The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1913-07-12
ZDG g @ 90 ~
STOLEN 9:%
o g SINGER.
BY MARTHA DELLINGER
q cce,seno17 /sw Aasa,-zxeeAl ooxe4Ap
dARTNA DELLINGER.

face with his hands. Agatha. watch
ing, by and by saw a change com,
over the sick mans face. She hel,
her breath, It seemed for untold min
utes, while Doctor Thayer reached hi
hand to the patients heart and Leaned
over TO observe more closely his face
See!' she whispered to Aleck
touching his shoulder lightly. he 1,
looking at u.s." When Aleck looked vi
/ James was indeed looking at then
win large, serious. half-focussed eyes
IL was as II he were coming bach
from another world where the laws OF
vision were different, and he was only
partially adjusted to the present con
dltions. He moved his hands feebiy
under the bedclothes, where they
we're being warmed by the freestone
and then tried to moisten his lips
Agatha took a glass of water from
the table. looked about for a napkin.
but, seeing none. wet the tips OF her
fingers and placed them gently over
James lips. His eyes followed her at
first, but closed for an instant as she
came near. When they opened again,
they looked more natural. As he felt
the comfort Of the water an his lips.
his features relaxed, and a look OF
recognition illumined his face. His
eyes moved from Agatha to Aleck.
who was now bending over him, and
back to Agatha. The look was a sa-
lutte. happy and peaceful. Then his
eyes closed again.
For an hour Agatha and Aleck kept
their watch, almost fearing to breathe.
Doctor Thayer worked, gave quiet or
ders, tested the heartbeats. let no
movement or symptom go unnoticed.
For time James kept even the doc
tor In doubt whether he was slipping
into the Great Unknown or into a
deep and convalescent sleep. BY the
end Of the hour, however, Jimsy had
decided for natural sleep, urged there
TO, perhaps. by that unseen playwright
who had decreed another time for cur
tain; or perhaps he was kept by Doc
tor Thayer's professional persuasions.
In defiance OF the prompter's signal.
However the case, the heart slowly
but surely began to take up its Job
like an honest force-pump, the face
began to lose its death-like pallor. the
breathing became more nearly nor.
NAL. Doctor Thayer, with Mrs. Stod
dard quiet and efficient at his elbow.
worked and tested and worked again.
and finally sat moveless for some
watch in hand, counting the
pulsations Of James heart. At the
end OF the time he laid the hand care
fully back under the clothes, put his
watch In his pocket. and finally got
up and looked around the room.
Mrs. Stoddard was pouring some
thing into a measuring glass. Agatha
was standing by the window, looking
out into the blue night; ana Aleck |
could be seen through the half-open
door. pacing up and down the hall.
Doctor Thayer turned to his sister.
Give him his medicine on the half
hour, and then you go to bed. That
man Hand will do now" Then he went
to the door and addressed AIeck.
Well. Mr.. Van Camp, unless some
thing unexpected turns up. I think
your cousin will live to Jump over
board again"
Onhand as the words were. there
was unmistakable satisfaction, happi.
ness, even triumph in his voice. and
he returned Alexis hand-clasp with a
grip. His masculinity ignored
or pretended to; but she had
him to the door AS the old
man clasped hands with Aleck. he
heard behind him deep, 20 Doctor!"
The next instant Agatha's arms were
around his neck, and the back of his
bald head was pressed against some
thing that could only have been a
cheek. Surprising as this was. the
ioctor did not stampede; but by the
lime he had got clear of Aleck and
had reached up his hand to find the
cheek. 1t was gone, and the arms. too.
Susan Stoddard somehow got mixed
lp In the general TIE Deum In the
,all, and for the first time, now that
he fight was over, allowed her femi-
line feelings-that is, a few tears
o come to the surface.
Aleck, however, went to pieces,
zone down in that species of mental
collapse by which deliberate, judicial
nen become reckless, and strong men
'ecome weak. He stepped softly back
nto the bedroom and leaned AGAIN
yer the curved footboard. his face
ute miserable. He went nearer, and
ED his ear down close TO the bed
lothes, To hear for himself the regu-
ar beating Of the heart. Slowly he
onvinced himself that the doctors
lords might possibly be true. at least.
Ie turned to Hand, who had come In