The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1907-05-16
CHAPTER XVII.
ETRETAT.

we We're 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. 1t 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 FingretSany-
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 lnnkeeper staring after us-aIong
sne Isue Alphonse Karr. lined on both
sioes by houses. each with its little
snop on the ground floor. Three min
utes walk brought us to the bay a
pretty, even picturesque place, with its
perpendicular cliffs and gayly colored
hshfng smacks. But we paused for
ohly a glance at 1t, and turned toward
Casino at the other end. "Maitre
Fingret?" we inquired Of the first
passerby, and he pointed to a little
house half hidden in vines.
a knock brought the notary himself
to the door. a little dried-up a with
Keen race, and eyes incredibly bright.
My companion explained u errand in
laborious French, supplemented by
much gestfculation-it is wonderf,il
how the hands can help one to taIk.-
and after a time the little Frenchman
caught his meaning, and hustled away
70 get his hat and cost, seeming a
fat fee. Our first step was to be an
easy n thanks to the severity and
thoroughness of French administrator
but I admit that I saw not what we
should do further, once we had verified
the date of Miss Holidays birth. The
next step must be left to chance.
Ine notary unlocked h door, showed
for US. Then he got down his register
OF births for 1876. 1t was not a larae
book, for births of Etretat are not
overwhelming In number.
The name, I think you said. was
Holladay?" he asked.
Hiram w. Holiday" nodded Mr.
Royce. VT
.And the date June 10TH"
"Yes-June 10TH"
The little man ran his finger ranidlv
down the page. then went back again
ana read the entries one by one more
about his lips. He turned the leaf he.
gan farther back and read through tha
list again. while we sat WATCHING him
At last he shut the book with a little
Slidp ana looked at us.
Messieurs." he said quietly ..nn
such birth is recorded here. / have
examined h records for the months
OF May. June. and July"
Royce. MI.
Nevertheless it is not bera NJ.
sieIr." Nnoi
Could he child have been born here
ana no record made of it?''
impossible. monsieur. No physician
N France would take that response
For q large fee. perhaps" suggested
my companion.
I'm Paris that may, sometimes. he
possible. But In q shall place like
this, I should have heard OF It ana II
would have been my duty to investi-
You have been here for that length
Of time. then"
oh, yes. monsieur, 7 smiled the little
mani For q much longer time thar
MI. Royce leaned forward toward
him, He was getting back all his
old power as a cr0ss-examfner.
Monsieur Fingert," he began i'm
pressfvely. Il am quite certain thai
Hiram w. Holiday and his wife were