Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1916-09-07
coeyRle4r . Ae.EvavRo . CO

vealed a pocket In the leather side,
securely fastened. and IN opening this
with trembling fingers, a number of
papers were disclosed.
Scarcely venturing to breathe, hard
ly knowing what l hoped to find, I
drew these forth, and glanced hastily
at them. Surely the man would bear
nothing unimportant with him On such
a journey; these must be papers of
value, for l had noted with what care
he had guarded the bag all the way.
Yet at first I discovered nothing to re-
ward my search-there was a package
Of letters, carefully bound with a
strong cord. a commission from La
Barre, creating Cassion a major Of in
fantry, a number of receipts issued in
Montreal. a list of goods purchased at
st. Ignace, and a roster of men COM
posing the expedition.
At last from one corner of the
pocket l drew forth a number of close
ly written pages, evidently the COVER
nor's instruction. They were traced
In so fine a hand that l was obliged
to return beside the fire to decipher
their contents. They were written In
detail, largely concerned with matters
Of routine, especially referring to rela-
lions with the garrison of the fort, and
Cassion's authority over De Baugis,
but the closing paragraph had evil
IDENTITY been added later, and had per-
sonal interest. 1t read: use your dis
erection as to D'Artigny, but violence
will hardly be safe; he is thought too
well of by La Sale, and that fox may
get Louis ear again. We had best be
cautious. Chevet, however, has no
friends, and, I am told, possesses a
list of the La Chesnayne property, and
other documents which had best be
destroyed. Do not fail in this, nor
fear results. We have gone too far
to hesitate now"
took this. page, and thrust it into
my breast. 1t was not much, and yet
it might prove the one needed link. l
ran through the packet of letters, but
they apparently had no bearing on the
case.
Assured that l had overlooked moth
ing, I thrust the various articles back,
restrapped the bag, and returned to
the outer room. AS I paused before
the fire, someone raped at the door.
stood erect, my fingers gripping the
pistol, which I still retained. Again
the raps sounded, clearly enough de-
fined in the night, yet not violent or
threatening.
"Who Is there?" I asked.
"Your husband, my dear-Francois
Cassion."
But why do you come? 1t was the
pledge of De Baugis that l was to be
left alone"
"a fair pledge enough, although |
was not consulted. From the look of
your eyes, little difference If l had
been. You are as sweet in disposition
as ever, my dear; yet never mind that
we'll soon settle our case now, l
warrant you. Meanwhile l am content
to wait until my time comes IT'S not
you l seek tonight, but my dressing
| case"
Your dressing case?"
"Ay, you know it well, a brown
leather bag I bore with m during oul
journey"
"And where is it, monsieur"
Beneath the bunk in the sleeping
room. Pass it out to me, and I will
ask no more"
"'Twill be safer If you keep you
word" I said quietly, "for still carry
Hugo Chevet's pistol, and know how
to use it. Draw away from the door
monsieur, and l will thrust out thu
bag"
I lowered the bar, opening the doc
barely wide enough to permit the bag!
passage. The light from the fir
cleaned on the barrel of the pistol helC