Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1914-04-24
CHAPTER Xxx (continued).

Done wore 1t round her neck when
I stole her for Old lar Captain. Yes.
sir, he N wanted a little child to
lead EN-"
Ladeau slipped his oily fingers under
the chain as Wiley laid it back
He peered closer. Only n man ever
make dat. Francois on Cartres street
look. he mark all his silver So" he
turned the cruciflx. On the under side
were crude letters. Ladeau put the
trinlAet down n sighed: "Ehen! Dat
bisque l have eat in dat oil silve.r NTH
shop!" He rubbed his stomach-'Dat
bisque-'
But they had urne away to listen to
Wiley Curran.
That crucifx. Mrs. Lindstrom?
Might l take it INC have 1t cleaned and
send it to Aurelie? For a present from
all of you-with o from all OF you?
Shes such a great lady now"
She looked at Uncle Mich. His face
grew tender. Il reckon. 1 wouldn't
let anybody but you take it, MIR. Wiley.
She loved that little cross n chain.
But you'll reckon you can Mr.. Wiley!"
Wiley turned back to h table. The
chair lay there. But when he lifted 1t
the silver cross "a missing. He looked
about; then on the floor.
Its gonei The cruciflx!'
The boys were searching in the rag
carpet rugs. Curran looked about
again. at all of them-then at Maurice
Ladeau. He was rubbing his hands
with his old slovenly card-sharp trick,
and smiling.
Maurice, 1t was there when 1 laid 1t
DOWN." He came nearer. The cajun
shrugged. 1T was there when you
picked 1t up"
"Merci! l been a thief den? Foo a
picayune bit Of silver? 1 sho' never
see dat"
They looked about, under he bed
and the dresser. But nothing was
found. Michigan stumped out and
crawled under the house to make sure
1t had not gone through some crack.
Done been curious!" He came back
and set his shaggy brows hard ON John
and then Ladeau. But o take the
chain, Mr.. Wiley. Mebbe We'll find the
little cross"
Curran was annoyed. "rn get a new
crucifix put on, Uncle Mich. Then I'll
write Aurelie. But it's c%urious!"
shop, took out the chain to muse over
it. Done come UP river!" He smiled
and held it off toward the light-"God
bless you, Uncle Mich! You and your
little girl. Done come up river to oc-
joy!"
And as he stood up later, closing the
door to go to The cottage, he heard a
roaring off to the west. At first faint,
then growing as the train sped through
the %uplands' cut and reached the Earl
vile yards. In the New shop door.
Mr.. Curran listened, holding still the
rosary against his cheek where her own
baby lips had kissed it.
Their with his old fancy he waved 1T
toward the east. Because you're there
Aurelie-just because you're there!"
And a sudden impulse seized him.
He was wont to do things on uncon-
sidered impulses. He had an appoint
ment with the Hon. T.. P. Purcell, his
political manager, the next day at 10
o'clock. But he suddenly growled:
Congress be damned"
Then he whirled and dashed through
the shop, up to his cottage and into his
bedroom. Aunt Abby was snoring, as
he crammed collars n brushes and
tits and slippers into a suit case. and
then dashed out again and over the
fence with the lightness of a boy. He
forgot to close the door. He scattered
toilet articles from High street to the
junction. But one thing he did not lose
and that was Aurelie's rosary!
And by one of those curious chances
of destiny which make or mar a man's
life, the Chicago train was three min
utes late, and he made 1t.