Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-02-28


prudent. swore that after this
would 60 straight TO a thing and gal.
lop hard. So I'm going to Vetal Beau
lieu. These are not the sort Of days
when a man can prosecute his own
daughter and help a renegade to ruin
her. Tell her, Father Leclair, that l
have gone to her father for the sake
Of both of us. I'm going to make him
understand"
As though he feared that the priest
might try to dissuade him, he slapped
his horse and rode away, his eyes ca.
ressing the curtained window until he
had turned the corner of the house.
Aldrich displayed no hesitation when
he came to the narrow road which led
to the north. He sent his horse canter.
ing along its shady stretches. The
sun was overhead, and his rifle was
at his back, and determination was
in his heart. His face was haggard,
for he had slept but little. Impatience
had driven him early from his bed at
the tavern. He felt that it was his
duty to roll the burden of fear from
the girls breast. lie sought Netal
Beaulieu at the place where he had
seen him last, resolved to follow along
his trail until he could meet him face
to face, under the frank sunshine, for
a mans talk.
Suddenly he met Attorney Louis
Blais on the narrow road. That par.
ticipant in the affair OF the evening
before was riding horse whose CALLED
shoulders showed that it was more ac.
! customed to the plow than the saddle.
Blais was sullen and uneasy when
Aldrich halted him. He had not recog-
nized the officer until they were almost
side by side.
(which way did Vetal Beaulieu go
this morning, Mr.. Blais?" inquired
Aldrich, curtly and with the authority
Of one who intends 20 be answered
81 haven't any information for YOU
| about Mr. Beaulieu or any one else"
returned the surly lawyer. To cover
other emotions he assumed an air and
a tone Of unnatural dignity. He talked
like one reciting from a textbook.
You will remember that | found
you playing a strong part in a vile plot
last night sir. You'd better be civil.
There is a bar association in this
county, and decent lawyers won't
stand for abduction"
I
fom a civil marriage. The license
had been procured. The only surviv.
ing parent of the young lady was
there to give her away. The affair
was interrupted by person who had
not the least right TO Interfere. II
that person now proposes to make
talk about the thing he'll show al.
mighty poor Judgment How will that
| talk sound? He ought to realize that
| he has just as much reason TO keep
still as the aggrieved and injured
parties" Blais delivered this angrily.
Il have important business with
Beaulieu. I say, you'd better tell me
which way he went"
Not desiring to be party to the
assassination OF Mr.. Beaulieu by a
person who seems to have motive and
the Intention stated the atterney,
with stiff insolence, going as far as he
dared with this young man of the
haggard face and the burning ewes
Il shall keep my mouth closed" His
lips worked, however, and 1t was plan
that he wanted to curse this hateful
adversary with all the venom that was
| in him; he refrained with the uslal
caution of Louis Blais when he found
himself up against odds. He curbed
his anger and confined himself &c
stilted retort. as though he were ad
dressing a court
Aldrich had placed his horse across
the narrow road.
why are you holding me UP here?'
demanded Blais. Have you added
highway robbery to the rest of you,
desperate deeds?"
The officer snapped scornful re
joinder and rode on, resisting an i'm
pulse to slap Attorney Blais's soul
face.
After a time Aldrich came to the
house where the dramatic scene o
the night before had been enacted
fThere was no sign of life there. TIL,
doors were open, the windows wer,
bare of curtains, and much Of tn,
glass was broken. The appearance,
of the place showed that the hous,
had been deserted for years. In tn,
daylight he saw that the clearin5
had grown up to bushes This was tn,
lonesome place which had been choser
for the wedding of Evangeline Beau
lieu! He rode close TO the door anc
peered in. Only dust and decay ant
silence!
He went on wandering