The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1913-04-26
CHAPTER III.-contInued.

CHAPTER IlI.-Continued.
On the instant his brain became &C
tive again. 1t did not take long, as a
matter Of fact, to find the car; though
when he stumbled on it. turned about
the partitoning wall, he gave start.
It was such a tangible evidence OF
what had threatened to grow vague
and unreal on his hands. He squeezed
himself into the narrow space between
1t and the wall. finally thrusting his
head under the curtains Of the ton
ne6u.
Il was high and dry, empty as last
years cockleshell. Not a sign OF life,
not a loose object of any kind except
a filmy thing which Hambleton found
himself observing thoughtfully. At
last he picked 1t up-a long, mist-like
veil. He spread 1t out, held 1t gin
gerry between a thumb and finger of
each hand, and continued to look at
II abstractedly. Part of II was clean
and whole, dainty as only a bit OF
woman's finery can be; but one end
OF II was torn and twisted and
stretched out OF all semblance to It
self. Moreover, It was dirty, as II 1t
had been ground under a muddy heel.
II was, In its way, a shrieking evil
dence Of violence, of unrighteous
struggle. Hambleton folded the scarf
carefully. with its edges together. and
put 1t In his pocket
Jimmy's actions from this time on
had an incentive and a spirit that had
before been lacking. He noted again
the number Of the car, and returned
to the edge Of the dock to observe the
yacht. She had steamed up river a
little way for some reason known only
to herself. and was now turning very
slowly. She was but family lighted and
would pass for some pleasure craft Just
coming home. But Jim knew better He
could. ut last, put two and two togeth-
er. He would follow the Face-in-
deed, he could not help following It.
In him had begun that divine expert
ence Of youth-of youth essentially,
whether 1t come In early years or late
of being carried off his feet by a
spirit not himself. We r. like a
Young athlete down the dock tc the
worSTan, evolving schemes /
as he went
The dock-hand alphabetically trun- |
died a small keg from one pile OF !
freight to another. wiped his hands |
on his trousers, took a dry pipe out /
of his pocket, and looked vacantly up
the river before he replied to Handle
toms question.
Queer name-Jene Dark Trey call ,
her"
II was like pulling teeth to get in
formation out of him, but Jim applied .
the forceps.
The yacht had been lying out in the
river for two weeks or more, possibly
less; belonged to foreign parts; no
one whereabouts knew who its owner
was; nor its captain; nor its purpose
In the harbor of New York. At last,
quite gratuitously, the man volun-
teered personal opinion. slippery
boat in a gale-wouldn't trust her"
Hambleton walked smartly back,
taking look both at the yacht and
the motor-car as he went. The yachts
nose pointed toward the Jersey shore;
the car was creeping out of the dock.
As he overlook the machine, he saw
that 1t was in the hands OF mechanic
In overalls and Jumper In answer
10 Hambleton's question as to the
owner Of the car. the mechanic told
him pleasantly to go to the devil, and
for once the sight of a coin failed to
produce any perceptible effect. But
the major-general, waiting half a
block away, was still In the humor of
giving fatherly advice. He welcomed
Jim heartily.
That's hole I amt got no use
Tor. 'Ow'd you make out?"
We'll enough. for all present pur-
poses. Can you undertake to do a lob
'or mer
IF It amt nothing I'd have to ar.
rest You for. l might consider it." he
chuckled.
Il want you to go to the Laramie
Club and tell Aleck Van Camp-got
he name7-that Hambleton has gone ,
,f on the Jeanne Dare and may not