Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-12-28
CHAPTER, XVII.

steps away IN the Rue AlphOnSo karr
but would not he open for three hours
at least. Would messieurs have their
coffee now: No. mcssieurs would not
have their coffee until they returned.
Where would they find the residence of
the registrar of births his rcsidenccY
That was another matter. His resi-
dence was some little distance away,
near the casino. al the right. We
should ask FOR Mnitrc Fingrei. ANY one
COULD tell us. When should messieurs
he expected 10 return? 1t was impos-
sible to sa,".
We set off along the street. leaving
tho innkeepcr staring after us
"Siaitre t'ingrety' We inquired Of the
hrst passerby. and lie pointed us TO n
little house half hidden IN lies
knock brought tic notary himself
to the door. little dried up man, with
Keen face aud eyes incredibly bright.
My companion explained our crrand in
laborous French. supplemented by
much gesticulation it is wonderful
how the hands can help one 10 talk -
and after a time the little Frenchman
caught his meaning and hustled away
to get his hat and coat, scouting Il fat
Zee. Our first step was to he an easy
one. thanks To tho severity and thor
OughncSs Of French administration,
but admit that | saw not what we
should do further. once we had verified
the date Of Miss iiolladay's birth.
The notary unlocked the door. showed
us into lis office and set our chairs for
us; then he got down his register Of
births for 1876. 1t was not a large
book. for the births ct Etretat are not
overwhelming in number.
THE name think you said. was
Holaday:' he asked
Hiram W. Holiday" nodded Mr.
Royce.
And the date June 1Oy"
Yes; June 10"
Tho little man ran his finger rapidly
down the page. then went back again
and read the entries one by one more
slowly. with quicker of pcrplexiiy
about his lips He turned the leaf. he
gan farther back and read through The
list again while we sat watching him.
AL l3St he smut the DOCK.
"Messieurs. he said quietly, mo
such birth is recorded here. have ex.
Rmined the record for the months OF
May, June and July"
But il mus, be there protested
Mr. Royce.
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
ms companion
In Paris that may sometimes be pos
siblc But i'll small place like this
should have heard of it,
You have been here for that length
Of time them
"Oh yes. monsieur" smiled the little
man. For q much longer time than
that"
Mr.. Royce leaned forward toward
him. He was getting back all his old
power az n cross examiner
"M. Fingret." he began impressively,
81 am quite certain that Hiram W.
Holiday and his wife were here dur
ing the months of May. June and July.
1876, and that while they We're here n
daughter was born to them. Think
again Have you no recollection OF
them or of the event.
The little notary sa- for some mo-
ments with knitted brows. At last ne
shook his head
"rhat would be the height of the sea
son. you see. monsieur" he said apollo
getically There are great many
people here at that time. and l cannot
know all of them. Nevertheless II
seemed to me for moment that there
was about the name n certain famil-
iarity--as of An old tune. you know,
forgotten for years. Yet II must have
been my fancy merely. for I have no
recollection OF the event you mention. ="
There was one other chance, and 7
gave Mr.. Royce the clew
M. Fingret." he asked. "are YOU
acquainted with man of the name
OF Pierre Rethune?"
And again the notary shook his head
"Or Jasper Martigny:"
II never before heard either name"
We sat silent a moment. in despair
Was our trip to Etretat to he of no
avail? Where was my premonition
now? II 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 birth? Why should
her parents have wished 10 conceal it?
An hour had passed, the shops were
opening and hustle of life reached us
through the open door.
"1'he first train for three days IL
about to arrive" said the little notary.
Again we fell silent. Mr.. Royce got
out his purse and paid the fee We
had come to an impasse-a closed way.
We could go no farther. could see
that the notary was a-hnngered for his
roll and coffee With sigh. | arose
to 60. The notary stepped to the
door and looked up the street.
"Ah." he said. the train has arrived.
but 1t seems there were not many pas
sengcrs Here Is one, though. who
has finished long journey"
He nodded TO some one who ap-
preached slowly, 1t seemed lie was
before the door He passed on. 1t
was Martigny.
That 10 the man" | cried to Mr..