The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1906-03-09
CHATTER XVII.

steps away in the Rue Alphonse Karr
but would not be open for three hours
at least. Would messieurs have then
coffee now? No, messieurs would moi
have 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
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 a
little house half hidden in vines.
A knock brought the notary himself
| to the door,. Il little dried up man, with
keen face and eyes incredibly bright.
My companion explained our errand in
laborious 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, seeming a fat
| fee. Our first step was to be an easy
one, thanks to the severity and thor
ouShness Of French administration,
but 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 he got down his register of
births for 1876. 1t was not a large
book, for the births at Etretat are not
overwhelming in number
THE name, l think you said, was
HolladayY' he asked.
"Hiram w. Holiday" nodded Mr..
Royce.
"And the date June 10Y
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 a quicker 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
such birth is recorded here l have ex-
amined the record for the months of
May, June and July
"But it must be there" protested
Mr. Royce
"NeyertLeloss it is not here"
could the child have been born here
and no record made of itY
Impossible, monsieur"
For a large Fee perhaps" suggested
my companion.
in Paris that may sometimes be pos
sible. But in a 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 as Il cross examiner.
nj Fingret," he began impressively,
4 am quite certain chat Hiram w.
Holiday and his wife were here dur
ing the months of May. June and July,
1876, and that while they were here a
daughter was born to them. Think
again Have you no recollection of
them or of the event?" i
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 a great many
people here at that time, and 1 cannot
know all of them. Nevertheless it
seemed to me for a moment that there
was about the name a 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 clew.
IN. Fingret," he asked, ARE you
acquainted with a man Of the name |!
Of Pierre Bethune?"
And again the notary shook his head. |
"Or jasper Martigny?"
81 never before heard either name"
We sat silent Il moment, in despair. !
Was our trip to Etretat to be of no
avail? Where was nay premonition
now? If we had lost the trail thus
early in the chase. what hope was
there that we should ever run down |
the quarry7 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.
1.-THE first train for three days is