Rocky Ford enterprise., 1913-04-04

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 / was better
she questioned me about everything;
saying Mon Dieu!' at every answer
made. Then she left and was gone
long time; and when she came back.
that man WAS with her. learned aft
erward that he was called Monsieur
Chatelard. They both looked at me,
arguing fiercely in such a furious
French that I could not understand
more than half they said. They
looked as If they were appraising me.
like an article for sale. but Madame
Sole held out steadily. on some point,
against Monsieur Chatelard, and final
ly It appeared that she converted him
to her own point of view. He went
away very angry. and I did not see
him again. except at distance, until
the night of the wreck"
did you find out where they were
going, or who was back of their
scheme7"
mo, nothing; or very little. There
was money involved. could tell that.
But no names were mentioned, nor
any places that can remember. You
see, I was i'll from the effects of the
chloroform. and frightened. too.
think"
81 don't wonder" said Aleck, wrink-
ling his homely face. He remained
silent while he searched. mentally.
for a clue.
T found out, through my maid. who
arrived today. that some one OF the
kidnapping party had been clever
enough to send false message to the
hotel, explaining my sudden depar-
ture"
II see, l see," said Aleck, going over
the story in his mind. And presently,
Where does Hand come in? Ard
how did Jim happen to be aboard the
Jeanne D'Arc7"
Hand was some sort of henchman
to Monsieur Chatelard, l believe. And
he told me that your cousin was
picked up in New York harbor. swim,
ming for life. 1t appeared. No one
seemed to know any more"
Aleck stopped short. looked at
Agatha, pursed his lips for whistle
L
at the porch steps, and were tacitly
waiting for the doctors to descend end
give them. II possible, some encour-
agement for the coming night. But
the story of the Jeanne D'Arc had
grown more complicated than Aleck
had anticipated. and much was yet TO
be explained. Aleck was slow, as al
ways. in thinking 1t through. but he
figured It out, finally, to certain
point, and expressed himself thus:
That's the way with your steady fel-
lows; they're all the bigger fools when
they do jump"
Pardon me. didn't catch"
"Oh, nothing" said Aleck.i half ir-
ritably. 81 only said Jim needed a
poke, like that heifer over in the next
field"
Agatha understood the boyish irri-
tation, cloaking the love of the man.
you may be able to get more infor-
nation about your cousin from MI
Hand" she said. HE would be likely
to know as much as anybody"
We'll, however 1t happened. he's
here now!"
Though II It had not been for his
fearful struggle for me he would not
have been SO ILL.," said Agatha miser-
ably. Aleck, with one foot on the low
step OF the piazza. stopped and turned
squareiy toward her. His face was no
less miserable than Agatha's. but be-
hind his wretchedness and anxiety
was some masculine reserve of power.
and a longer view down the corridors
of time. He held her eye with look
of great earnestness.
81 love old Jim. Miss Redmond.
We've been boys and men together.
and good fellows always. But don't
think that I'd regret his struggle for
you, as you call 1t. even if 1t should
mean the worst. He couldn't have
done otherwise. and l wouldn't have
had him. And II It's to be "a home
run-why. then. Jim would like that
far better than to die of old age or
liver complaint. It's all right, Miss
Redmond"
Alexis slow words came with a
double meaning to Agatha. She heard,
through them. echoes of James Ham,
bleton's boyhood; she saw picture of
his straight and dauntless youth. She
held out to Aleck a hand that trem-
bled, but her face shone with graft
tude.
Aleck took her hand respectfully.
kindly, in his warm grasp. Besides" "
he said simply, I'VE won't give up.
He's got fighting chance yet"
| cTo BE CoNTINUED.)