Jackson County journal. (Sylva, N.C.) 19??-19??, 1919-08-08

That is my Overcoat voice." he ex-
planned, stroking the child's head. ''My
niece, monsieur. BY the tone in which
| call Madeleine. knows whether it is
my overcoat or my pipe or slippers
that l want, or whether I am growing
hungry"
| thought that the captains hunger
voice must shake the rafters of the
old building.
And uow, monsieur" he continued
seriously, when we had left the house,
i am going to tell you as much as
| know concerning the plans of that
scoundrel. In brief, 1t is known that
a party Of his friends has been quar-
tered for some time at the chateau:
they come and go, in fact, and now he
is either taking more or the same ones
back again. and God knows why he
takes them to so desOlate region.
unless, as the rumor IS, he has dfscpv-
ered coal fields upon the seignfory and
holds Nj. Duchaine in his power. Wen.
monsieur, party sails with Captain
Duhamel on tonight's tide, which will
Duhamel's boat is berthed at the same
pier as mine upon the opposite side.
I'VE start together. then, but l shall
expect to gain several hours during
the four days journey, for l know
the Claire well, and she cannot keen
pace with my Sainte-Vierge. You
must bring your lady aboard the
Sainte-Fierge by nine tonight.
Il shall telegraph to my friend Dan
ton at st. Boniface to have a sleigh
ana dogs at your disposal when YOU
arrive, and a tent, food and sleepine
bags continued Captain Dubois. "for
it must be hundred and fifty miles
from st. Boniface to the Chateau Du-
chaine. And SO, with half a davis
start, you will have nothing to fear
from Lerou2-only remember that he
has no scruples. Still I do not think
he will catch you and Mile. Jacoue}ine
before YOU reach Chateau Duchaine"
he ended, chuckling at his sagacity.
"Ah, well, monsieur, who else could
your lady be?" he asked. smiling at nv
surprise. II knew well that some day
she must leave those wilds. Besides.
did l not convey her here from ST
Bonfface on my return, less than q
week ago, when she pleaded for Sc
crecy! l suspected something agitat.
ed her then. So 1t was to find a hus-
band that she departed thus?"
So Jacqueline had left her home not
more than week before. And the
captain had no suspicion that she was
married then! Yet Pere Antoine
claimed to have performed the cere
mony.
To whom? And where was the man
who should have stood in my place
and shielded her against Leroux?
made Dubois understand, not with
out difficulty, that we We're still m
married. His face fell when he re
allied that | was in earnest. but after
a little he made the best of the stu
alton, though it was evident that some
OF the glamour was scratched from
the romance, in his opinion.
BY now we had arrived at the wharf
Wedged in among the foes lay the
Claire and the Sainte-Vierge respec-
| lively The latter vessel lay upon orr
right as we approached the end of the
wharf.
There was a small cabin for Jacoue-
line and another for myself adjoining
| was very we'll satisfied and incurred
the terms.
'Diable! If it were not for the chill
dren there should be no terms ~ ox-
claimed the captain. but it is hard
monsieur, with prices rising and the
hungry mouths always open, like little
BIRDS"
He was overjoyed at the sight Of
the fifty dollars which I rendered him.
BY the way" / said, edo YOU know
a priest named Pere Antoine?"
An old man? A strong old man2
why, assuredly, MONSIEUR answered
the captain. Everybody knows him.
he has the parish Of the Riviere dor
district, and the largest in Quebec. A
SAINT, monsieur! You will do well to
make his acquaintance
The captain parted from me on the
wharf on his way to the telegraph
ofhce, repeating his instructions to the
effect that we were to be aboard the
| boat by nine
1t had grown dark long before and
looking at my watch, I was surprised
| to see that it was already past six
| o'clock. I had no time to lose in re
| turning to the Chateau.
But though | could see it outlined
upon the cliff l soon found myself lost
among the maze of narrow streets in
winch l was wandering. A man was
coming up the street behind me, anr
turned to question him, but as de
creased my pace he diminished his
also, and when I quickened mine h.
went faster as we'll. l began to have
an uneasy sense that he might be fol-
lowing me, and accordingly fastened
onward until / came to road which
seemed to lead up the hill toward the