stopped short in bis tracks, hating
his companion with a stretched-out
forefinger.
Look here, Chamberlain" he said,
.Ive been half loony and didn't take
in what you said. IL that's the owner
or proprietor Of the Jeanne Dare
a man known as Monsieur Chatelard.
French accent, blond. above medium
size, prominent white teeth--we want
him right away. He kidnapped Miss
Redmond In New York. and l shouldn't
wonder if he kidnapped old Jim and
stole the yacht besides. He's a bad
one"
Mr.. Chamberlain had the air OF hui
moring a lunatic. well. what's to be
done? Is II q case for the lawf ID
there any evidence to be had?"
Law Evidenced" cried Aleck.
81 should think so. You go to Big
Simon. Chamberlain. and find out
who's sheriff, and wen get q warrant
and run him down. Heavens! A man
like that would sell his motaer!"
Chamberlain looked frankly skepti-
cal. and would not bulge until Aleck
had related every circumstance that
he knew about Agatha's Involuntary
flight from New York. He was all
for going to the red house and inves.
tigatirg Agatha herself. but Aieck re
fused to let him do that
she's worn out and gone to bed;
YOU can't see her. But t's straight,
YOU take my word. We must catch
| that scoundrel and bring him here for
| identification--to be sure there's NO
mistake. And II 1t Is he, tin be hot
enough for him"
Chamberlain doubted whether II
was the same man, and put up objeo
| tons seriatim to each proposition OF
| Alexis. but finally accepted them all
He made 4 point. however, of going
on his quest alone.
~You 60 back ~ the red house and
20 to. bed. and I'll round up Eggs. !
think / know how the trick can be
done."
Aleck was stubborn about accom-
panying Chamberlain. hut the English.
man plainly wouldn't have II. He told
Aleck he could do 1t better alone. and
led hah by the arm back to the old
red house, where the kitchen doc,
STOOD Hospitality open. Sallis was al
work In her pantry. The kettle wa
| singing On the stove. and the Mill