Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1916-09-22

offered me protection. The guard at
the door fell aside promptly, and per-
mitted us to pass. Some order was
spoken in low tone, and they fell be,
hind with rifles at trail. Once in the
! open | became, for the first time,
aware of irregular rifle firing, and OBJ,
/ served in surprise men posted upon a
/ narrow staging along the side of the
/ log stockade.
us the fort being attackedy
/ asked
There has been firing for some
days" he answered, "but no real at.
tack. The savages merely hide yon,
/ der amid the rocks and woods, and
strive to keep us from venturing down
the trail. Twice we have made sor-
tie, and driven them away. but It's
q useless waste of fighting" He called
to a man posted above the gate: "How
/ is it this morning, Jules?"
The soldier glanced about cautious
", keeping his head below cover
s@Thick as flies out there, monsieur"
/ he answered, "and with a marksman
/ or two among them. Not ten minutes
! since Bowain got ball in his head"
'.And no orders to clear the devils
| out?''
"No. monsieur-only to watch that
they do not form for rush"
| The commandments office was built
| against the last stockade-a long hut
/ no more pretentious than the others.
! A sentry stood at each side of the
! closed door, but De Tonty ignored
! them and ushered me into the room.
1t was not large, and was already we'll
| filed, a table Uttered with papers oc-
cupying the central space, De Baugis
| and De la Durantaye seated beside it,
while numerous other figures were
| standing pressed against the walls.
recognized the familiar faces of sew
eral of our party, but before recov-
! cred from my first embarrassment De
| Baugis arose, and with much polite
ness offered me a chair.
De Tonty remained beside me, his
! coolly surveyed the scene. Cassion
pushed past, and occupied a vacant
| chair, between the other officers, laying
his sword on the table. My eyes swept
about the circle Of faces seeking DAT
tigny, but he was not present But for
slight shufIling of feet, the silence
| was oppressive. Cassion's unpleasant
voice broke the stiffness.
an. de Tonty, there is chair yon-
| der reserved for your USE"
II prefer remaining beside Madame
| Cassion," he answered calmly. "It
would seem she has few friends in this
company"
eve are all her friends broke in
De Baugis, his face flushing, "but we
are here to do justice, and avenge a
foul crime. IT'S told us that madame
possesses certain knowledge which has
not been revealed. Other witnesses
have testified, and we would now
listen to her word. Sergeant Of the
guard, bring in the prisoner"
He entered by way of the rear door,
manacled, and with an armed soldier
on either side COatless and barehead-
ed, he stood erect in the place assigned
him. and as his eyes swept the faces,
his stern look changed to a smile as
! his glance met mine. My eyes were
/ still upon him, seeking eagerly for
| some message OF guidance, when Cas-
sion spoke.
an. de Baugis will question the wit
ness"
'The court will pardon me," said
/ D'Artigny ''The witness to be heard
/ is madame"
Certainly; what means your inter-
ruption?'
'To spare the lady unnecessary en-
! barrassment. She is my friend, and,
no doubt, may find it difficult to testify
/ against he. | merely venture to ask
| her to give this court the exact truth"
'Your words are inpertinent"
S'No, M. de Baugis," I broke in. I'M
/ Outstanding all that was meant. "Sieur
! d'Artigny has spoken in kindness, and
| has my thanks. 7 am ready now to
| bear witness frankly. What is it you
| desire me to tell, monsieur?''
''The story Of your midnight visit
| to the Mission garden at st. Ignace,
! the night Hugo Chevet was killed.
Tell it in your own words, madame"
AS | began my voice trembled, and
! 1 was obliged to grip the arms of the
chair to keep myself firm. l read SYM
pathy in De Baugis' eyes, and adj
| dressed him alone. Twice he asked me
questions, in so kindly a manner as to
wiz instant reply, and once he checked
| Cassion when he attempted to inter-
rilpt, his voice stern with authority.
told the story simply, plainly, with,
10 attempt at equivocation, and when
ceased speaking the room was as
silent as a tomb. De Baugis sat mo-
| tionless, but Cassion stared at me-
across the table, his face dark with
/ passion
Wait he cried as though thinking
| me about to rise. "There are ques-
lions yet"
Monsieur, said De Baugis coldly.
eff there are questions 1t is my place