The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1913-02-05

ins " stay Lne night. III DUNK In the
hall, or anywhere. Don't think of a
bed for me; don't want one."
I'm glad you'll stay. 1t seems,
somehow, as il every one helps; that
is, every one who cares for him.
Doctor Thayer thinks there will be
change tonight, though it is difficult
to tell. Jim's family have my tele-
gram by this time, and they will get
my letter tomorrow, probably. Any
way, shall wait until morning before
| sen0 another message"
The tension of their thoughts was
too sharp; they turned for relief TO
the scene before them, stopping at
the stile to look back at the steepled
white church, standing under its
spreading balm-ofGilead tree.
! ut seems strange" said Agatha,
ito think that l sat out there under
! that big tree as little girl. Every
thing is so different now"
"llion, then, was once your homer
mo, never my home, though it was
once my mothers home. l used to
visit here occasionally, years and
years ago."
Aleck produced his quizzical grin.
"a gallant person would protest that
that is incredible"
81 wasn't angling for gallantry."
Agatha replied YEARLY. 81 am TWEEN
ty-six, and l haven't been here GER
! tainly since i was eight years old.
Eighteen years are a good many"
ITO youth, yes," acquiesced Aleck.
(Which reminds me, by contrast, of
the hermit; he was so incredibly old.
1t was he who unwittingly put me on
Jim's trail. He said that the owner or
proprietor of the Jeanne dare was
dropped ashore on his island"
Monsieur Chatelard?" cried Agatha.
81 don't know his name"
'If it was Monsieur Chatelard,"
Agatha paused, looking earnestly at
Aleck, "if it was he, it is the man who
tricked me into his motor-car in New
York, drugged me and carried me
aboard his yacht while / was uncon-
scious." ~
Aleck turned sharp, though not
unsympathetic, gaze upon Agatha. Il
have told no one but Doctor Thayer,
and he did not believe me- But it is
quite true; the wreck saved me, prob
ably, from something worse, though |
don't know what"
If there had been skepticism on
Alexis face for an instant it had dis.
appeared. Instead, there was deep
concern, as he considered the case.
Had you ever seen the man Chate-
lard before?"
"Never to my knowledge"
did he visit you on board the
yacht?"
"Only once. | was put into the
charge of an old lady, a Frenchwoman,
Madame Sofe; evidently q trusted
chaperon, or nurse, or something like
that When l came to myself in a
very luxurious cabin in the yacht, this
old woman was talking to me in
French-a strange medley that could
make nothing of. When l was better
she questioned me about everything,
saying Mon Dieu!' at every answer l
made. Then she left and was gone a
long time; and when she came back,
that man was with her. l learned aft
erward that he was called Monsieur
Chatelard. They both looked at me.
arguing fiercely in such a furious
French that / could not understand
more than half they said. They
looked as If they were appraising me,
like an article for sale. but Madame
Sole held out steadily. on some point.
against Monsieur Chatelard, and final
ly 1t appeared that she converted him
to her own point of view. He went
away very angry. and did not see
him again. except at distance, until
the night of the wreck"
did you find out where they were
going. or who was back of their
scheme?"
mo. nothing; or very little. There
was money involved. could tell that.
But no names were mentioned, nor
any places that can remember. You
see. was Ill from the effects of the
chloroform, and frightened, too. |
think"