Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1913-07-24


Her courage was at the ebb. She fell
that the buoyancy OF spirit that had
sustained them both during the night
of struggle could level revisit the
wasted and disorganized body lyingIr
Parson Thayer's house-her house. A
certain practical sense that was
strong In her rose and questioned
whether she had done everything that
could be done for his welfare. She
thought so. Had she not aver prayed
with all her concentration Of mind
and will? She heard again Susan
~Stoddard's deep voice; mo striving
toward God is ever lost!" In spite Of
her unfaith, a sense Of rest In a pow
er larger than herself came upon hei
unawares. Danny, who had wandered
away. came back and sat down heavi
ly on the edge of her skirt, close to
her. Good Danny" she praised, pet
ting him to his hearts content.
1t was thus that Aleck Van Camp
found them, as he came over the stile
from the house. His tones were slow
er and mor precise than ever, but his
face was drawn and marked with anx
iety, He had q careful thought fol
Agatha, even in the face Of his great
er trouble.
"You have chosen a bad hour tc
wander about, Miss Redmond. The
evening dews are heavy"
Yes, l know; Danny and 1 were
just going home. Have you been into
the house?"
Eyes, l left Doctor Thayer there in
consultation with the other physician
that came today. They sent me off
Old Jim-well, you know as we'll as
I do. With your permission, I'm go
ing to stay the night. I'll bunk in the
hall, or anywhere. Don't think of q
bed for me; l don't want one"
I'm glad you'll stay. 1t seems
somehow, as II every one helps; that
is, every one who cares for him."
Doctor Thayer thinks there will be
a change tonight, though 1t is difficult
to tell. Jim's family have my tele.
gram by this time, and they will get
my letter tomorrow, probably. Any.
way, l shall wait until morning before
I send 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-of-G ilead tree.
ut seems strange" said Agatha,
ito think that l sat out there under
that big tree as a little girl. Every
thing is SO different now"
"Ilion, 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"
A1eck produced his quizzical grin.
"a gallant person would protest that
that is Incredible"
Il wasn't angling for gallantry,'
Agatha replied YEARLY. Il am TWEEN
ty-six, and / 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.
Il don't know his name"
IF 1t 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 l was uncon-
scious."
Aleck turned a sharp, though not
unsympathetic, gaze upon Agatha. Il
have told no ope but Doctor Thayer,
and he did not believe me. But 1t is
quite true; the wreck saved me, prob
ably, from something worse, though /
don't know what"
II there had been skepticism on
Alexis face for an instant 1t 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. I was put into the
charge Of an old lady, a Frenchwoman
Madame Soie; evidently a trusted
chaperon, or nurse. or something like
that. When I came to myself In q
very luxurious cabin in the yacht, this
old woman was talking to me in
French-a strange medley that l could
make nothing of. When l was better
she questioned me about everything
saying Mon Dieu!' at every answer
made. Then she left and was gone Q
long time; and when she came back
that mar was with her, I learned aft
,erward that he was called Monsieur
Chatelard. They both looked at me
arguing flercely in such a furious
French that l could not understand
more than half they said. They
looked as If they were appraising me
like an article for sale. but Madam,
soae held out steadily, on some point
against Monsieur Chatelard, and final
ly 1t appeared that she converted hin
to her own point Of view. He wen
away very angry, and l did not Sc,
him again, except at a distance, unit
the night of the wreck"
did you find out where they wer'