The diamond drill., 1919-06-14

AEHipt ~ tVu VIII Ptf4ou W luG way
burst into nm inpassioned appeal
to him. told him sY Leroux fnd his
conspiracy 10 obtain possession of the
property. OF my encounter win -Jacque-
line. and how haa rescued her. omit
ting mention. or course. OF che mur~
der.
As went on I could see the look
OF surprise upon his face gradually
change into bdlief.
When had Tended he was looking at
me with benignancy that 7 had never
seen before upon his face.
M. Hewlett" he answered, 81 have
long suspected part OF what you
have told me. and therefore / readily
accept your statements. Y believe now
that madame has suffered no wrong
from you. But am priest. and my
care Is only that OF souls. Madame Is
married. married her"
ITO whom7" cried.
''ro M. Louis d'Epernay. nephew or
M. Charles 'Duchaine b. marriage. less
than two weeks ago TN the chateav
here"
The addition OF the last word singu-
larry revived my hopes. II had slipped
from Hlis lips unconsciously, but q
gave QDe reason 60 'eelleve that tfc
chateau was near by.
Father Antoine sat down upon tine
chair besltie me.
M. Duchaine has been a recluse for
many years." he said. "and of late ais
mind has become affected. II is said
that ne was implicated In the troubles
or 1867. and that, Fearing arrest. ne
fed mere built this chateau In this
desoiate region, where he would be
safe from pursuit. Solitude has made
hermit Of him and ,taken him oct or
touch with the worla.of today.
Il believe that iLeroux has discov-
cred coal on his property. and by
threatening him with arrest has
gained complete ascendency over
the weak.minded old man. However.
the fact remains 'tt1at his daughter
was married by me ITO M. d'Epernay
some ten or twelve days ago at the
chateau.
My duties took me TO Quebec.
There learned that Nine. d'Epernay
had fed on the nightyof her marriage.
and that her husbanE was In pursuit
OF h<r. Again II was told me that she
was Htwing at the Chxteau Frontenac
with smother man. IL was not for me
TO question whether she loved her hus-
band but 10 do my dnty.
II appealed ITO you. You refused 10
listen 90 my appeal. Wou threatened
me, monsieur. And you denied my
priesthood. II shall not help You I'm
the pursuit OF her NJ Hewlett, for you
are acfrrted solely by love for the
wife OF smother man. lJs that not soT-
he ended. bending overime with a pen
etrating look In his blue eyes.
''Yes, n is go. But 4 shall go 10
the chateau" answered
Pere Antoine rose up.
'rYou Will 6nd food 'here," he said,
'"and n you wish to take exercise
there are snowehoes. Try TO find the
chkteau--do what you please; but re-
member that II Sou lose y4m way
seturn from my mission IN a week and
be ready 10 conduct you TO St Boni-
faee. And now, monsieur, tince we
understand each odher, shall prepare
the supper"
S.swallowed few mouthfuls OF food
aD6 fell asleep eoon afterwapd. In
the morning when 7 awoke the cabin
was empty.
spent the next two days recover
Ing any strength. and ON the third
found myself able TO Leave the hut for
a short tramp.
found one OF the pistols In the hut.
and Ia tke pocket OF my fur coat were
couple of cartridges which had
overlooked. The rest had fired away
In my delifsum.
The cabin was situated In valley.
around which high hills clustered.
Strnpplng on the snowshoes set to
work TO climb lofty peak whicl
stood az no great distance.
must have turned or at a slight
angle which took me some distance
out OF my course. FOR my progress was
suddenly arrested ny a mighty wall OF
rock, a sheer preciptce thnt seemed TO
descend perpendlcuArly into the val
leg underneath. Somewhere n torrent
was roaring like minJature Niagara.
stopped 10 stare In admiration.
Far 6elow me the narrow valley had
wideued into a smooth. snow-coated
surfaces Of lake.
And an a point OF land projecting
from the bottom OF that mighty wall ]
saw the chateaul
II could have been nothing else. II
was splendid bulldlng-not larger
than the house of country gentle
man, perhaps and made OF hewn iogs;
but the rude splendor OF IL against
that icy. rocky background transhxed
me with wonder.
On each side OF the chateau a cata-
ract plunged. yelling itself in an opac-
lty of mist. tinted with all the spec
tral hues by the rays OF the westering
sun.
Whv that nOgiflOn wos lunrpV-