The Washburn leader., 1914-01-23
CHAPTER XIV.
Peter and the Little Marquis
Make q Secret, Also the
Marquis eehoIds the Carte
do visite.

rs &1 E:lf
~aEN Mr.. Van Zandt sprang to
the child. and the two. man
~ and boy. stood together on the
sill Of the dividing door.
Come back!' cried the man. bis
firm hold upon the small arm.
But. monsieur. l promised grand
mamma not to visit any stranger"
II will write and explain to your
grandmother. sir She is stopping In
there. is she not?' He indicated Bet
TVS side Of the old house.
'Yes. monsieur--of course-but"-
"You are looking for happiness. little
boy, are you not?'
"Yes. monsieur. to give to grand
mamma"
"Come back: maybe you can help me
to find it and then will give some
Of 1t to you"
"You will, monsieur?"
Il will. upon my soul!'
"Then l will come" The three pus.
sizes had already returned to- their
warm corners as Van Zandt. taking
the army cap from his little guest,
led him back into the library through
the haze Of the curling smoke. He
glanced down as he laid the cap on
the table. He saw his own initials In
side dimmed but still legible. He
looked at the Goliath boots and recog-
nized these. too. as his own. he stared
at the child.
Nov. sir. will you tell me how you
came through there?" He looked over
at the arch. 1T will help MS, Monsieur
lie Marquis. in our search for happi-
|. ness.'
Monsieur, play in the garret. 1t
is there l find the boots and the cap.
l find the keys on peg as Ole Bull
plays with the string"
"Yes?" Van Zandt assented eagerly.
He remembered hanging them there
very distinctly.
"Brigitte. monsieur. it was Brigitte
who is very excellent and true. tell to
me that this large key was the one for
this door. you see? She show to me
the door behind the portieres. and we
make plan to unlock the door-l to
do it. because Brigitte. when l de-
mand what is on the other side. she
say she think happiness is: SO l un-
lock. come in. find monsieur"
Van Zandt was in the midst Of a rid
die.
The wall not built: and Brigitte.
who was she? To be sure. Bridget. of
course But why should or how could
Bridget Supple presume to-pshaw!
The little boy, visiting Betty with
his grandmother. doubtless Old friends
Of hers in France, was q charming lit
tie romancist. He had heard. he be-
lieved. somewhere. of Just such fanci-
ful children.
But the open arch?
The little boy meantime had been
looking around. speculattng according
to his years as to whence happiness
1 might come or In which article of fur
niture It might now be hidden. Then
presently he caught sight of the carte
de visite In the crimson velvet passe
partout. and be cried out softly. "Oh.
monsieur. monsieur. where. then. did
you get ttaisT' The little boy fetched a
big sigh and knelt down BY the table,
his two arms trying to fold themselves
on top Of the frame. his large eyes
fixed on the tiny picture.
"Well. sir" van Aandt replied. 'I'm
4 afraid stole IT. He was unadept at
dealing with Guild and mostly intent
upon arranging mentally how to fetch
his guest to speaking Of Betty.
Monsieur" The little boy felt this
to be untrue. but before he could add
anything to his exclamation of re-
proach the man went on with:
"Why?"
Because. msasieur. this" he put q
revereDd little fore6nger on the pic
ture. ''is madame my 9randmamma."
Are vo,l net mistaken. sir?" The
child sAeok his head.
Il aawe the same ON my candle
stand. nsneienr. by my bed"
But. sir. the name Of this lady d
not the same az pours. See. It is writ
ten on tbe card" Be took the picture
from tts teazae asd held It up.
1 Monsieur. cannet read the writ
ing"
at sayA -6etty Van 1andt.'" the
man reaA. -
eyes. .seltesr.- HttIe Peter nodded
slowly; EXACTLY. Ny mamma WAS 20.
and my papa was De Ia 'Quereau: also
my mamma. tee." be explained to the
hest Of his iiastted ability.
Peter vaa Zasdt scared on. There
were tense th01xAta racl1ing his brain.
Betty married to aasther2 How7 lm-
possible! aa
Presently Ills breath cane hard a.
he spoke. .'Your grandnamma. sir.
Would you tell ne her uaale9''
"But. yes. monsieur Geaa6mamma's
name 10 Betty Van Zandt. =
! Then the mans whole body shook.
4 ands his hands trenbied and Ms lips.
and his arms acbed. and his s0al was
scathed. and 10 lifted the littls beg up
and stood him on the table. net letting
aim outside his hold, and he asksd.
what u the name. d yOv know, Of
. - - ~ =