The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-09-30

STORED by royal order. This order
reached Quebec, but was never
recorded. This Cassion was then
private secretary to the governor,
and the paper came into his
hands. Later, to hush up the
scandal, he married Captain la
Chesnayne's daughter against her
will. The day this wasa accom-
plished the order was placed on
file."
You saw it?"
Eyes; i had the files searched
secretly. The order was dis
patched from France five years
ago, but stamped as received the
day Cassion departed from Que
bec."
My eyes were upon the speaker
and | failed to note how the ac-
cused man met this damning
charge. II was his voice which
drew my attention-high- pitched,
harsh, unnatural.
Mon Dieu! twas not twas
La Barrel"
Tell that in Quebec; tho little
good twill do you. M. de Baugis,
in the kings name / order this
mans arrest"
l saw De Baugis step forward,
his hand outstretched; then all
was confusion and struggle. With
the hoarse snarl of beast, Cas-
sion leaped forward, struck La
Forest with his shoulder and
drove sword point into De Arti-
gny. De Tonty gripped him, but
was hurled aside by insane
strength, Keeling back so that the
weight of his body struck me to
the knees. The next instant, his
sword-point dripping blood, the
runner was beyond reach, speed
ing for the open gate. What fol-
lowed l know from words of
others, and no view | had of it.
De Artigny had fallen, huddled
in a heap on the grass, and | drag
ged myself across to him on my
knees. / heard oths, a shuffling
of feet, rush of bodies, a voice
l did not recognize shouting some
order-then the sharp crack of "a
rifle, and silence. cared not
what had occurred! I had De Arti-
gny's head in my arms, and his
eyes opened and smiled up at me,
full of courage.
You are badly hurt?"
mo, / think not; the thrust
was too high. Lift me, and I
breathe better. All, you are here
also, De Tonty."
Eyes, lad; there is small use
for me yonder. You are not seri-
ously struck"
II bleed freely, but the thrust
was in the shoulder. l could
stand, l think, with your aid"
On his feet he leaned heavily
on us both, yet would not be led
away until La Forest joined us.
He held in his hand some papers.
yet neither of us questioned him.
Monsieur de Tonty," he said,
81 would have private word with
YOU" s i
when I help De Artigny to
his bed, and have a look at his
wound. Yet 1t is not matter of
interest to these as well?"
81 take 1t So"
"Then speak your message--M.
Cassion is dead?" -
"The sentry's bullet found his
heart, monsieur" -
81 saw him fall. These papers
were upon him-are they of
value?"
THAT | know not; they pos
sess no meaning to me, but they
were addressed to the man killed
at st. 1gniace."
'Hgo Chevet?" I exclaimed.
my uncle; may I not see them,
monsieur"
De Tonty placed them In my
hands, Letter from a lawyer in
Quebec, with a form of petition
to the king, and a report of his
search of the archives of New
France. The other document was
the sworn affidavit of Jules Beau
haou, clerk of records, that he
had seen and read q paper pur-
porting to be a restoration from
the king to the heirs of Capt. la
ChesnayDe. 1t was signed and
sealed. I looked up at the faces
surrounding me, startled and
frightened at this witness from
the dead.
They are papers belonging to
Chevet?' asked De Tonty.
Eyes, fonsieur-see. He must
have known suspected the truth
before our departure, yet had no
thought such villany was the
work of M. Cassion. He sought
evidence"
THAT is the whole story, no
doubt. La Barre learned of his
search, for he would have spies In
plenty, and wrote his letter of
warning to Cassion. The latter,
fearing the worst, and desperate,
did not even hesitate at murder
to gain possession of these docu-
ments. wonder that he did not
long ago destroy the papers,"
There is always some weak
ness in crime" commented La
Forest, land the man has paid
penalty for his. 1t would be my
guess he desired to place them
In La Barre's hands in proof of
his loyalty. But, Messieurs, De
Artigny needs to have his wound
dressed. We can discuss all this