The diamond drill., 1919-05-31

Staring and Smiling With Cool Ef-
frontery.
notable pallor. passed and rtpassed us
| several times staring and smiling with
cool effrontery at both OF us.
was a good deal troubled by this
but befote had decided to address the
fellow we landed, and sleigh swept
us up the hill toward the chateau TO
the tune of jlnglIng bells. This is
| Quebec. Jacquellne." | said.
thought that she remembered un-
willingly but she said nothing.
We secured adjacent rooms at the
Chateau. and leaving Jacqueline 10
unpack her things, and under instruc-
tions not TO leave her room. and prom
| Using TO return as soon as possible, l
started out at once 10 find Maclay &
Robitaille's.
This proved a task OF no great diff
| Guilty. II was a little shop where
leather goods were sold. situated on
St. Joseph street young man with
a dark. cIean-shayen face was behind
the counter. He came forward courte-
ously as | approached.
"Do you remember" asked. sell
Ing a collar to young lady recently
no, some long time ago-a dog collar,
/ mean? This was the plate" Then
remembered a rame Leroux had used
and flung II out at random. II think
II was for Mile. Duchalne." added.
The shot went home.
.Ah, monsieur, remember perfect
ly." answered the proprietor, both
from the unusual nature OF the collar
sno from the fact thet there was some
difficulty I'm delivering t. There was
no post Office nearer the seignlory than
st. Borlface, where II lay unclaimed
for a long time. think mademolselle
had forgotten all about the order. Or
perhaps the dog had died II
"where is this selgnloryf"
"The selgnlory OF M. Charles Du-
chaine?" he answered, looking curl
/ ,opsly at me. ut Is the oldest OF the
selgnlories," he continued. I'm fact II
has mover 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 chateau1"
"In summer" he replied. zone might
ascend the Rlviere dor In a canoe for
half the distance, until one reached
the mountains, and then" He
shrugged his shoulders. II do not
know. Possibly one would inquire OF
the first trapper who passed in au-
tumn. In winter one would fy.
"You see, NJ. Duchaine is 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 mademolselle-
what was her name?
"Eh bien, Il makes no difference, be-
cause, since she left the convent OF
! the Ursullnes here in Quebec. where
she was educated, her father keeps her
at the chateau, and you are not likely
10 set eyes on NJ. 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
a priest--he looked like a mans head
on bulls body. His smooth face was
tanned 10 the color OF an Indians
his bright blue eyes. almost concealed
by their dropping wrinkled lids, were
piercing In their scrutiny.
"Bojour. Pere Antoine" said the
shopkeeper deferentlally, 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. Duchalnef" inquired Father
Antoine. looking at me keenly.
"Only a customer stranger, mon
sIeur," answered the proprietor, rub
bing his hands together.
"You talk too much" said Pere An
toine roughly. "Now. monsieur" he
said, addressing me In fair English,
what is the nature Of your business
that IL can possibly concern either M.
Duchaine or his daughter7 Perhaps !
can inform you, since he Is one OF my
parishloners."
MY conversation was not with you.
Monsieur lie Cure" I 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 ef-
fort.