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

| going. or who was back q tAsh
scheme?"
NO. nothing; or very little. Tiers
was money involved. I could tell that
But no names were mentioned. nor
any places that / can remember. You
see, / was Ill 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.
II found out, through my maid, who
arrived today. that some one of the
kidnapping party had, been clever
enough to send a 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? And
how did Jim happen to be aboard the
Jeanne D'Arcf"
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"
l, Aleck stopped short, looked at
Agatha, pursed his lips for a whistle
and remained silent. They had arrived
at the porch steps, and were tacitly
waiting for the doctors to descend and
give them, If possible, some encour-
agement for the coming night. But
the story Of the Jeanne DArc 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 a certain
point, and expressed himself thus:
That's the way with your steady fell
lows; they're all the bigger fools when
they do jump"
Pardon me, | didn't catch"
ooh, nothing" said Aleck. half ir-
ritably. Il 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 MIR.
Hand" she said. "He would be likely
to know as much as anybody"
We'll, however 1t happened, he's
here now!"
Though if 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
| squarely toward her. His face was no
less miserable than Agatha's, but be-
hind his w~retchedness and anxiety
was some masculine reserve of power,
and a longer view down the corridors
of time. He held her eye with a look
of great earnestness.
II 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 it, even if it should
mean the worst. He couldn't have
done otherwise, and l wouldn't have
had him. And If it's to be IA 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 a 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 a fighting chance yet"
CrO BE CONTINUED.)