The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1917-06-07

Ing on m cheek, yet his lips and eyes
smiled.
""Twas good work, we'll DONE" he
said cheerily. "'Twill be a while be-
fore the Iroquois besiege this fort
again. Is that not your thought, NJ.
de TontyT
~ appreciate the service rendered."
replied the other gravely. But you
are in peril here. NJ. Cassion is yon-
der, and still in command"
D'Artigny glanced inquiringly at La
Forest, and the latter stepped forward,
a leather-bound packet in his hands.
"Your pardon, NJ. de Tonty," he said.
II had forgotten my true mission here.
I bear orders from the king Of France"
From Louis? La Sale has reached
the kings carr
"Ay. good results. These are for
you, monsieur"
De Tonty took them, yet his thought
was not upon their contents but with
his absent chief.
you saw Sieur de la Sale in
France? You left him wellr
More than well-triumphant ove
all his enemies. He sails for the mouth
OF the great river with a French COL
ony; Louis authorized the expedition"
And is that ALI"
"All, except it was rumored at the
court that La Barre would not for long
remain governor Of New France"
The face Of the italian did not
change expression; slowly he opened
the papers, and glanced at their con-
tents: her folded them once more,
and lifted his eyes to our faces.
"By grace Of the king" he said SIM
ply, II am again In command Of Fort
st. Louis"
We made Jul way slowly through
the fringe OF woods, and across the
open space before the fort gates, which
still stood open. Cassion had disap-
peared; indeed, there was not sc much
as a single guard at the gate when
we entered, yet we were greeted In
stantly by his voice.
otis we'll you return, NJ. de Tonty,"
he said loudly. 81 was about to call
those soldiers yonder, and close the
gates. IT'S hardly safe to have them
left thus with all these strange Indians
about"
"They are Illini, monsieur-our al
lies"
"Pah! an Indian Is an Indian to my
mind; bid NJ. de la Durantaye come
hither." He stared at D'Artigny and
me, seeing us first as he stepped for
ward. A moment he gasped, his voice
failing; then anger conquered, and he
strobe forward, sword in hand.
Mon Dieu! What Is this? You
here again, you bastard wood ranger
l had hopes l was rid Of you, even at
the cost Of a wife. Well, I soon will
be. Here, Durantaye, bring your men
we have a prisoner here to stretch
rope. De Tonty. I command you in
the name Of Francew
tigny's breast, but the younger man
stood m%otionless, his lips smiling. his
eyes ON the others face.
"Perchance, monsieur" he said qui
city, 1T might be best for you first to
speak with this friend Of mine"
"What friend? sacre! What is the
fellow to me? Who is he-another one
OF La Sales spawn"
La Forest, still ~bareheaded, his fore
head bleeding, pressed down the sword
blade.
The company Is a good one" he
said bluntly enough, land just now
well worth belonging to. / am Fran
co.'s de Ia Forest, monsieur, one-time
messenger from the king of France"
"King's messenger you! Mon
Dieu, you look it. Come, man, what
mummery is thisT
"No mummery, monsieur. I left
France two months since, bearing the
kings own word to NJ. la Barre. TITS
with his Endorsement I j%ourneyed
hither to restore Henri de Tonty to his
rightful command of Fort st. Louis"
"You lie!" Cassion cried hotly, eyes
blazing hatred and anger, "'tis some
hellish trick"
monsieur, never before did man
say that to me, and live. Were you not
felon and thief, / would strike you
where you stand. Ay, I mean the
words-now listen; lift that sword
point, and l shoot you dead. Monsieur
de Tonty, show the man the papers"
Cassion took them as though in a
daze, his hand trembling, his eyes
burning with malignant rage. l doubt
II he ever saw clearly the printed and
written words OF the document, but he
seemed to grasp vaguely the face Of
La Barre's signature.
"A forgery" he gasped. "Ah, De
Baugis, see here; these damned ours
OF La Salle would play a trick on me.
Look at the paper"
The dragon took It, and smoothed
It out in his hands. His face was
grave, as his eyes searched the printed
lines.-
(To be concluded.)