The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1914-07-31

AoHIiJ JdCh6I, mdu6 II LONDON, ana II
never belonged to D'Auvray." He held
1t up. 1T was big fellow who wore
this coat, about your size
! drew up the bench, and sat down.
There is more to this than you have
discovered, Brady" said, determined
to explain. did you chance to see a
French girl back at Fort Harmar?"
He shook his head.
Not as remember; who was she?"
That is what l would like to know
hoped you might have picked up
some information. She was at General
Harmar's office-a young girl, not
much over twenty, l should Judge,
with dark eyes and hair, speaking
broken English, her dress half Indian
and half border French. She was one
in thousand, to my thought What
name do you suppose she gave me?"
I His eyes, interested, questioned me,
but he sat silent.
Rene D'Auvray; and she explained
her father was a French officer, killed
in battle"
and her mother?"
"A woman of the Wyandots, but
| half-breed."
'D'Auvray! The same as the dead
man yonder! And he was a soldier
II is an odd case. What else do you
knew about herr"
Precious little, indeed, for she
seemed an adept in deceit. She even
pretended to know me, and actually
| spoke my name before it had been told
her How she ever learned it is more
than ! can guess. The little mink is
full of tricks, but plays them so sauci-
ly it was not in my heart to become
angry BY heavens! one glance In her
eyes would disarm any man"
Yes" he interrupted, "but whence
came she there, and for what pur-
poser"
told him all knew, aud he listened
eagerly, his eyes on Schultz puttering
about the fire.
"She must have TESTED in her threat
to travel hither with the renegade"
II fear it was not jest, | said sober.
| ly. "She was in mood to do even
that, and do not think she feared the
man. They may be on our trail now;
| ay! close at hand, Brady, for they both
know these woods better than either OF
u.s. IT is my thought, now. the dead
man yonder was the lass father, and
she would know his cabin"
His eyes turned to the door, and
then to the food Schultz was placing
on the table before us, but whatever
his thought it remained unuttered. AS
we sat there eating. he was apparent
ly turning 1t all over in his mind, try
ing to draw the tangled ends of the
skein together. AS we finished the
meal, some newly awakened curiosity
caused me to glance out again into
the rear room. 1t was gloomy will
shadows, the bodies of man and dot
beyond view; yet what perceived
brought from my lips a sudden eXcla
nation.
Brady, some one has been in here
The outer door is unlatched-yes-a
the soldiers coat is. gone!"
We searched the room carefully, bu
discovered no sign of its having beef
entered, except for the door standing
slightly ajar, and the disappearance 0
the red coat We dare not carry
torch into the open. and the night wa
too dark for US to trace marks on tn
ground. Brady stood in the glow 0
freight, looking to the printing of hi
rifle, his face Swallowed.
al am going out awhile, Hayward,
he said finally. Eyes, ] am all RICH
now. | meant to take you along, bu
/ reckon, it will be safer not to leav
the Dutchman here alone. However,
don't think there will be any NOR
visitors tonight"
He slipped out the back way, disal
pearing instantly, and picked UP m
own rife, babe Schultz remain wher
he was, and followed, with the purpos
of scouting about the island. coul
perceive the new danger we we're Il
Suppose the assassin, eager to say
himself from suspicion, should be a
tracted to that camp of raiders, an
relying on their friendship for prote
ton. charge us with the murder
D'Auvray. What mercy could we hoI
for at their hands? Beyond doubt tt
band was composed of ambitious your
warriors, who had already taste
blood, and under control Of no chi
able to restrain them, If their wild pa
siops should be appealed to.
But / emerged into darkness and s
lence. Quickly as had made this d
cision was too late. The scout ht
Z already disappeared across the mario
! omen space, and vanished into Il
D fringe of trees. There was nothing
guide me, except q vague sense OF
rection. yet / felt my way forwal
through the dense tree growth, hea
ie ing no sound of movement, and COZ
PEELED to move slowly until emerg'
ii at the shore, and could perceive q
l stars reflected on the surface OF st
to water AS | fingered there clear OF Il
woods shadow, my courage gradual