The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1919-08-07


| n dark, clean-shaven face was behind
the counter. He came forward courte-
ously as ! approached.
"Do you remember" asked, "sell-
| ing collar to young lady recently
| no, some long time ago-a dog collar
| mean? This was the plate" Then
remembered a name Leroux had used
and flung II out at random. ~ think
| II was for n Mile. Duchnlne," added.
The shot went home.
"Ah, monsieur remember perfect
ly," answered the proprietor, "both
from the unusual nature OF the collar
and from the fact that there was some
difficulty In delivering II. There was
no post Office nearer the seigniory than
st. Bonface. where II lay unclaimed
for long time. ! think mademoiselle
had forgotten all about the order. Or
perhaps the dog had died"
"Where Is this seigniory?"
"The seigniory OF NJ Charles Du-
| chaineT' he answered looking curl
ously at me. ut Is the Oldest Of the
seigniories." he continued. "In fact, II
has never passed out OF the hands OF
the descendants Of the original owners,
because II Is almost uninhabitable In
winter, except by Indians"
"How would one reach the chateau7"
| ''In summer" he replied, zone might
ascend the Rlviere dor in canoe 10,
half the distance, until one reached
the mountains, and then" He
shrugged his shoulders. ~ do not
know. Possibly one would inquire Of
the first trapper who passed in au-
tumn. In winter one would ny.
You see, NJ. Duchaine Is a hermit"
he continued. "Once, so my father
used to say, he was one of the gayest
young men in Quebec. 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 name2
| "Eh bien, It makes no difference. be-
| cause, since she left the convent OF
the Ursulnes 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
priests soutane. but he did not look like
a prlest-he looked like mans head
on bulls body. His smooth face was
tanned to the color OF an Ipdian's-
his bright blue eyes, almost concealed
by their dropping, wrinkled lids, were
piercing In their scrutiny.
| "Bo'jour, Pere Antoine" said the
shopkeeper deferentially. fixing his
eyes rather timldly 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 a customer-a stranger, mon-
sieur," answered the proprietor, rub
bing his hands together.
"You talk too much" said Pere An
toine roughly. "Now. monsieur" he
what Is the nature Of your business
that II can possibly concern either ID.
Duchaine or his daughter? Perhaps I
| can inform you, since he is one Of my
| parishioners."
"My conversation was not with you,
Monsieur lie Cure" answered shortly
and left the shop.
had not gone three PAGES from the
door. however, when the priest, COM
Ing up behind me, placed huge hand
upon my shoulder and swung me
round without the least apparent af-
fort.
II do not know what your business
is, monsieur" he said, "but II 1t were
an honest one you would state II to
me. If You wish to see NJ. Duchaine
! am best qualified to assist you to do
so, since | visit his chateau twice each
year to carry the consultations of re-
ligion to him and his people. But II
your business Is not honest 1t will fail.
End It. then, and return to your own
country"
81 do not intend to discuss my busi-
ness with you. monsieur" / answered
angrily.
He let me go and stood eyeing me
with his keen gaze. jumped on a
passing car, but, looking back, l saw
him strldlng along behind II. He
seemed to walk as quickly as the car
went through the crowded street, and
with no effort.
found Jacqueline in her room. look
ing over her purchases, and took her
down TO dinner.
And here had another disconcert-
ing experience, for hardly were we
seated when the inQuisitive stranger
whom l had seen at the ferry came