Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1907-05-18
CHAPTER XVII.
ETRETAT.

We were up at an hour which as
tonished the little fat keeper of the
inn, and inquired the location of the
office OF the registrar of births It was
two steps away in the Rue Alphonse
karr but would not be open for three
hours at least. Would messieurs have
their coffee now? No, messieurs would
not have their coffee until they re-
turned. Where would they find the
residence Of the registrar of births?
His residence, that was another matter.
His residence was some little distance
away, near the Casino. at the right
we should ask for Maitre Fingret-any-
one could tell us. When should mes
sieurs be expected TO return? 1t was
impossible to say.
We went off along the street. leaving
the innkeeper staring after us-along
the Rue Alphonse Karr, lined on both
sides by houses, each with its little
shop on the ground floor. Three min
utes' walk brought us to the bay, a
pretty, even picturesque place. with it's
perpendicular cliffs and gayly colored
fishing smacks. But we paused for
only glance at it, and turned toward
the Casino at the other end "Maitre
fingret?' VIC inquired OF the first
passerby. and he pointed to n little
house half hidden IN vines.
a knock brought the notary himself
TO the door, little dried-up man. with
leen face ana 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 scenting
fat fee. Our first step was 20 be an
easy one, thanks 70 the severity and
thoroughness OF French administrat ton.
but | admit that / saw not what we
should do further, once we had verified
the date of Miss Holladay's birth. The
next step must be left to chance
The notary unlocked the door. showed
us into his office, and set out chairs
for us Then he got down his register
of births for 1876. 1t was not a large
book, for the births of Etretat are not
overwhelming in number.
The name, / think YOU said was
Holladay?" he asked
Hiram w Holiday" nodded Mr.
Royce
And the date June loth?"
"Yes-June 10TH"
The little man ran his finger rapidIv
down the page, then went back again
ana read the entries one by one more
slowly, with pucker Of perpIexity
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 with 4 little
snap and looked at us.
"Messieurs," he said quietly. mo
such birth is recorded here. l have
examined the records for the months
Of May June, and July"
But 1t must be there" protested Mr..
Royce
Nevertheless it is not here. Mon
sieur."
Gould the child have been born here
and no record made OF II p
impossible. monsieur No physician
in France would take that response
biity."
For large fee, perhaps" suggested
my companion
I'm Paris that may, sometimes, be
possible. But in a small place like
this, | should have heard of it, and it
gate"
You have been here for that length
of time, them"
oh, yes, monsieur" smiled the little
man. For much longer time than
that"
Mr. Royce leaned forward toward
him. He was getting back all his
old power rs Il cross-examiner
Monsieur Fingert," he began i'm
presstvely, II am quite certain that
Hiram w Holiday and his wife were
here during the months OF May. June
and July, 1896 and that while they
were here. daughter was born to
them. Think again-have you no re-
collection 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
season, YOU see, monsieur" he said
apologetically. There are a great
many people here, at that time, and
cannot know all of them. Never
theless, II seemed TO me for a moment
that there was about the name GER
tain f&miliarity--as of an old tune, you
know, forgotten for years. Yet II must
have bsen my fancy merely, for l have
no recollection of the event you men,
tion. l cannon believe that such a
birth took place at Etretat."