Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1916-07-27
CHAPTER XII.
The Murder of Chevet

Who had killed him? What should
I do? These were the two questions
haunting my mind, and becoming more
and more insistent. The light still
burned in the mission house, and |
could picture the scene within the
three priests reading, or talking softly
to each other, and Cassion asleep on
his bench in the corner, wearied with
the day.
I could not understand, could not
imagine a cause, and yet the assassin
must have been D'Artigny. How else
could I account for his presence there
In the night, his efforts at conceal
ment, his bending over the dead body,
and then hurrying away without
sounding an alarm. The evidence
against the mar seemed conclusive,
and vet I would not condemn. There
might be other reasons for his 81
lence, for his secret presence, and II
rushed into the house, proclaiming
my discovery and confessing what
had seen, he would be left without
defense.
Shrinking, s%huddering at every
shadow, at every sound, my nerves
t~hrobbing with agony, I managed to
drag my body up the logs, and in
through the window. I was safe there,
but there was no banishing from mem
ory what l had seen-what | knew
lay yonder in the wood shadow.
sank to the floor, clutching the sill, my
ewes staring through the moonlight.
Once l thought 1 saw a mans indis'
tinct figure move across an open space,
and once I heard voices far away.
do not know that l was called
vet when | awoke a faint light pro
claiming the dawn was in the sky
and sounds of activity reached my
ears from the room below. | felt tiret
and cramped from my unnatural posi-
ton, but fastened to join the others
The morning meal was already on TIM
table, and we ate as usual, no on
mentioning Chevet, thus proving tn
body had not been discovered. coul
scarcely choke the food down, antici
pating every, instant the sounding o
an alarm. Cassion hurried, excited, n
doubt, by the prospect of getting ava,
on our journey, but seemed In exec
\ lent humor. Pushing back the box o
which he sat he buckled his pistol bel
seized his hat and strobe to the dooi
ave depart at once" he proclaime
briefly. $50 l will leave you here !
bring the lady"
Pere Allouez, still busily engages
murmured some indistinct reply an
Cassion's eyes met mine.
"You look pale and weaky this NOR
\ ing" he said. mot fear Of the vo,
age, l HOPPER
mo, monsieur" | managed to a.
swer quietly. 81 slept Ill, but shall
nj better presently - shall bear u
blankets to the boatsT
"The servant will see to that, on
let there be as little delay as possibI
II All! here a messenger fro
below-what is it, my mang
= LIE IelIOW, Que VI tuc SoiuiCAo W"
az face | did not recall, halted in t
as open door, gasping for breath, his ey
he rowing about the room.
ey "He is dead--the big man." he sta
III mered. "He Is there by the woods"
of "The big m~an-dead" Cassion dr.
a back, as though struck a blow. WI
lat big MANI Whom do Won meanW
ck, "The one in the second canoe, mi
1e- sieur; the one who roared."
.Chevet? Hugo Chevet? What !
lat happened to him? Come, speak up,
to I'll slit your tongue"
he The man gulped, gripping the d.
irn with one hand, the other pointing 9
ward.
OBJ He Is there, monsieur, beyond
he trail, at the edge OF the wood. l s
ght him with his face turned up M
Ugh dieul SO white; | dare not touch b
ing but there was blood where q kI
had entered his back"
,er- All were on their feet, their fa
cps picturlng the sudden horror vet {
Ich. sion was first to recover his wits,
and lead the way without. Grasping
ght soldiers arm and bidding him q