Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1916-09-14
Beyond the Frontier
By RANDALL PARRISH


the pledged word of Henri de Tonty.
Make passage therel Come, madame"
No one stopped us; no voice an
swered him. Almost before l realized
the action, we were outside in the sun
light, and he was smiling into my face,
his dark eyes full Of cheer.
ut will make them pause and
think-what l said" he exclaimed,
yet will not change the result"
'They will convict?"
Beyond doubt, madame. They are
La Barrels men, and hold commission
only at his pleasure. With NJ. de La
Durantaye it is different, for he was
soldier of Frontenac's, yet / have no
hope he will dare stand out against the
rest. We must find another way to
save the lad, but when l leave you at
the door yonder l am out Of it."
"You, monsieur! What can l hope
to accomplish without your aid?"
"Far more than with it, especially
If l furnish a good substitute. 1 shall
be watched now, every step l take.
IT'S like enough De Baugis will send
me challenge, though the danger that
Cassion would do so is slight. 1t is
the latter who will have me watched.
No, madame, Boisrondet is the lad
who must find a way out for the pris-
oner; they will never suspect him, and
the boy will enjoy the trick. Tonight,
when the fort becomes quiet, he will
find way to explain his plans. Have
your room dark, and the window
Open"
"There is but one, monsieur, out
ward, above the precipice."
''That will be his choice; he can
reach you thus unseen. TITS quite
possible a guard may be placed at your
door"
He left me, and walked straight
across the parade to his own quarters,
an erect, manly figure in the sun, his
long black hair falling to his shoulders.
drew a chair beside the door, which
left partially open, so that l might
view the scene without. l could see
the door of the guardhouse, and, at
last, those in attendance at the trial
emerged, talking gravely, as they scat
tered in various directions. The three
officers came forth together, proceed
ing directly across toward De Tonty's
| office, evidently with some purpose in
| view. No doubt, angered at his words,
they sought satisfaction. l watched
until they disappeared within the dis
tant doorway, De Baugis the first to
| enter. A moment later n Of the SOL
diers who had accompanied US from
| Quebec, a rather pleasant-faced lad,
whose injured hand l had dressed at
| st. Ignace, approached where sat,
and lifted his hand in salute.
"a moment, Jules" I said swiftly.
"You were at the trial"
eyes, madame"
"And the result?'
''The Sieur d'Artigny was held
| guilty, madame" he said regretfully,
| glancing about as though to assure
himself alone. "The three officers
| agreed on the verdict, although l know
some of the witnesses lied"
"You know-who?"
"My own mate, for one-George
Descartes; he swore to seeing DAT
tigny follow Chevet from the boats,
and that was not true, for we were
together all that day. | would have
said so, but the court babe me be STILL"
SAY, they were not seeking such tes-
timony. No matter what you said,
Jules, D'Artigny would have been con
demned-it was La Barre's orders"
Eyes, madame, so l thought"
"Dfd the Sieur d'Artigny speak?"
"a few words, madame, until M.
| Cassion ordered him to remain still.
Then NJ. de Baugis pronounced SEN
tence-it was that he be shot tomor-
row."
"The hour?"
81 heard none mentioned, madame"
"And a purpose in that also to my
mind. This gives them twenty-four
hours in which to consummate MUIR
der. They fear De Tonty and his men
may attempt rescue; It's to find out the
three have gone now to his quarters.
That is all, Jules; you had best not be
seen talking here with me-"
I closed the door, and dropped the
bar securely into place. l knew the
worst now, and felt sick and faint.
Tears would not come to relieve, yet it
seemed as though my brain ceased
working, as If l had lost all physical
and mental power, | know not how
long l sat there, dazed, incompetent to
even express the vague thoughts which
flashed through my brain. A rapping
on the door aroused me. The noise,
the insistent raps awoke me as from
sleep.
"Who wishes %entrance?"
"I-Cassion; l demand speech with
you"
For what purpose, monsieur"
Mon Dieu! Does a man have to
give excuse for desiring to speak with
his own wife? Open the door, or III
have it broken in. Have you not YET
learned / am master hereT
l drew the bar, no longer with any
sense Of fear, but impelled by a desire
to hear the mans message. l stepped