Omaha daily bee., 1903-04-12
CHAPTER Xxx.
The Mystery of the Crystal.

- 49,
he ever loved.
So at last he told himself, while Billy
Marshall continued TO remind him that he
had told him so. and the Camisard sentinel
by the gate solemnly resumed his beat. as
II washing his hands of the whole matter.
II was a freezing night, and a light drift
OF snow blowing. and the surface Of the
Causes hard as the neither milestone.
No tracks would lie for a minute upon
such a night, and they must do the best
they could with the senses God had given
them. which, as Maurice thought. with
some reason, we're. in his case at least. no
great matter for Boosting.
And It was on such a night in a thin
black dress OF some soft stun that Flower
o'-the-Corn had fed out into the darkness
OF the bleakest though not the highest
Cause In France.
II Il would have done Frances Wildwood
the least good Maurice Raith would gladly
have put a pistol to his head there and
then and shot himself. But he knew that
the girl was gone on his account, and II
was his duty to bring her back II possible.
A thought occurred to him At the time
It seemed like an inspiration. OF course 1t
was an impossiblllty. a thing to be laughed
at. vet nevertheless somehow he could not
get It out OF his head.
"Catinat!-Yes, Catinat! Stranger things
had happened. There might be something
IN his second sight after all. He had heard
Of Il in Scotland. At least II was worth the
trying!"
Let us 90 and knock up Catinatl" he
said hoarsely.
To his surprise Billy caught eagerly at
his suggestion.
EYE hae mair sense than l lookit for
he cried, "if ony body can jallose where
a craft lassie wuIl hae hidden hersel, it's
him! l hae heard tell that when was a
youngster amang the laddie boys he was
q eye YIN! That was afore he took UP wi
the phophetin' an sic like! But Catinat's
the vera man for ye; that is-if We can
get baud o. him. But he is mair like to
ia ye through a word -for-word exposeetin'
o. the Bulk o. Solomon his Sang, than to
help ye to get back you ain sweetheart!
Aye, a diel SIGHT mair like!"
Nevertheless since the thing was worth
trying, to Catinat they went. 1t was, as
Billy had prognosticated, somewhat d!f-
ncult to get the prophet down to matter oil
fact.
The minister's daughter had run way
in a At Of fear, and that hysterical ner-
vousness which comes 80 easily to woman,
Well, he had heard Of such like, but there
was no exact parallel for 1t in the scrip
lures that he knew Of. unless It we're in
the Song of Songs. which is Solomo"'s =
'Didna / tell ye?" whispered Billy, til
umphantly over his chiefs shoulder.
but he turned sharply upon the mil
itary chief Of La Cavalerie. answer me
this before I touch the matter with finger
lies anything Of stain upon your con-
science-aught that you would be more
IOath "a fall "a the OfrIfa~ fafhar than -
ms9' Na
mo, I swear itt' said Maurice, lifting
up his hand solemnly.
Swear not at alli' said Catinat, catch.
ing him by the wrist and putting his hand
Town again. What Is a mar but his NAKED
word. II l had not believed in your wore
would I have permitted these poor sheer
to obey you for so much as an lnstant?"
And, having come to a standstill, Maurlct
Raith. who was all on fire within. demanded
OF the prophet II he could tell where a.
the moment the girl was.
Catinat looked at Maurice and shook his
head. Then he glanced at Billy Marshal
sud asked, "Is he innocent-simpIe-lik
his look and speech? Or is he even al
other men. come up from beneath tn,
grinding wheels?"
He is even as other meni" said Maurice
wonderingly.
Then he will not do for me-any NOR,
than you" he answered. II have not tn,
second sight myself the went on to ex
plain, as 1t is said that your Scots noun
tainards have. But only the power Of max
ing others see-though, / own not as Cav
alter hath who can make a thousand mel
and women see and believe the thing h
will. But abide you, l will bring one VIII
viii see all your desire!"
Catinat dwelt In a plain-faced little hous
with one gable to the main road, mean an
poor, with pig-runs below, and so betakinI
himself to the door, he went across tn
court and returned shortly with a half
grown lad, his eyes starting from his head
his hair a mere haystack, his lower Ii
dropped into the shape of a V, slack an
pendulous. yet always more or less on tn
culver like jelly turned from a shape. H
appeared to be about II or Is, knock knee
and needing weekly additions to his smaI
clothes. OF his simplicity there could b
no question. Indeed. Catinat explained tn
matter OF his want In his own presence 1
plain phrases.
This is one Antoine oliver-a mer
idiot. an innocent, almost a cretin, bu
left here Of the Spanish gypsies. therefor
not TO be trusted along with silver or gold
Otherwise he hath not the sense to con
duct himself reasonably-Antoine-tur
round!"
The oaf turned himself unwillingly abou
like one Wit is about to be whipped 1
the presence OF his school-fellows A pate
OF viscous orange appeared wildly in
pressed on the boardest part Of his sma
clothes.
"There!" cried Catinat. what did / te
your Go fetch the rod, Antoine-the ro
OF many birehes which stands behind II
henhouse door. You have been at It agaii
Gentlemen, this boy at certain hours OF n
day or night by a certain access Of fol
takes himself for a breeding fowl. and wi
sit on as many as two dozen egg at once
yes, now when they are at their deares
and a hennery Is next to a gold mine. Fl
this he hath oft been punished by me ar
shall be again"
The great oaf bursts out into a lou
boo-hoo Of lament.
Indeed, sir" he pleaded, they wei
not FOUR eggs this time; yours are muC
richer in yolk! Look you they are thol
OF old Elise at the gatehouse, whom
desired TO punish for her d~runkenness!"
The point Is we'll taken" said Catina
"but I will only consent to overlook Il
fault II so be that you will look in Il
crystal for mel"
The youth gave a yet louder cry Al
promptly began TO untruss.