The diamond drill., 1919-06-07

oopynsh. ". q. Chapman

seriously, when we had left the house,
5i'T am going TO tell you as much as
n know concerning the plans Of that
scoundrei. In brief. II is known that
IN. 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 10 so desolate a region,
unless. as the rumor Is he has discov-
lered coal fields upon the seigniory and
holds M.,Duchaine in hfs power. Well.
monsieur. a party sails with Captain
'Duhamel on tonight's tide, which will
learry me down the gulf also Captain
lDuhamels boat Is berthed at the same
ipIer az mine upon the opposite side.
f, ''we start together. then, but shall
lexpect 10 gain several hours during
itbe four days journey, for know
the Claire well, and she cannot keep
pace with my Sainte-vierge. You
must bring your lady aboard the
Sainte-vierge by nine tonight
II shall telegraph 10 my friend Dan.
ton at 81 Bonifaee 10 have sleigh
,and dogs at your disposal when you
arrive, and tent, food and sleeping
bags" continued Captain Dubois, .for
! Il must be hundred and fifty miles
from St Boniface to the Chateau Du-
lchaine. And 30, with half q days
start, you will have nothing to fear
from Leroux--only remember that he
has no scruples Still do not think
me win catch you and Nile Jacqueline
before you reach Chateau Duchaine,"
he eaded. chuckllng at his sagacity.
-Ah; well, monsieur, who else could
your lady bein he asked, smiling at my
surprise. II knew well that some day
she must leave those wilds. Besides,
did / not convey her here from St
Boniface on my return, less than
week ago. when she pleaded for Sc
crecy1 i suspected something agitat-
ed her then. SO II was 10 find hus-
band that she departed thusi"
SO JacQueline had left her home not
more than week beforei And the
captain had no suspicion that she was
married thenl Yet Pere Antoine
Claimed 70 have performed the cere-
mony.
To whomi And where was the man
who should have stood In my place
and shielded her against Leroux7
~ made Dubois understand. not with
out difficulty. that we were still un-
married. His face fell when he re-
allied that / was In earnest, but after
a little he made the best Of the situ-
alton. though II was evident that some
of the glamour was scratched from
che romance. In his opinion.
BY now we had arrived at the wharf.
wedged In among the foes lay the
Claire and the Salnte-vierge respec-
lively. The latter vessel lay upon our
right as we approached the end of the
wharf.
There was n small cabin for Jacuue-
line and another for myself adjoining
was very well satisfied and inquired
the terms.
'Diablel II II were not for the chill
dren there should be no termsW ex-
claimed the captain. "But II is hard,
monsieur, with prices rising and the
hungry mouths always open. like little
birds"
He was overjoyed az the sight Of
the fifty dollars which rendered him.
by the way" / said do you know
a priest named Pere Antoine?
IAN old manl A strong old man7
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. monsleurl You will do well to
make his acquaintance
The captain parted from me on the
wharf on his way 10 the telegraph
Office, repeating his instructions TO the
effect that we were 10 be aboard the
boat by nine.
IL had grown dark long before and
looking at my watch, | was surprised
20 see that II was already past six
o'clock. ! had no time 10 lose Ia re-
turning 10 the Chateau.
But though L could see II outlined
upon the cliff soon found myself lost
among the maze OF narrow streets in
which ] was wandering. A man was
coming up the street behind me. and
1 turned 10 question him, but as de-
creased my pace he diminished his
also. and when I quickened mine he
went faster as well. l begnn 20 have
nm uneasy sense that lie might be fol-
lowing me, and accordingly hastened
forward until I came TO q road which
seemed TO lead up the hin toward The
ramparts. - t- aFfi-
] The road, however, led me ipto a
blind alley. the farther extremity be-
ltng the base OF tbe ciiff: but smother
istrcet emerged from II NJ a right
angle, and plunged into this, beiIev-
Ing Tint any Of the byHays would
eventually take me 60 the top of the
accllvity.
As I entered this street l heard the
footsteps behind me quicken and. look
ing around perceived that fhe nrrn
was close upon me He stopped at
the m0mtn; I'D aNl disappeared IN