Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1910-04-28

hat of blue and gold and a gold en-
broidered coat.
"Ah, Bonneton, my friendv' said
Coquenil.
Good evening. M. Paul." answered
the other, while he patted the dog af-
~fectionately. Shall l take Caesar?"
Zone moment. 1 have news for you"
Then. while the other listened anx-
iously. he told of his brilliant appoint
ment In Rio de Janeiro and of his i'm
minent departure. He was sailing for
Brazil in three days.
"Mon Dieu!' murmured Bonneton in
dismay. Sailing for Brazil! So our
friends leave us. OF course I'm glad
for you. It's a great chance. but
will you take Caesar"
II couldn't leave my dog. could II"
smiled Coquenil.
"Of cours not! OF course not! And
such a dog! You've been kind to let
him guard the church since old Max
died. Come, Caesar! Just a moment,
M. Paul"
How the course Of events would
have been changed had Paul Coquenil
remained outside Notre Dame on this
occasion it is impossible to know. The
fact is he did not remain outside; but,
growing impatient at Bonneton's de-
lay, he pushed open the double swing
ing doors. with their coverings Of leath-
er and red velvet, and entered the
sanctuary. Immediately he saw q girl.
She was in the shadows near q stat
ue Of the Virgin before which candles
were burning. On the table were O
saries and talismans and candles of
different lengths that it was evidently
the girls business to sell. In front of
the Virgins shrine was a priedieu, at
which a woman was kneeling, but she
presently rose and went out, and the
girl sat there alone. When she lifted
her eyes he saw that they were dark
and beautiful. though tinged with sad
He vas surprised to find this
lovely young woman selling candles
here in Notre Dame church.
And suddenly he was more surpris-
ed, for as the girl glanced up she met
his gaze fixed on her, and Immediately
there came into her face a look so
strange, so glad and yet so frightened
that Coquenil went to her quickly
| with re%assuring smile. He was sure
he had icy seen her before, yet he
realized that somehow she was equal
ly sure that she knew him.
What followed was seen by only one
| person-that is, the sacristan's wife, q
big, hard faced woman with a faint
mustache and a wart on her chin, who
sat by the great column neal the door
dispensing holy water out Of a crack
ed saucer and whining for pennies.
Nothing escaped the hawklike eyes of
Mother Bonneton, and now, with
growing curiosity. she watched the
scene between Coquenil and the can
die seller. What interest could a great
detective have in this girl, Alice, whom
she and her husband had taken in as
a half charity boarder?
"Holy saints. how she talks!' grum-
bled the sacristan's wife. And see
the eyes she makes! And how he lis
tens! The man must be crazy to waste
his time on her! Now he asks a ques.
ton. and she talks again with that
queer, faraway look. He frowns and
clinches his hands, and, upon my soul.
he seems afraid Of herl
The incident wrought an extraordi.
nary change in Coquenil. He looked
worn. almost haggard. as he walked
to the church door with face set in an
ominous frown. There's some devils
work in this" he muttered.
"What is it?" asked the sacristan.
The detective faced him sharply.
"Who is the girl in there? Where did
she come fromY' He stopped alb
ruptly and pressed the fingers Of bis
two hands against his forehead. mo,
nor he changed. Don't tell me yet
I must be alone. l must think. Come
to me at 9 tonight"
Eyes, yes" murmured the sacristan,
following him. "But, M. Paul-er-
which day do you sail?"
Coquenil snapped angrily, II may not
sail at ALL"
A DAY or sinister portent this must
have been. for scarcely had Coqueni
left Notre Dame than another scene
was enacted there that should have
been happy. but, alas. vas not. And
again it was the girl who made trou.
BILE. this seller Of candles. with he1
wistful dark eyes. A pathetic figure
she was. sitting there alone in the
somber church-quite alone now. fol
it was closing time. Mother Bonneton
had shufled off automatically after a
cutting word-she knew better than
to ask what had happened-and the
old sacristan was making his round o1
the galleries. securing doors and win,
dows.
With a shiver Of apprehension Alice
turned away from the whispering