The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1907-05-17
CHAPTER XVII.
ETRETAT


We Were up at an hour which 40
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
KARI, blu 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 birthso
Hls residence, that vas anothe matter.
HIS residence was some little distance
away. near the Casino. at the right
we should ask for Maitre Fingret-any-
sieurs be expected to return? 1t was
impossible to say.
We went off along the street. leaving
the 1nnkeeper staring after us-along
the Rue Alphonse Karr, lined on both
SIDES by houses, each with it's 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 a glance at 1T. and turned toward
the Casino at the other end. "Maitre
t1ngret?" we inquired OF the first
pIasserby. and he pointed to a 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 u errand in
laborious French, supplemented by
much gesticulatton-it is wonderful
now the hands can help one to talk
and after a time the little Frenchman
caught his meaning. and BUSTED 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
thoroughness of French administration.
but | admit that / saw not what we
should do further, once we had verified
the date OF Miss Holidays birth. The
ext 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 vas not a large
book, for the births of Etretat are not
overwhelming In number.
The name, 1 think YOU said. was
Holladay?" he asked.
Hiram w. Holiday" nodded Mr..
Royce. W.
And the date June 1Oth?"
"Yes-June 10TH"
The little man ran his finger rapidly
down the page, then went back again
ana reaa the entries one by one more
slowly. with a pucker of perplexity
about his lips. He turned the leaf. be-
a farther back and read through the
list again. while we sat watching him.
At last he shut the book with a little
snap and looked at us.
"Messieurs," he said quietly, mo
such birth is recorded here. I have
examined the records for the months
Of May. June. and July"
But 1t u be there" protested Mr.
Royce. =
NEVERTHELESS it is not here, Mon
sieur.''
Gould the child have been born here
n no record made of it?"
Impossible. monsieur. No physician
IN France would take that RESPONSE
bility."
For a large fee, perhaps" suggested
my companion.
In Paris hat may. sometimes, be
possible. But in a small place like
this. l should have heard Of it. and it
would have been my duty to investi-
gate"
You have been here for that length
of time. them"
"Oh, yes, monsieur smiled the little
man. For a much longer time thar
that"
Mr. Royce leaned forward toward
him. He was getting back all his
old power as a cross-examiner.
Monsieur Fingert." he began i'm
pressively, II am quite certain that
Hiram w. Holiday and his wife were