Cheyenne record., 1917-02-22

stAHH his sword point dYippang h1oaG.
| 'tfs runner was beyond reach, apee1aas
for the open gate. what followed ]
know from word. It ethsfs, ana -
view had OF Il .
D'Arti:ny had fallen. tpAdlsd d Z
heap on the grass, and ! dragged my.
self to him ON my. knees. heard oAths.
a stunning Of feet, rush Of bodies, .
voice did not recognize, shouting
some order-then the sharp crack Of .
rifle, and silence. / cared not what
had occurred; had D'Artigny's head
in my arms, and his eyes opened and
smiled mp at me full Of courage.
You are badly hurt7'
"No, think not; the thrust was too
high. Lift me, and breathe better
The man must have been mad"
"Sureiy yes, monsieur: think you he
had hope Of escape?' W.
"'Tis likely he thought only cf re-
venge. All. you are here also. De
Tonty.r
''Yes. lad; there is small use for me
yonder. You are not seriously struck? p
II bleed freely. but the thrust was in
the shoulder. I could stand, think.
with your aid"
On his feet he leaned heavily on rs
both, yet would not be led away, until
La Forest Joined US. He held in his
hand some papers. yet neither Of M
questioned him.
IMonsieur de Tonty," he said, n
would have private word with you.''
when help D'Artigny to his bed.
and have look at his wound. Yet 10 It
not matter Of interest to these a.
wellr'
II take It So"
'aThen speak your message-M. Gas
sion ia dead?
''The sentry's bullet found his heart
monsieur"
II saw him fall. Those papers were
upon him-are they Of value?'
''That know not; they possess no
meaning to me, but they were ad.
dressed to the man killed at st. Ig-
mace"
"Hugo Chevetr' I exclaimed my
uncle; may I not see them. MONSIEUR"
De Tonty placed them in my hands
letter from a lawyer in Quebec. with
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 .Beaubaou.
clerk of records, that he had seen
and read a paper purporting to be q
restoration from the king to the heirs
Of Captain la Chesnayne. It was
signed and sealed. looked up at the
faces surrounding me: startled and
frightened at this witness from the
dead.
"They are papers belonging to Che.
vet7" asked De Tonty.
eyes, monsieur-see. He must have
known, suspected the truth before our
departure. yet had no thought such
villainy was the work of NJ. 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 documents.
Fate served him well, and gave him
D'Artigny as victim. I wonder only
that he did not long ago destroy the
papers,"
"There is always some weakness in
crime" commented La Forest. "and
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. D'Artigny
needs to have his wound dressed. We
can discuss all this later"
- ~
1t was two days later, and the brigh:
sunshine rested on Fort st. Louis
f1ecking the sides of the great rock with
gold. and bridging the broad valley
below. D'Artigny, yet too weak to
rise unaided. sat in chair Barbeau
had made beside the open window,
and to his call Joined him, my arm
on his shoulder as also gazed down
upon the scene below. 1t was one OF
peace now, the silvery Illinois wind
ing hither and yon among its green
islands, the shadowy woods darken.
ing one bank, and the vast meadows
stretching northward from the other.
Below the bend an Indian village. al
ready rebuilt and occupied. slept in
the sun. and could see children and
dogs playing before the tepees.
Down the sharp trail from the fort
a line of Indian packers were toillng
slowly, their backs supporting heavy
burdens. which they bore to two ca
noes resting against the bank. About
these were grouped a little party Of
white men. and when at last the sup
piles were all aboard, several took
their places at the paddles. and pushed
on into the stream.
There was waving Of hands. and
one among them-even at that distance
could tell La Forest-looked up at
=. T.