The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1913-06-13

U sSsSAo ou6 -hi6uIaoo40, tuIcduluS tucll
way into the barber and up to the
dock. Agatha appealed to the doctor
with great earnestness.
Surely, Doctor Thayer, 1t Is a
Providence that we came in just here.
where people will know me and will
help me. need shelter for little
while, and care for my sick friend
here. Where can we go?"
Doctor Thayer cast a judicial eye
over the landscape, while he held his
hat up into the breeze. Its going to
clear; it'll be a fine afternoon" said
he. Then deliberately: why don't
you go up to the old red house? Sallie
Kingsbury's there keeping 1t, Just as
she did when Hercules was alive;
waiting for you or the lawyer or some
body to turn her out. guess. And
it's only five miles by the good road.
You couldn't 90 to any of these sailor
shacks down here. and the big sum-
mer hotel over yonder isn't any place
for sick man, let alone a lady with
out her trunk"
Agatha looked In Amusement at the
doctor. Go to the old red house
TO stay"
why not? II you're Agatha Red
mond, it's yours, isn't It? And I
guess nobody's going to dispute your
being Agatha Shaw's daughter, look
ing as you do. The house Is big
enough for all creation: and, besides,
they've been on pins and needles wait
Ing for you to come, or w3ite, or do
something" The doctor gave grim
chuckle. Hercules surprised them all
some, by his will. But they'll all be
glad to seq you. guess, unless 1t Is
Sister Susan. She was always pretty
hard on Hercules; and she didn't ap-
prove Of the will-thought the house
ought to go to the Founding Asylum"
Agatha looked as If she saw the
gates of Eden opened to her But
could really go there? Would 1t be
all right? I've not even seen the law
yer" There was no need of answers
to her questions; she knew already
that the Old red house would receive
her, would be refuge for herself and
for James. who needed a refuge so
sorely.
The doctor was already making his
plans. I'll drive this man here" in
dicating James. land he'll need some
one to nurse him for while, too.
You can 60 up In one of Simon Nash's
wagons; and I'll get nurse UP there
as soon as | can"
The launch had tied up to the
larger dock, and Hand and Little ST.
mon had been waiting some minutes
while Agatha and the doctor con-
ferred together Now, as Agatha hest
tated, the businesslike Hand was at
her elbow. II can help you, Made
moiselle, If you will let me. have
had some experience with sick men. "
Agatha looked at him with grateful
eyes, only" half realizing what 1t was
he was offering. The doctor did not
wait. but Immediately took the ar
rangement for granted. He began CIV
ing orders in the tone of man who
knows Just what he wants done, and
knows also that he will be obeyed.
You stay here, Mr.. Hand, and help
with this gentleman: and Little ST.
mon. here. you go up to your fathers
livery stable and harness up, quick as
you can. Then drive up to my place
and get the boy to bring my buggy
down here, with the white horse.
Quick, you understand? Tell them the
doctors waiting"
Agatha sat in the launch while the
doctors orders we're carried out. Lit
tie Simon was off getting the vehi-
Giles; Doctor Thayer had run up the
dock to the village street on some
errand, saying he would be- back by
the time the carriages were there;
and Hand was walking up and down
the dock, keeping watchful eye on
the launch James was lying In the
sheltered corner Of the boat, ominous-
ly quiet. His eyes we're closed, and
his face had grown CHASTITY In his ILL.,
ness. Tears came to Agathas eyes
as she looked at him, seeing how
much worse his condition was than
when he had talked with her, almost
happily, In the night. She herself
felt miserably tired and Ill; and as she
waited, she had the sensation one
sometimes has in waiting fora train |;
that the waiting would 60 on for
ever. would never end.
The weather changed, as the doc.
tor had prophesied. and the rain
ceased. Fresh gusts of wind from the
sea blew clouds Of fog and mist in.
land, while the surface of the water
turned from gray to green. from green
| to blue. The wind, blowing against
the receding tide, tossed the foam
back toward the land in fantastic
| plumes. Agatha, looking out over the
4