Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1913-02-13

ana made show of being cheerful.
When they find they are safe they
may think of U.s." she said. but the
men were already crazed with fear,
even before the leak was discovered.
| One of their mates on the voyage
over was fortune-teller, and he
prophesied danger to them all on their
| next trip. After they had come into
| port, the fortune-teller himself died.
And who can blame them for their
fear? They are all superstitious: and
as no one ever regarded their fears,
now they have no regard for any
| body's feelings but their own
But we are in the middle OF the
Atlantic. no one knows where. We
may drift for days-we may starve-
the Lord only knows what will hap
pen to usi"
Agatha, who had been floating.
swan little nearer and laid her
hand on Jim's shoulder. until he
looked into her face 1t was full OF
strength and brightness.
The sea is His Also" she quoted
gently. Besides, we may get picked
up she went on. I'm very well of,
for my part, as you see. Can swim
or rest floating, thanks to this blessed
cork thing, and not at all hurt by the
fall from the rope. But I must get
rid of my shoes and some of my
clothes. IL have to swim"
It Is awkward to kick off ones
shoes and divest oneself of unneces-
sary clothing In the water, and
Agatha laughed at herself as she did
IL. Not exactly bathing suit, but
this one black skirt will have to do.
Inc others must CO. It was my skirts
that caused the mischief with the
rore at first. And / WAS scared"
You had right to be-" Jim helped
her keep afioat, and presently he saw
that. reed from the ENHANCEMENT Of
SO many clothes, she was as much
at home In the water as he. Sud
denly she turned to him, caught by
some recollection that almost eluded
her.
I don't think we are anywhere
near the middle OF the Atlantic she
said thoughtfully. James was silent.
eating the bitter bread of despair. In
spite of the woman's brave wish to
comfort him. They were swimming
slowly as they talked, still hoping to
reach the yacht. They rose on the
breast of the waves. paused now and
then till a quieter moment came, and
always kept near each other in the
pale blue darkness.
| "nId Cophfa 6.a5 .ALs 49,
some one had tempered with the
wheel, | think. At any rate, she said
we'd never get far from shore with
this crew"
James considered the case. But
even suppose we are within mile
or two, say, of the shore, could you
ever swim two miles in this heavy
sea-"
1t is growing calmer every min
ute. See. can do very well, even
swimming alone. 1t must be near
morning. too. and that's always
good thing" There was the shadow
of laugh in her voice.
Morning? That depends" growl-
ed Jim. He was being soothed in
spite of himself, and in spite of the
direfuInes of their situation. But bad
as the situation was. and would be
in any case. he could not deny the
proposition that morning and day
light would make it better.
"Rut aren't you tired already? You
must be-" James turned closer to
her, trying to read her face. 1T was
| nf
we left the boat. Weren't you fright
ened?"
Yes, Of course; but I've been get
ting used to frights Of late, IL one can
get used to them" Again there was
the laugh in her voice, under all it's
seriousness, even when she added:
I'm not sure that this isn't safer
than being on board the Jeanne
dare. after ALI"
1t was characteristic of James that
NE forbode to take advantage of the
opening this speech offered. The pos
sible reason OF her abduction, her
treatment on board the yacht, her
relation to Monsieur Chatelard-it
was all mystery, but he could not,
at that moment, seek to solve 1t. Her
remark remained unanswered for
little time; at last he said: Then
the Jeanne DArc must have been
pretty bad"
TT was" she said simply.
Jim wondered whether she knew
more about the crime of which she
was the victim than he knew, or IL
/ she had discovered aught CONCERNING
it while she was prisoner on the
yacht. Granting that her person was
so valuable that man of Monsieur
Chatelard's caliber would commit
crime to get possession OF 1t, 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