Jackson County journal. (Sylva, N.C.) 19??-19??, 1919-08-01

a dark, clean-shaven face was behind
the counter. He came forward courte-
ously as / approached.
"Do you remember" I asked "sell.
ing collar to young lady recently
no, some long time ago-a dog collar
| mean? This was the plate" Then
remembered name LerOuX had used
and flung it out at random. 81 think
it was for Mile. Duchaine," added.
The shot went home.
"Ah, monsieur. l remember perfect
~" answered the proprietor, "both
from the unusual nature of the collar
and from the fact that there was some
difficulty in delivering it, There was
no post Office nearer the seigniOry than
st. Boniface, where it lay unclaimed
for q long time. think mademoiselle
had forgotten all about the order. Or
perhaps the dog had diedr'
'Where is this seigniory?'
1.-THE Seigniory of NJ Charles DI-
chaine?" he answered, looking Curl
ously at me. ut is the Oldest of the
seigniories," he continued. "In fact, it
the descendants Of the original owners.
because it is almost uninhabitabe In
winter. except by Indians"
How would one reach the chateau o.
I'm summer" he replied, zone might
ascend the Riviere dor in a canoe for
half the distance, until one reached
the mountains. and them He
shrugged his shoulders. Il do not
know. Possibly one would inquire of
the first trapper who passed in au.
tumn. In winter one would fly
You see, NJ. Duchaine is hermit"
he continued. ''Once. so my father
used to say, he was one of the gayest
young men in QuSSec But he became
involved in the troubles of 1S67-and
then his wife died, and so he withdrew
there with the little mademoiselle-
what was her name?
Eth bien, it makes no difference, be-
cause, since she left the convent of
the Ursulines here in Quebec, where
she was educated, her father keeps her
at the chateau, and you are not likely
to set eyes on M. Charles Duchaine's
daughter"
A sudden stoppage in his flow Of
words, an almost guilty look upon his
face, as new figure entered the little
shop, directed my attention toward the
stranger
He was an old man of medium size.
very muscularly built, stout, and with
enormous shoulders He wore a
priests soutane. but he did not look like
priest-he looked like a mans head
on bulls body. His smooth face was
tanned to the color of an Indian'S---
his bright blue eyes. almost concealed
by their dropping, wrinkled lids, were
piercing in their scrutiny.
DO jour, Pere Antoine" said the
shopkeeper deferentally. fixing his
eyes rather timidly upon the old
priests face.
"Eh bien, who is this with whom
thou gossipest concerning the daugh-
ter of NJ. Duchaine?' inquired Father
Antoine, looking at me keenly.
Only cuStOmer-a stranger. mon.
sieur," answered the proprietor rub.
bling his hands together
You talk too much" said Pere An.
tome roughly. "NOw, monsieur" he
SAID, addressing me in fair English.
what is the nature of your business
that it can possibly concern either NJ
Duchalne or his daughter? Perhaps
can inform you, since he is one of nv
| pariShioners"
My conversation was not with YOU
Monsieur lie Cure" l answered shortly
and left the shop.
| had not gone three PAGES from the
i door, however, when the priest, com
ing up behind me, placed a huge hand
upon my shoulder and swung me
round without the least apparent ef
fort.
Il do not know what your bushes,
is, monsieur" he said ''but if it were
an honest one YOU would state it tt
me. If you wish to see M. Duchaine
l am best qualrAed to assist YOU TO dc
so, since | visit his chateau twice each
| year to carry the consultations of re
llglon to him and his people. But II
your business is not honest it will fail
End it, then, and return to your own
country"
Il do not intend to discuss nv busi
ness with you, MONSIEUR I answered
angrily.
He let me go and stood cycling me
with his keen gaze. I jumped on 8
passing car, but, looking back. | saw
him striding along behind it. HI
seemed to walk as quickly as the ca,
went through the crowded street. and
with no effort.
found Jacqueline in her room. look
ing over her purchases, and took he,
down to dinner
And here l had another disconcert
| ing experience, for hardly were we
seated when the inquisitive strange,
whom | had seen at the ferry came
into the dining room, and after a care
/ vxh oh l.: