The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1917-03-09

.ttI.u u piIut H..
the ruuner was beyond reacl-. speeding
70" the open gate. What followed
know from word Of others, and no
view I had OF it.
D'ArtiSny had fallen. huddled in q
heap on the grass. and l dragged my
self to him on my knees. l heard oaths,
a shutting Of feet, a rush OF bodies. .
voice I did not recognize shouting
some order-then the sharp crack Of 4
rifle, and silence. l cared not what
had occurred; I had D'Artigny's head
in my arms, and his eyes opened and
smiled up at me full IF courage.
you are badly hurt"
mo. think not; tho thrust was too
high. Lift ne, and l breathe better
The man must have been mad"
surely yes. monsieur; think you ha
had hope of escape-'
Ills likely he thought only Of re-
venge. All, you are here also, De
Tonty."
Yes. lad; there is small use for me
yonder. You are not seriously struck"
II bleed freely, bnt the thrust was IN
the shoulder. could stand, l think.
with your aid"
On his feet he leaned heavily on ~
both. yet would not be led away. untii
La Forest joined us. he held in his
hand some papers, yet neither OF us
questioned him.
Monsieur de Tonty." he said. II
would have private word with you"
When ! help D'Artigny to his bed.
and have look at his wound. Yet il 1t
not matter Of interest to these as
well?'
II take 1t So"
Then speak your uessage-M. Cas-
sion is dead?"
"The sentry's bullet found his heart,
monsieur"
II saw him fall. Those papers were
upon him-are they OF valueT
THAT ! know not; they possess no
meaning to me, but they were ad-
dressed to the man killed at st. Ig-
mace"
Hugo Chevet?" exclaimed. "Mv
uncle; may l not see them, monsieur"
De Ton'y placed them in my hands
q letter from a lawyer III 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 Bcaubaou.
a clerk OF records. that he had seen
and read a paper purportinE to be a
restoration from the king to the heirs
Of Captain la C%hesnayne. 1t was
signed and sealed. l looked up at the
faces surrounding: me-: startled and
frightened at thi; witness from the
dead.
"rhey are papers belonging to Che
vet?" asked De Tcnty.
"Yes, monsie,r--see. He must have
known, suspected the truth before
departure. yet had no thought such
viIlainy 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 warming to Cassion. This
latter. fearing the worst. and desperate,
did not even hesitate Mt murder tc
gain possession Of these documents
Fate served him well, and gave hiu
D'Artigny az a victim. l wonder only
that he did not long ago destroy the
papers"
There is always some weakness In
crime" commented La Forest. "ani
the man has paid penalty for his II
would lie my guess he desired to place
them in La Earre's hands in proof OF
his loyalty. But. messieurs. D'Artigny
needs to have his wound dressed. Wa
can discCss ali this later
1t was two days later. and the bright
sunshine rested IN Fort st. Louis,
fecktng the sides of the great rock with
gold. and bridging the broad valley
below. D'Artisny. yet too weak to
rise unaidcd. sat in q chair Enrbeau
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. It was n 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 ether.
Below the bend an Indian village. Al
ready rebuilt and occupied. slept il
the sun, and I could see children and
dogs playing before the tepees.
Down the sharp trail from the fort
a lire OF Indian packers toiling
slowly, their backs supporting heavy
burdens. which they bore to two ca
noes resting against the bank. About
these were grouped . little party Of
white men. and when ut last the sup
plies were all aboard. several took
their places at the paddles, and pushed
Oh into the stream.
There was waving of hands, and
one among them-even It that distance
| could tell La Forest-iooked up at
n window, and raised his hat In
gesture Of farewell. I watched until
they rounded the rock and disappeared
on their long journey to Quebec, until
the otherS-exiles Of the Wilderness
turned away and began to climb up