Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1913-07-04

another matter. The island, II APP
peared, had for some years been aban-
doned by its owner, and its only In
habitant was a gray and grizzly old
man, known to the region as the her
NIT. His fancy was to keep a light
burning always by night in the land
ward window of his cabin, so as 70
warn sailors off the dangerous head
land. There was no lighthouse In the
vicinity, and by a kindly consent the
people on the neighboring islands and
on the mainland opposite encouraged
his benevolent delusion, if delusion 1t
might be called. They contrived to
send him provisions at least once a
week; and they had supplied him with
a flag which, it was understood, he
would fly in case he was in actual
need So, alone with his COW and his
fowls. the old hermit spent his days,
winter and summer, tending his lamp
when the dark came or.
Aleck and Mr.. Chamberlain had
picked up some of this information at
the last port which the Sea Gull made;
but what was of new and real interest
to them was the story which the old
man told them of a castaway on the
island few days before.
"All hands had abandoned the
yacht just before she went down, it
appears. The owner was robbed by
his own men and marooned on the her
mit's island-that's the gist of it,"
said Aleck.
THE hermit said the man wouldn't
eat of his table," went Oh, Mr.. Cham
berlain; but asked him for raw eggs
and ate them outdoors. Said that ex-
cept when he asked for eggs he never
spoke without cursing. At least, the
hermit couldn't understand what he
said, 80 he thought 1t was cursing.
And while the old man was talking"
added Chamberlain resentfully. that
blooming peacock sQuawked like a
demon"
The yacht that went down. accord
Ing to the man, was the Jeanne Dare"
said Aleck, who had been grave
enough between all their light-hearted
talk. Il didn't tell you, Chamberlain,
that my cousin, my old chum, went
OF quite Unexpectedly on a boat
called the Jeanne Dare. Where he
went or what for, | don't know. OF
course, it m.y have been another
Jeanne DARE; it probably was. But
it troubles me-"
Melanie was instantly aroused.
"Oh, | had an uncanny feeling when
you first mentioned the Jeanne
D'Arc!" she cried. But could you not
find out more? What became of the
man that was marooned?"
HE got of the island day or two
ago." said Aleck The people that
brought provisions to the old man
took him to the mainland, to Charles
port"
The beggar left without so much
as thanking the old man for his
eggs" added Chamberlain.
We'll put into Charlesport tonight,
If you don't mind" said Aleck. IF
| can find the man that was marooned,
may be able to learn something
about Jim, If he really was on the
yacht. You can all go ashore, If you
like. There's big summer hotel near
by, and it's lovely country"
We'll stay wherever it's most con-
venient for you to have us" said
Melanie, looking at Aleck, for once,
with more than a friendly interest in
her eyes
And perhaps ] can help you, Van;
two heads. you know" said Chamber
lain.
The village still rang, II so staid a
community could be said to ring, with
reports of the event of the week be-
fore. Doctor Thayer had been sphinx
like. and Little Simon had been imag-
native and voluble; and 1t would have
been difficult to say which had teased
the popular curiosity the more Aleck
found a tale ready for his ears about
the launch and its three passengers,
with many conflicting details. Some
said that a great singer had been
wrecked of Rams Head, others that
it was the captain and mate Of the
Jeanne Dare, others that it was a
daughter of old Parson Thayer's sweet
heart and two sailors that came
ashore. Little or nothing was known
about the island castaway. Aleck fol-
lowed the only clue he could find,
thinking to get at least some inkling
of the truth.