Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-02-07

but would not be open for three hours
ut least Would messieurs have their
coffee now? No. messieurs would not
have their coffee until they returned.
Where would they fluid the residence Of
the registrar of brths-his residence?
That was another matter. HIS resi-
dence was some little distance away,
nearS the casino, at the right. We
should ask for Maitre Fingret. Any one
could tell us. When should messieurs
be expected to return? 1t was impos-
sible to say.
We set off along the street. leaving
the innkeeper staring after us.
"Maitre Fingret?' we inquired of the
first passerby, and he pointed us to IL
little house half hidden in vines.
A knock brought the notary himself
to the door, a little dried up man. with
keen face and eyes incredibly bright.
My companion explained our errand in
laborious French, supplemented by
much gesticulation lit is wonderful
how the hands can help one to talk
and after Il time the little Frcnchman
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 l admit that l saw not what we
should do further, once we had verified
the date of Miss Holidays birth.
The notary unlocked the door, showed
us into his office and set our chairs for
us; then lie got down his register of
births for 1876 1t was not large
book, for the births at Etretat are not
overwhelming in number.
THE name, l think you said, was
Holladay!" he asked
Royce.
And the date June 10?"
Yes; June TO-
The little man ran his finger rapidly
down the page then went back again
and read the entries one by one more
slowly, with n pucker of perpleXity
about his lips. lie turned the leaf, be
list again, while we sat watching him
| AL lNSt lie smut the BOOK.
"Messieurs," he said quietly, .nt
such birth is recorded here. l have ex
amined the record for the months O.
May, June and July"
But it must be there!" protested
Mr. Royce.
Nevertheless it is not here"
"Could the child have been born herr
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 small place like this
should have heard of it."
You have been here for that lengtl
of time, them"
"Oh, yes, monsieur" smiled the littl
man. For much longer time thai
that"
Mr. Royce leaned forward towar,
him. He was getting back all his oil
power as cross examiner.
IN. Fingret," lie began impressively
II am quite certain that Hiram "
Holiday and his wife We're here dul
1 ing the months of May. June and july
1876, and that while they We're here
daughter was born to them. Thin
again. Have you no recollection Q
them or of the event?'
The little notary sat for some me
ments with knitted brows. At last Ii
shook his head.
THAT would be the height of the SEE
son, you see, monsieur" he said apollo
getically. There are great man
people here Mt that time, and l canno
know all of them. Nevertheless
seemed to me for a moment that ther
was about the name certain fami
iarity-as of an old tune, you know
forgotten for years. Yet 1t must hav
been my fancy merely, for ! have n
recollection of the event you mention.
There was one other chance, and
gave Mr.. Royce the clew.
IN. Fingret," he asked, "are 70
acquainted with n man of the nam
of Pierre BethuneY"
And again the notary shook his heat
"Or Jasper Martigny:"
II never before heard either name ~
We sat silent moment, in despai
Was our trip to Etretat to be of n
avail? Where was my premonitio
now? If we had lost the trail thu
early in the chase, what hope W.:
there that we should ever run dow
the quarry? And how explain til
fact that no record had been made {
Frances Holidays birth? Why shoul
her parents have wished to conceal il
An hour had passed, the shops WEI
. opening and hustle of life reached u
!. through the open door.
"The first train for three DAYS
about to arrive" said the little notary
Again we fell silent. Mr.. Royce 6,
out his purse and paid the fee w
had come to an impasse-a closed wa,
We could go no farther could sc
. that the notary was a-hunEered for h
roll and coffee. With sigh, aros
to go. The notary stepped to til
door and looked up the street.
"Ah," he said, 1.-The train has arrived
but it seems there were not many pa.
sengers. Here is one, though, VIII
has finished a long journey"
He nodded to some one who ~
preached slowly, it seemed. He wa
before the door. He passed on. ]
was Martigny!e
THAT is the manv' l cried to Nj
Royce. THAT is Martigny! Ask VIII
he really is"
He understood on the instant an
caught the notary's arm.
M. Fingret, who is that MANI"
The notary glanced ut him, surprise
by his vehemence.
That" he said, sis Victor Fajoll,
He is just home from America
And he lives here?'
'Oh, surely-on the cliffs just abov
the town, the first house. You cannc
miss it. buried in n grove of trees. II
married the daughter of Nine. Ali
some years ago. He was from Paris.
"And his wife is living!'
"Oh, surely she is living. She hersel
returned from America but tire
weeks ago, together with her mothe