Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1907-05-17
The Holiday Case
BY BURTON e. STEVENSON.

BY BURTON E. STEVENSON N.

, here during the months of May, June
and July, 1876, and that While they
were here, q daughter was born 10
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
alphabetically. There are a great
many people here, al that time, ana 1
cannot know all of hen Never
theless, it seemed to me for a moment
that there was about the name a GER
tain f&miliarity-as of an old tune, you
know, forgotten for years. Yet 1t must
have been my fancy merely, for nave
no recollection OF the event o men
ton. L cannot believe that such a
birth took place at Etretat.'
There was another chance and l gave
Mr.. Royce the clew.
Monsieur Fingert," he asked, ARE
| you acquainted with a man by the
name of Pierre Bethune?"
And again the notary shook his head.
cor Jasper Martingy?'
Il before heard either name,
monsieur" he answered.
We sat silent a moment, in despair.
Was our trip to Etretat to be of no
avail? Where was my ~premonition
now? If we had lost the trail thus
there hat we should ever run down
the quarry? And how explain the fact
that no record had been made of
Frances Holidays birth? Why should
her parents ave wished to conceal it?
Would they not naturally have been
anxious to see that il was properly re-
corded?
An hour had passed; the shops were
opening M a hustle of life reached us
through the open door. People began
to pass by twos and threes.
THE first train for three days is
about to arrive" said the little notary.
You see, this is a very small town,
messieurs. The arrival of a train is
an event"
Again we fell silent. Mr.. Royce got
out his purse and paid the fee. We
had come to an impasse-a closed way.
we could go no farther. | could see
that the notary vas a-hunger for his
roll and coffee. With a sigh. 1 arose to
go. The notary stepped to the door
and looked up the street.
All he said, the train has arrived,
but it seems there was not many pas
sengers. Here is one, though, who has
finished a long journey"
He nodded to someone who approach
ed slowly, it seemed. He was before
the door-he passed OMIT was Mar
tigny!
That is the mani I cried to Mr..
Royce. THAT is Martigny! Ask who
he really S."
He understood on the instant. and
caught the notary's arm.
Monsieur Fingert, who is thai
man?"
The notary glanced at him, surprise,
by his vehemence.
That" he said, lis Victor Fajolle.
He is just home from America and
seems very i'll. poor fellow
And he lives here"
"Oh, surely; or the cliffs just above
the town-the first houSe-you cannot
miss it-buried in a grove of trees. He
married the daughter of Madame Aliy
some years ago-he was from Paris"
And his wife is living?"
"Oh, surely. she is living; she her.
self returned from America but three
weeks ago, together with her mother
and sister. The sister, they say. is
we'll and he finished with a signi.
ficant gesture toward his head.
| saw my companions face turn
White-I steadied myself with an eff
fort. l knew that, at last, the veil was
to be lifted.
And they are at home now?"
Il believe So said the notary, eying
him with more and more establishment.
They have been keeping close at home
since their return-they will permit no
one to see the-invalid. There has
been much talk about it,"
Come, we must go!" | cried. "He
must not get there before us!'
But a sudden light cleaned in the
notary's eyes.
Wait, m~essieurs!" he cried. "A mo.
ment. But a moment. All. | remem-
Der it noW-it was the link which was
wanting, and you have supplied it
Holiday, a millionaire of America, his
wife, Madame Alix-she did not live
in the villa, then, messieurs. Oh, no:
she was very poor, q nurse-anythine
to make a little money; her husband
who was a fisherman, was drowned
and left her to take care of the child.
rem as best she could. All, / remembe,
one a mere baby!'
He had got down another book. and
was running his finger rapidly dowr
the pagc-his finger all a-tremble with
excitement. Suddenly he STONED
with a little cry Of triumph.
Here it is. messieurs! / knew ]
could not be mistaken! See!"
Under the date of June 10, 1876 wa.
an entry of which this is the English.
Holiday, Hiram W., and Elizabeth
his wife, Of the city of New York
United States Of America; from Celeste
Alix, widow of Auguste Alix, heI
daughter Celeste, aged 5 months All
claim surrendered in consideration ~
the payment of $4,000 francs"
Mr.. Royce caught up the book ana
glanced at the back. 1t was the Pee
ord of A~doptions.''
Concluded Next Week.)