The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1906-01-05

aulined the record for the months Of
a,y. June and July"
But 1t must be there!" protested
Nj. Royce.
nevertheless it Is not here"
Could the child have been bcta here
and no record made of it?'
Impossible. monsieur"
"For large fee, perhaps" suggested
my companion.
SIN Paris that may sometimes be pos
sible. But in small place like this
should have heard Of It,"
You have been here for that length
Of time, tlien!'
"Oh. yes, monsieur" smiled the little
mar. For much longer time than
that"
Mr.. Royce leaned forward toward
him. He was getting back all his Old
power as cross examiner.
m. Fingret," lie began impressivcly.
Il am quite certain that Hiram W.
Holiday and his wife were here dur
ing the months of May. June and July,
1916, and that while they were here q
daughter was born to them Think
again. Have you no recollection of
them or Of the event?'
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 apollo
getically. There are great many
people here at that time and cannot
know all Of them. Nevertheless It
70 e.,
was about the name n certain famil-
iarity-as Of an old tune, you know,
forgotten for years. Yet it must have
been my fancy merely. for I have no
recollection of the event you mention"
There was one other chance. and I
gave Mr.. Royce the clcw.
M. Fingret," he asked, ARE YOU
acquainted with Il man Of the name
Of Pierre Bethune?"
And again the notary shook his head.
"Or Jasper Martigny?'
Il never before heard either name"
We sat silent n moment. in despair.
Was our trip to Etretat to be Of no
avail? Where was my premoniton
now? 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 Holladay's birth? Why should
her parents have wished to conceal it?
An hour had passed, the shops were
opening and hustle Of life reached us
through the open door.
THE first train for three days is
| oil, f,,, u "a
Again we fell silent. Mr.. Royce got
out his purse and paid the fec We
had come to al impasse-a closed way.
%e could go no farther. I could see
that the notary was a-hungered for his
roll and coffee. With sigh. I arose
to SO. The notary stepped to the
door and looked UP the street.
"Ah,' he said, 1.-THE train has arrived.
but it seems there were not many pas
sengers.' Here is one, though, who
has finished Il long journey"
He nodded to some one who ap-
preached slowly, it seemed. He was
before the door. Flo passed on. IT
was Martignyl
THAT is the manw l cried to Mr
Royce. That is Martigny! Ask who
he really Is"
He understood cn the instant AMI
caught the notary's arm.
IN. Fingret, who is that MANI"
The notary glanced at him, surprised
by his vehemence.
THAT" he said. sis Victor Fajolle
He IS just home from America"
"And lie lives hereT
"Oh, surely-on the cliffs Just above
the town. the first house. You cannot
miss 1t, buried in grove Of trees. He
married the daughter Of Nine Alix
some years ago. He was from Paris"
"And his wife is living?"
"Oh. surely she is living. She herself
returned from America but three
weeks ago, together with her mother
and sister. The sister. they say. IS
welr'- And he finished with a signif
cant gesture toward his head
saw my companions face turn
white. steadied myself with an ef.
fort
And they are at home now?"
II believe So" said the notary, eying
him with more and moro astonisl-
ment. "Thcy have been keeping close
Mt home since their return. They will
permit no one to see the-invalid."
"Come. we must goY' cried. He
must not get there before usv'
'That was nice of you, Miss Kemball."
"Oh, shall be anxious to hear how
you succeeded" she retorted. "You
will bring Miss Holiday to usI'
IF we find her, yos."
"Then, again. goodby."
She waved her band, smiling, and
was lost I'm the crowd.
"Come on, Lester" said Mr. Royces
voice. There's no use standing star
ing here"
Suddenly remembered Martigny