The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1917-05-03

farther wall. | glanced at my refieC
ton In the glass, surprised to Learn
how little change the weeks had mad
In my appearance. 1t was still tn
face OF n girl which gaZed back a
me, with clear, wide-open eyes, ant
cheeks flushed In the freight. Strang,
to say. the very sight Of my youthful
ness was a disappointment, anC
brought with 1t doubt. How could
fight these men? How could / hop,
to win against their schemes an(
plans Of vengeance?
| opened the single window, ant
leaned out, grateful for the fresh all
blowing against my face, but unable
to perceive the scene below shrouded
In darkness. Far away. down the
valley, was the red glow Of a fire. It.
flame rejecting over the surface OF
the river. | knew | stared down into
n great void, but could hear no sound
except a faint gurgle OF water directly
beneath. | closed the window shutter,
and, urged 10y some impulse, crossed
over to the door leading to the other
apartment. 1t was a sleeping room.
scarcely more than n large closet. with
garments hanging on pegs against the
logs, and two rude hunks opposite the
door. But the thing Which captured
my eyes was n bag of brown leather
lying on the floor at the head Of one
OF the bunks-a shapeless bag, having
no distinctive mark about 1t. and yet
which | instantly recognized-since
we left Quebec 1t had been in our
boat.
As ! stood staring Mt It. | remem-
bered the words OF De Baugis, your
husband has been my guest" Az.
that was it-this had been Cassion's
quarters since his arrival, and this
was his bag. the one he kept beside
him In the canoe. his private property.
My heart beat wildly in the excite
ment Of discovery. yet there was no
hesitation; instantly | was upon my
knees Juggling at the straps. They
yielded easily, and forced the
leather aside. gaining glimpse Of the
contents.
first-moccasins and numerous under
acknowledgements with a uniform,
evidently new, and quite gorgeous.
The removal OF these, however. re-
vealed a pocket In the leather side.
securely fastened. and on opening this
with trembling fingers, a number Of
papers were disclosed.
Scarcely venturing to breathe. hard
ly knowing what l hoped to find, |
drew these forth, and glanced hastily
at them. Surely the nan would bear
nothing unimportant with him on such
a Journey; these must be papers Of
value, for I 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 | drew forth a number Of close
ly written pages. evidently the COVER
nor's instruction. They were traced
In 80 fine a hand that I was obliged
to return beside the fire to decipher
thnfr nCntontc Thou uynro xr,lkxo- L..
detail, largely concerned with matters
Of routine, especially referring to rela-
tons 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 a again. We had best be
cautious. Cheyet, however, has no
friends, and. I am told. possesses u
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 1t into
my breast. 1t was not much. and yet
1t might prove the one needed link. I
ran through the packet Of letters. but
they apparently had no bearing on the
Assured that l had overlooked moth
Ing. thrust the various articles back,
r~estrapped 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
.assion."
"But why do you come? 1t was the
Of De Baugis that ! was to be.
left alone.~
"A fair pledge enough. although !
NOT consulted. From the look Of
POUR eyes, little difference jf I had