Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1919-06-06
CHAPTER V-continued.

I could not but connect him with
our presence there. Leroux was due
to arrive at any moment. I realized
that great issues were at stake, that
the man would never cease in his at
tempts to get hold of Jacqueline. Only
when / had returned her to her fa-
ther's house would I feel safe from
him.
After dinner / had some converse
ton with one of the hotel clerks. l
discovered that st. Boniface was
little known, the only occupants of
those parts being trappers and Indians.
"You could hire dogs and sleigh
at st. Boniface for wherever your final
destination is" he said, because the
dog mail has been suspended owing to
the new government mail boats, and
their sleighs are idle. think Captain
Dubois would take you on his boat As
far as that point, and 1 believe he
makes his next trip in couple of
days."
He gave me the captains address,
and resolved to call on him early the
following day and make arrangements.
took JacQueline for stroll on the
terrace, and while we walked l pom
dered over the problem. .Jacqueline
was very quiet, and 1 wondered what
she remembered. 1 dreaded always
awakening her memory, lest, with that
of her home, came that other of the
dead man.
Our rooms were on the side of the
Chateau facing the town, and as we
passed beneath the arch / saw two
men standing no great distance away
and watching us. it seemed to me.
One wore the cassock of priest,
and l could have sworn that he was
Pere Antoine; the other resembled the
suspicious stranger. AS we drew near
they moved behind pillar. Thus, in
exorably, the chase drew near.
My suspicious received confirmation
few minutes later, for we had hardly
reached our rooms, and was, in fact,
standing at the door of Jacqueline's,
bidding her good night when a beIlboy
came along the passage and announced
that the gentleman whom l was ex.
pecting was coming up the stairs.
said good night to Jacqueline and
went into my room and waited. 1 had
thought it would be the stranger but
1t was the priest.
invited him to enter and he came
in and stood with his fur cap Nn hi:
head, looking direfully at me.
"Well, monsieur, what is the pur
pose of this visit?" 1 asked.
ITO tell you," he thundered, "tha
you must give up the unhappy woman
who has accompanied you here"
''That is precisely what 1 intend t.
! do" 1 answered.
''To me- he said. "Her husband
/ felt my brain whirling. l knew
now that / had always cherished
hope, despite the ring-what a fool
had been!
81 married tlem," continued Per
Antoine.
Where is he?" l demanded.
He appeared disconnected. I gatf
cred from his stare that he had SUI
POSED l knew.
"This is Catholic country" h
went on more quietly. "There is n
divorce; there can be none. Marriag
Is sacrament. Shining as she is
1 placed my hand on his shoulde
81 willy not hear any MORE" l sal,
"GO!" i pointed toward the door,
Il am going to take her away wit
me-" he said, and crossing the thresl
old into the corridor placed one han
on the door of Jacqueline's room.
l got there first. l thrust him vi
tently aside-it was like pushing
onument-turned the. key, whiC
happily was still outside, and put it
my pocket.
81 am ready to deal with her hu
band" l said. 81 am. not ready
7 deal with you. Leave at once or
j will have you arrested, priest or
priest. How do know she has hr
band? How do 1 know you are not
d league with her prosecutors? How
| know you are a priest at all?"
o. He seemed amazed at the violen
Of my manner.
This is the first time my priestho
has been Denied" he said quiet
"Well, have offered you your chan
l cannot use violence. If you refr
you will bring your own punishmt
upon your head, and hers on that
the unhappy woman whom you he
led into SIM"
go" 1 shouted, pointing down
passage.
He turned and went, his souti
sweeping against the door of JacQ
lines room as he went by.
unlocked the door of Jacquelir
room. / saw her standing at the f
of the bed. Her face was white.
I entered she looked up piteously
me.
"Who-was-thatT she asked ii
frightened whisper.
"An impudent fellow-that is
JGcqueline."
81 thought 1 knew his voice."
answered slowly. "It made n
almost-remember And do not W
to remember, Paul"
She put her arms about my neck
cried. 1 tried to comfort her, bu
was a long time before succeede
l locked her door on the out
and that night slept with the key
meath my pillow.
CHAPTER vi.