The state herald., 1916-12-29


cult to explain" tts5s'
"Yet twas not your hand which did
the deedT
II pledge You my word to that. Yet
this Is no time to talk Of the matter.
have wounds to be looked to, and
would learn first how Barbeau fares.
You know not the lady: but Of course
not, or your tongue would never have
spoken so freely-Monsieur de Tonty,
Madame Cassion."
He Strengthened up, his eyes on my
face. For an instant he stood mo-
tionless; then swept the hat from his
head. and bent low.
"Your pardon. madame; we of the
wilderness become rough of speech. l
should have known. for rumor had
reached me of your accident. You
owe life, no doubt, to Sleur d d'Artigny."
"Ycs. monsieur; he has been my
kind friend"
"He would not be the one love
else. We know men on this frontier.
madame. and this lad hath seen years
Of service by my side" His bnnd
rested on D'Artigny's shoulder.
"'Twas only natural. then, that I
should resent NJ. Cnsslon's charge Of
murder"
II share your faith In the innocence
Of NJ. d'Artlgny." I answered firmly
enough. "but beyond this assertion ]
can say nothing"
Naturally not. madame. Yet we
must move along. You can walk,
ReneT
"Ay, my hurts are mostly bruises" :"
The torches led the way, the dane
Ing flames lighting up the scene. There
was hard. packed earth under our feet,
nor did I realize yet that this Fort st.
Louis occupied the summit Of a great
rock, protected on three sides by preci-
pices, towering high above the river.
Sharpened palisades OF logs surround.
ed us on every side. WITH low log
houses built against them. ob -be roofs
Of which rifiemen could stand In safe
ty to guard the wiley below.
The central space was open except
for two small buildings, one from Its
shape chapel, and the other. rs
learned later. the guardhouse. A fire
blazed Mt the farther end Of the In.
closure. with number Of men loung.
Ing about It. and llumined the front
Of a more pretentiOus building. which
apparently extended across that entire
end. This building. having the ap.
pearance OF n barrack. exhibited nu.
merous doors and wiedows. with a
narrow porch In front. on which per
celved a group OF men.
As we approached more closely. De
Tonty walking between D'Artigny and
myself. n soldier ran up the steps. and
made some report. Instantly the
group broke. and two men strobe past
the fire. and met us. One was tall.
imposing figure in dragoon uniform,
a sword at his thigh. his face full
bearded: the other. whom I reeSe,ilEcsi
instantly with quick intake Of
breath. was Monsieur Cassion. He
was stride in advance. his eyes
searching me out In the dim hight. bis
face flushed from excitement.
"Mon DIeu! what ls this hearf" hs
exclaimed. staring at the three OF us
as though doubling the evidence Of his
own eyes. my wife nlivei Ay. by
my faith, II Is indeed Adele" He
grasped me by the arm. but even nj
that Instant his glance fell upon DAT.
tIgny. and his manner changed.
"Saint Anne! and what means thisl
So 'tis with this rogue you have been
wandering In the wildernessr'
He tugged at his sword. but the
dragoon caught his arm.
NAY. walt. Casslon. Twill he best
TO learn the truth before resorting 10
blows. Perchance Monsieur Tonty
can explain clearly what has hap.
pened."
ut Is explained nlrcsdy." answered
the italian. and he took step for.
ward, as though to protect us. These
two. with n soldier OF NJ. de In Duran
tnye. endcnvored to reach the fort
and were attacked by Iroquois. We
dispatched men TO their rescue. and
have all now safe within the pali.
sadcs. What more would you learn.
messicursi"
Casslon pressed forward. and front.
ed HIN. angercd beyond control.
ave know nil that" he roarcd saw
ngely. "But I would learn why they
hid themselves from me. Ay. madame.
but viii make you talk when once
we are alone. But now ! denounce
this man as the murderer OF Hugo
Chcvei. and order him under arrest.