Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-11-16

s the reglStrar or DlftnS. II was two steps away iii the Rue Alphonse Karr, but would not be open for three hours at least Would messieurs have their coffee now? No, messieurs would not hare their coffee until they returned. Where would they find the residence of the registrar of births-his residence? That was another matter His resi- dence was some little distance away, near the casino, at the right. We should ask for Maitre Fingret. Any one z could tell us When should messieurs be expected to return? It was impos- ] sible to say.
 We set off along the street, leaving the innkeeper staring after us.
 sMaitre Fingret" we inquired of the ! Erst passerby. and he pointed us to a little house half hidden in vines. A knock brought the notary himself to the door, little dried up man, with keen face and eyes incredibly bright. My companion explained our errand in Notorious French, supplemented by much gesticulation - it is wonderful how the hands can help one to talk and after time the little Frenchman : caught his meaning and hustled away to get his hat and coat, scenting fat fee. Our first step was to be an easy one, thanks to the severity and thor oughness of French administration, but I admit that I saw not what we should do further, once we had verified Ai< lat of hirth The notary unlocked the door, showed us into his office and set our chairs for ] us; then he got down his register of births for 1876 It was not large book, for the births at Etretat are not overwhelming in number. "The name, I think you said, was : HolladayY' he asked.
 Hiram W. Holladay," nodded MT. Royce.
 And the date June 10?'
 "Yes; June TO-" N The little man ran his finger rapidly \ down the page, then went back again and read the entries one by one more slowly, with a pucker of perplexity about his lips. He turned the leaf, be- gan farther back and read through the list again. while we sat watching him. At last he shut the book.
 'Messieurs," he said quietly, mo mch birth is recorded here. I have ex- mined the record for the months of [ May, June and July"
 s But 1t must be there" protested Y Mir. Royce. 1|Sp -S Nevertheless it is not here" "Could the child have been born here and no record made of it?"
 Impossible monsieur"
 "For large fee, perhaps" suggested my companion.
 ''In Paris that may sometimes be pos sible. But in a small place like this I should have heard of it.
 You have been here for that length of time, then?"
 "Oh, yes. monsieur" smiled the little man. For a much longer time than that"
 Mir. Royce leaned forward toward him. He was getting back all his old power as cross examiner.
 "M Fingret." he began impressively, T am quite certain that Hiram W. Holladay and his wife were here dur Ing the months of May. June and July, 1876, and that while they were here daughter was born to them. Think again. Have you no recollection of them or of the eventf''
 The little notary sat for some mo- ments with knitted brows At last he shook his head.
 That would be the height of the sea son. you see. monsieur" he said apolo- getically. There are a great many people here at that time. and I cannot know all of them. Nevertheless 1t seemed to me for a moment that there was about the name certain famil- iarity-as of an old tune. you know. forgotten for years. Yet 1t must have been my fancy merely. for have no recollection of the event you mention" There was one other chance. and gave Mfr. Royce the clew.
 "M. Fingret" he asked. "are you acquainted with a man of the name of Pierre BethuneT' And again the notary shook his head.
 cor Jasper Martigny?'
 T never before heard either name"
 We sat silent a moment. in despair. Was our trip to Etretat to he of no availI Where was my premonition now2 If we had lost the trail thus early in the chase. what hope was there that we should ever run down the quarry: And how explain the fact that no record had been made of Frances Holidays birthf Why should her parents have wished to ccaceal itT
 An hour had passed the shops were opening and a hustle of life reached us through the open door.
 The first train for three days is sbOut to arrive said the little notary.
 Again we fell silent. Mir Royce got out his purse and paid the fee We had come fe an fmpasse-a closed way We could go no farther. could see that the notary was a-hunzsred for his roll and coTec Win a sigh. I arose .s @. The notary stepped to the door and looked up the street
 An. he said. the train has arrived. but 1t seems therp were not many pas seugsrs- Hsre is o1e. though. who hes finished a long journey
 He nodded to some O1e vbo ap- prosehed slowly. it seemed He vas before the door. He passed ou- IL was Msrtfruyi