Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1913-08-01

Green ocean, tOO-hs's guita =
much at home there" laughed AgA-
tina.
"Humphl" Mr.. Straker grunted in
disgust Let me assure you. Miss
Redmond. that It's no joking matter"
Tradition to the contrary. Agatha
was content to let the man have the
last word. Mr.. Straker turned to
some business matters. wrote out tele-
graphic material enough to occupy
the leisurely ChRrlesport operator for
some hours, and then disappeared.
Agatha was impressed by the a
ayers words somewhat more than her
manner implied. She had no swift
and sure Judgment OF people. and her
experience Of the world. short ~ II
was, had taught her that r~ecklessness
is a costly luxury. She was meditat-
ing a. 70 the Visest course to pursue.
when the ex-chauffeur appeared.
Hand wore his accustomed loose
shirt and trousers without coat or
waistcoat. and It seemed a. II he had
never known q hat His thick hair
was tumbled back from the forehead
His hands were nov spotless. and his
whole appearance agreeably clean and
wholesome. He even looked N II be
were going to be frank. but Agatha
knew that must be a delusion- It was
impossible, however. not to be some
what cajoled-he was 30 eminenty
likable. Agatha took a lesson from
his own book. and waited In silence
for him to speak.
"Mademoiselle? His voice had an
undertone OF excitement OF nervous
hess that was wholly new.
We'll, Mr.. Handr"
He remained standing by the door
for q moment. then stepped forward
with the abrupt manner OF a stripping
who, usually i~narticulate. has sudden
ly found tongue.
"Why did you do It, Mademoiseller-
do what, my frisndT"
Back me up before the sheriff
Give me a slick walkout like that"
Agatha laughed good-humoredly.
"Why should | answer your Ques
tons, Mr.. Hand. when you 30 persist
emily ignore mine?"
Hand made a gesture OF impatienca
"Mademoiselle, you may think me
all kinds OF a scamp, but I'm not idiot
enough to hide behind a woman. Don't
you know me well enough to know
that?" he demanded 30 earnestly that
he seemed very cross.
Agatha looked into his ace with q
new curiosity. He was very young
| after all. Something In the way o.
experience had been grinding philoso
ply, Of a sort, into him-or out o
him. Wealth and position had been
his natural enemies, and he had some
how been led to an attitude of antag
onism that was, at bottom. quite for
eign to his nature.
So much Agatha could guess at. ant
for the rest, instinct taught her to b.
kind. But she was not willing now Il
take him 30 seriously as he seemed Il
be taking himself. She couldn't re
sist teasing him a bit, by saying
Nevertheless, Mr.. Hand, you did hid
behind me; you had TO-"
He did not reply to her banterinl
smile, but, in the pause that followed
stepped to the bookcase whore sh'
had been standing. gingerly picked NJ
a soft bit OF linen and lace from tht
floor and dropped 1t into her lap. Ther
he faced her in an attitude OF pusns
cious irritation. For a brief moment
his silence fell from him.
II didn't have TO-" he contradicted
II let it go because I thought YOU
we're a good sport, and you wouldn't
catch me backing out Of your game
not by a good deal! But there's
darned sight-pardon me. Mademoi
selle!-there's too much company
round here to suit me! You know ma
you know you can trust me, Mademoi
selle! But what about Tom. Dick and
| Harry all over this place-castinA
eyes at a man?"
Agatha. almost against her will,
was forced to meet his seriousness
halfway. IL don't know what you
rnean," she said.
Tell 'em!" he burst out. Tell 'em
the whole story. Tell that blamed
snoopin' manager that I'm a crook
and a kidnaper. and then he'll stop
nosing round after me, I'll have an
hours start, and that's all want.
DIGGING a man-runnins him down
under his own automobile!" Hand
permitted himself q dry smile at his
own Joke. but Immediately added: 1T
goes against the grain. Mademos'
selle!"
Agatha's face frightened. as shs
grasped the clue to Hands wrath
i've no doubt" she answered gravo
ly. She knew the manager. "But why
should ! tell him, as you suggest?"
(To BE C~ONTINUED.)
kInolakS on Port.