The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1913-01-08

remark remained unanswered for a
little time; at last he said: "Ther
the Jeanne Dare must have been
pretty bad"
1T was" she said simply.
Jim wondered whether she knew
more about the crime of which she
was the victim than he knew, OF II
she had discovered aught concerning
II while she was prisoner on the
yacht. Granting that her person was
so valuable that a man of Monsieur
Chatelard's caliber would commit a
crime to get possession of IL, why
should he have abandoned her when
there was plainly some chance OF
safety In the boats? He could not
conceive of Monsieur Chatelard's
risking his neck in an affair of gal.
lantry; cupidity alone would account
for his part in the drama. James
went over and over the situation, as
far as he understood 1t, but he did
none of his thinking aloud. 1t flashed
on his mind that Miss Redmond must
already have separated him, in her
thoughts, from the other people on
the yacht; though perhaps her trust
was instructive, arising from her own
need of help. How could she know
that he had risked his neck twice,
now, to follow the Vision?
Swimming slowly, with Agatha's
hand at times on his shoulder, James
turned his mind sharply to a consid-
Grafton of their present position. They
had been alternately swimming and
floating, hoping to come upon the
yacht. The darkness of the night was
penetrable, so that they could see a
fairly large circle of water about
them, but there was no shadow of
the Jeanne Dare. Save for the run
ming surge of the waters, aii was ST.
lence.- The pale forerunners of dawn
had appeared. Their swim after the
boats of the Jeanne Dare had warm
ed their blood, so that for a while
they were not conscious of the chill
Of the water But as the minutes
one by one. fatigue and
,old numbed their bodies. IL was a
est of endurance for a strong man;
Is for the girl, Jim wondered at her
strength and courage. She swan
with unhurried, steady
strokes. If she grew chatteringly
old, she would start into a vigorous
swim, shoulder to shoulder with
lanes. If she lost her breath with
he hard exercise, she would take his
land so as not to lose you," she
would say, and rest on the breast
If the waves. The wind dropped and
he sea grew quiet, so that they were
10 more cruelty buffeted, but rocked
Up and down on its heaving bosom.
Once, while they were resting" on
he water, Agatha broke long 81 !
ence with, 81 wonder" but did not
1t once say what she wondered at.
i'm said nothing, but she knew he
vas waiting and listening.
Suppose this should be the Great |
Gateway" she said at last, very
lowly, but quite cheerfully and nat
rally. Il am wondering what there is
eyond"
i've often wondered, too," said
i'm.
I've sometimes thought, and I've |
aid it, too, that / was crazy to die. |
ust to see what happens" Agatha
vent on, laughing little at her own
But / find I'm not at all |
ager for it, now, when it would be
o easy to go under and not come up
gain. Are you?"
mo, I've never felt eager to die; !
east of all, now"
Agatha was silent a while.
What do you think death means?
hall we be we tomorrow, say, pro-
ided we can't keep ahoat?" she
sked by and by.
"Why, yes, / think So" said Jim.
| don't know why or how, but L guess
re go on somewhere; and l rather
hink our best moments here-our
of happiness or heroism, if
re ever have any-are going to be
he regular thing" Jim laughed a
tile, partly at his own lame ending.
nd partly because he felt Agatha's
and closing more tightly over his.
lie didn't want her to get blue just
ct, after her brave fight.
But Agatha wasn't blue. She an
wered thoughtfully: THAT isn't a
ad idea" and then cheerfully turned
D a consideration of the possibilities
{ a rescue at dawn.
James had evolved a plan to wait
II enough light came to enable them
D reach the Jeanne Dare, if she was
till afoat; then to climb aboard and
unit for provisions and life preserv-
RS or something to use for a raft.
he could do this, then they would
e in a somewhat better plight, at
East for time. He prayed that the
eanne D'Arc might still be afioat.
The two talked little, leaving ST.
,nces between them full of wonder.
he details of life, the ordinary per-
were blotted out. Without
xplanation or speech of any kind,
ley understood each other. They