tell it all, with the abominable Straker growing
more and more excited every minute, and Agatha standing mute and
awe-struck, looking at him. It was plain that Jimmy, for the moment,
had the upper hand. "And that's about all!" he laughed.

"What on earth, man, is the matter with you?" fumed Straker. "Didn't
you know there were a hundred chances to one the yacht wouldn't pick
you up?"

Jimmy nodded, unabashed. "One chance is good enough for me. Nothing
can kill me this trip, I tell you. I'm good for anything. Lucky
star's over me. I knew it all the time."

Straker turned a disgusted face toward Agatha. "He's crazy as a loon!
Isn't he?" he questioned glumly. But Jimmy knew his man.

"No, not crazy, Mr. Straker. Only a touch o' sun! And it's glorious,
isn't it, Miss Redmond?"

She loved him for his boyish laughter, for the rollicking spirit in his
voice, but her eyes suddenly filled as she pondered the meaning back of
his extraordinary story. With Mr. Straker gone at last, it was she who
came to Jim with outstretched hands.

"You mean you heard me call for help, there on the hill?"

"Yep," he answered, suddenly sheepish.

"And you followed to rescue me if you could?"

"Yep--of course."

"Ah, James! Why did you do it?"

Jim's small-boy expression beamed from his eyes. "I followed the Voice
and the Face--as I told you once before. Don't you remember?"

"I remember. But why?"

His seven-year-old mood was suddenly touched with poetic dignity. "I
could naught else," he said, looking into her face. It was all
tenderness; and she did not resist when he drew her gently down, till
her lips touched his.

CHAPTER XXII

A MAN OF NO PRINCIPLE

Monsieur Chatelard's disappearance was as complete as though he had
dropped off the earth. The sheriff, with his warrant in his pocket,
hid his chagrin behind the sugar and flour barrels whose sale occupied
his time when he wasn't losing malefactors. Chamberlain, having once
freed his mind to the grave-like Hand, maintained absolute silence on
the subject, so far as the audience at the old red house was concerned.
But he went into consultation with Aleck, and together they laid a
network of police inspection about Ilion and Charlesport.

"It won't do any good," grumbled Chamberlain. "We'll have to catch him
and choke him with our own hands, if it ever gets done."

Nevertheless, they left nothing to chance. Telegraph and telephone
were brought i