Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-09-13
Copyright by the Bobbs-Merrnl Company
BOOK III
CHAPTER TX Continued


CHAPTER TX Continued
WE BOTH bowed again. 1 took Pierre
w Grignon into the hail for counsel.
In the end he rode with me, for we
concluded to send Skenedonk with a
party along the east shore.
Though searching for the lost is an ex-
perience old as the world. its pognancy
was new to me. l saw Eagle tangled in
the wild oats OF the river. | saw her
treacherously dealt with by Indians who
called themselves at peace. l saw her
wandering out and out, mile beyond mile.
to undwelt-in places, and the tender
mercy of wolves.
We crossed the ferry and took to the
trail. Pierre Grignon talking cheerfully.
Nothing has happened to her, MIST
Williams" he insisted. mo Indian about
La Baye would hurt her. and the child is
not so crazy as to hurt herself"
II was a starless night, muffled over
head as the day had been. but without
rain or mist lie had a lantern hanging
at his saddle bow. ready to light. In the
open lands we rode side by side, but
through growths along the Fox first one
and then the other led the way.
We found my door unfastened. l re-
membered for the first time I had not
locked IT, Someone had been in the house.
4 low fire burned in the chimney We
stirred II and lighted the lantern, Foot
prints not our own had dried white upon
the smooth dark floor.
They pointed to the fireplace and out
againa They had been made by a
woman's feet.
We descended the hill to the river and
tossed our light through every bush, the
lantern blinking in the wind. We ex-
plored the ravine. the light stealing over
white birches that glistened like alabas-
ter. II was no use to call her name. she
might be hidden behind a rock laughing
at us. We had to surprise her to recover
I her. Skenedonk would have traced her
where We lost the trail.
When we went back to the house, de-
jected with physical wearness, / un-
strapped the blanket and the food which
Madame Ursule had sent. and brought
them to Pierre Grignon. He threw the
blanket on the settee, laid out bread and
meat on the table, and ate, both of us
blaming ourselves for sending the Indian
on the other side of the river.
We traced the hard route which had
followed the day before. and reached
Green Bay about dawn Pierre Grignon
went TO bed exhausted. l had some
breakfast and waited for Skenedonk. He
had not returned, but had sent one man
back TO say there was no clue. The meal
was like a passover eaten in haste. |
could not wait, but set out again. with a
pIllion which I had carried uselessly in
the night strapped again upon the horse
for her seat, in case I found her; and
leaTing word for the Oneida to follow.
had forgotten there was such a per-
son as Able Edgeworth, when he led a
= horse upon the ferryboat.
You ride early as well as late. May
] join your"
Il ride on a search which cannot in
terest you, monsieur"
"You are mistaken. I Understand what
has disturbed the house. and 1 want to
ride with you"
''It will be hard for a horseman accus-
toned to avenues"
"It will suit me perfectly"
IL did not suit me at all, but he took
my coldness with entire courtesy.
Have you breakfasted, monsieur"
II had my usual slice of bread and cup
Of water before rising" he answered
Again l led on the weary trail to my
house. Able Edgeworth galloped well.
keeping beside me where there was room,
or riding behind where there was not.
The air blew soft, and great shadow
clouds ran In an upper current across the
deepest blueness 1 had seen in many a
day. The sun showed beyond rows OF
hills
l Dethought myself to ask the priest II
he knew anything about Count de Chau-
mont. He answered very simply and d.
rectiy that he did; that might remember
Count de chaumont was mentioned In
Mittau.
The count, he said. according to COM
mon report, had retired with his daughter
and his son-in-law to Blois. where he was
vigorously rebuilding his ruined chateau
OF Chaumont.
II my mind had been upon the priest
should have wondered what he came
for. He did not press his message.
THE court Is again in exile?" said.
AT Ghent"
"Belienger visited me last September
He was without a dauphin."
we could supply the deficiency" Abbs
Edgew0rth pleasantly replied.
with the boy he left In EuropeY'
''Oh. dear no. With royal dukes You
observed his majesty could not pension q
helpless idiot without encouraging dau.
phins. These dauphins are thicker than
blackberries. The dauphin myth has be-
come so common that whenever we see q
beggar approaching we say. There comes
another dauphin.' One OF them is a fel.
low who calls himself the Duke of Richie
mont He has followers who believe abso-
lutely IN him. Somebody, seeing hin
asleeI. declared II was the face OF th'
dead kingH'
felt stuns. remembering the Marquis
du Plessy's words.
''Oh. Yes. yes" said Able Edgeworth
HE haa visions. TOO. Half memories
when The face Of his mother comes bael
10 him"
what about his scars?" aske'
hardly a
sears yes. I am told he has the prope
stiemata OF the dauphin. He was takei
out OF tha Femple prison. dying bOl
being substituted for him there. We al
know the dauphins physician died sud
denly; some say he was poisoned and
new physician attended the hoy who dice
Ia the Temple OF course. the priest VIII
fectivcd the childs confession shouii
have known > dauphin when he saw one
Bui that's neither here nor there W
lived then In surprising tiHles"
Madame d'Angouieme would reeogniz
him az her brother II she saw hin2'
uf<eeted
III ihink she is not 80 open 10 token
IS al one time Womens hearts are ten
der The Duchess d'Aneouleme cou
never b. convinced that her brother died
thui pthira ndpoine her uncle. Ner
font|ure1ff
fIl1 Duke o. niehemonl uea not Whs