Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-02-25

seen you to tell you OF these things.
You may understand"
/ While Billedeau had been talking
the young man had been staring at
him, perplexlty in his face. This news
sounded ominous. This conjunction
OF individuals at Cyr's place, within
reaching distance of Attegat, had a
sinister significance which oppressed
him more and more as he pondered.
Where are Beaulieu and Roi?" he
asked.
They were still at Cyr's when /
came away. They have horses and
blackboard. Roi's men went, one by
one, along the different roads"
The fiddler had delivered the little
stock of his information. He picked
up the reins. He eyed Aldrich visit
fully as though he hoped the officers
superior knowledge of the ways of
guile could translate what had been
told him.
II shall set my mind upon what
YOU have said, M'ser Billedeau. 1t
means something-this meeting at
Cyr's. We shall find out what it
means"
Billedeau hesitated, diplaying the
reluctance of one who fears that his
interest may become presumption. He
had heard Evangeline Beaulieu's
story of the persecution of her by
David Roi; he had heard the passion
ate declaration of Norman Aldrich's
love in the clearing of Bols-de-Ran-
court. His understanding Of the situ-
alton spurred him to speak.
There is some business Dave Roi
and Vetal Beaulieu have together in
these days. II is not smuggling.
think you know what that business
is, M'ser."
II understand" acknowledged the
young man, bitterly.
II know the sad things along the
border as well as the jolly things.
live among the people in their homes
and | know! I do not tell the
stories of the sad things as l ride
along, Monsieur of the Customs, for
that would be to spread the scandals.
This thing, though, / do tell you Love
for girl can make a young man
strong. Hatred of a rival can double
his strength But when he loves the
girl and hates the rival, and then
knows that the rival Is n renegade
who is bringing to her shame and
misery then that young man may
fight for her like ten men. So l must
tell you what l tell you"
The eyes of the old fiddler blazed
under the tufted gray brows.
Away over in the Zodiac settlement
there Is n girl of the Macpherson fam.
lily, and Dave Roi took her for his
wife by word of mouth before her peo-
pie. They tell me such marriages have
been made in Scotland where the Mac |
phersons lived long ago l do not
know Dave Roi sneers and says out |
side that it is no marriage. But poor
Bessie Macpherson Vholds a baby on
her knees and thinks she is Dave Roi's
wife. / have been in the Macpherson
house; l know"
"The dirty dog" Aldrich gasped. |
Till now he had not thought Of Evan
geline as in real danger of contamina-
tion at the hands of Roi. He had
not believed that the man would dare,
or the father would go to positive ex-
tremes in the matter of the marriage
that had been contemplated. Evange.
line had seemed safe there in the
north. But these times were not the
old times of law.abiding placidity.
Even peaceful Attegat-parish Of the
good Pere Leclair-was in tumult.
Yet an attempt to coerce a girl into
marriage, even though the father IA
vored the union, would be such a
rash undertaking that Aldrich had
never considered this contingency as
possible.
Now his suspicious and his angry
fears famed suddenly. He wondered
why he had not realized that Dave
Roi had never been accustomed to
allow any considerations to stand in
the way of the qualification Of his
passions In this instance, having the
backing of the father, would he show
mans honor in regard to the wishes of
a maid? Aldrich knew he would not.
He cursed his own stupidity in leav-
ing Evangeline unprotected. He was
like n man who was suddenly awake.
az say again. l think it is for no
good that Vetal Beaulieu and the man
he has picked out for his girl are up
here" stated the old fiddler. What
to do I know not. But I have told
YOU the truth, M'ser. l think the
strength is in your two arms, after
what have told you"
CONTINUED TOMORROW