The state herald., 1913-06-27


one at Hand. then light as cat he
darted from the room and down the
stairs. leaving the house through one
of the tall windows in the parlor. Mr..
Chamberlain was standing near the
lilac bushes. his big figure outlined
dimly In the darkness.
Shut up!" Aleck whispered fierce
ly. as he ran toward him. Hes Just
got to sleep. Chamberlain; gone to
sleep. like baby. Don't make an In
fernal racket"
"Oh. l didn't know. Didn't mean
to make a racket" began Chamber
lain. when Aleck pumped into him
and shook him by the shoulders.
Hes asleep-like q baby!" be re-
iterated. And Chamberlain. wise com
rade. took Aleck by the arm and
tramped him on over the hill to settle
his nerves. They walked for an hour
arm in arm over the road that lay like
gray ribbon before them In the
night. winding up slantwise along the
rugged country.
Dawn was awake on the hills mile
away. and by and by Aleck found
tongue to tell the story Of the night.
which was good for him. He talked
fast and unevenly. and even extrava-
gantly. Chamberlain listened and
loved his friend in a sympathy that
spoke for itself, though his words
were commonplace enough. By the
time they had circled the five-mile
road and were near the house again.
Aleck was something like himself.
though still unusually excited. Cham
berlain mentioned casually that Miss
Reynier had been anxious about him.
and that all his friends at the big ho-
tel had worried Finally. he. Cham
berlain. had set out for the old red
house.. thinking he could possibly be
Of service: in any case glad to be near
his friend.
And. BY the way" Chamberlain
added. you may be interested TO hear
that accidentally got on the track
Of that beggar Who ate the hsrmit's
eggs. Took . tramp this morning. and
found him held up at = kind Of sailors
Inn. waiting for money. Qrouchy old
party; NO wonder his men shipped
him"
Aleck At frst took but feeble inter
est In Chamberlain's discoveries; he
was still far from being his precise.
judicial self. He let Chamberlain talk
on. scarcely noticing what he said.
until suddenly the Identity Of the
man whom Chamberlain was describ-
ing came homo to him. Asatha's
story flashed back In his memory. He
stopped short In his t'aeks. hating
his companion with . strstched-out
forehnger.
Look here. Chamberlain" he said.
I've been half loony and didn't take
In what you said. II that's the owner
or proprietor OF the Jeanne Dare
a man known A. Monsieur Chatelard.
French accent. blond. above medium
sire, prominent white teeth-we want
him right away. He kidnapped Miss
Redmond In New YORK. and shouldn't
wonder u he kidnaped old Jim and
stole the yacht besides. He's . bad
one"
Mr.. Chamberlain had the air OF hu-
moring a iuIatic. We'll. what's to be
donsi II Il . case for the lawf IL
there nny evidence TO b. hadl"
Law! Evidenced" cried Aleck.
Il should think 80. You 20 to Big
Simon. Chamberlain. and md out
who's sheriff. and we'll get . warrant
and run him down. Heavens! A man
like that would sell his mothcrl"
Chamberlain looked frankly skept'
cal. ana would not bulge until Aieck
had related every circumstance that
he knew about Agatha's involuntary
night from New York. He was all
for going to the rod house and invcs-
tigatins Agatha herself. but Aicck ~
fused 70 lot him do that
"she's worn out and gone to bed:
you can't sec hcr. But its straight,
You taks my word. We must catch
that scoundrsi and bring him here for
idoutincation-to b. sure there's no
mistake. And II II 10 he. it'ii be hot
enough for him"
Chamberlain doubted whether Il
was tho same man. and put up objcc-
tions seristim TO each proposition OF
Aisok's. but nnaily accepted them all
IIe made n point. however. Of going
on his quest alone.
"You 10 hack to the rcd house and
no to bed. and ri round up Eggs. ]
think ! know how tho trick can bc
DONE
Aissh was stubborn About ACCOM-
panyins Chamberlain. but the Englisb.
man plainly wouldn't have H. lie told
Aieck he could DO Il bettsr alone. and
LED him By tho arm back TO the old
rcd house. where the kitohen doos
stood Hospitality open. saiiis vac q
wcrk In her pantry. Tho kettle vas
singins ON the seDva an1 the nl1h