The Crittenden press., 1920-02-20

Not many steps. and, breaking
through the trees. they saw Marie Du-
pont struggling in Pierre's arms, while
Leblanc and Nanette stood near them,
laughing
Lnfc leaped at Pierre. and his bony
fist caught the outlaw beneath the
chin. Pierre went down In n heap.
Hilary made for Leblanc. whose ex-
preston would. under other circum-
stances, have been comIcal in its sur
prise.
He turned upon the girl ana
knocked her down savagely. Then
without another glance at Hilary, he
made for the slOop.
Leaving Pierre where he had fallen.
Lnfe joined in the pursuit. Bur le-
blanc had several yards start, and his
experience of Illlary's prOwess lent
wings To his feet. He plunged into the
wntcr and, by Il miracle Of strength,
swung the sloop clear Of the sand on
which she had been benched As the
vessel was carried clear by the swift
flowing tide the eX-iobbcr scrambled
aboard. dripping and pushed of with
the oar. I.afe and Hilary stood. baf-
fled. upon the brink Of the water.
while Leblanc, mt an ever increasing
distance, began To put up the sail.
shouting back defiant curses mean
while.
They heard sound of feet upon
the shingle behind them. and turned
quickly. II was Pierre, but he was
boiling for the woods. They ran al
him. but he had gained the shelter of
the trees, and II was growing too dark
To follow. They stopped and looked
back. Leblanc was now quite dis
tance from the island. and making for
the north shore upon the incoming
tide.
Lets go" said Hilary. and he took
Marie gently by the arm. She went
with him obedlently. and Lafe fol
lowed with Nanette, whose lip was
bloody from LeblHnc's blow.
The tide was running fairly for st
Bonifncc. II was almost dark now
but the wind had died away and tn,
stars were brilliant. Hilary, taking
on his overcont, wrapped II about
Marie, The girls bewiderment hat
yielded TO abject gratitude. Sh,
raised ilIlary's hand to her lips ant
pressed II. Beside her Naneite
wrapped in Lafe's waterproof, wa,
sobbng wildly and wiping he
wounded lip. The words that passe,
were drowned In the sound Of the lap
ping waves before they reached III,
ears Of Louis. nj the tlller.
"Now, what happened?" asked Hi
AIRY OF Marie. Tell me, and wei
clap those ruilians into jail, ] assur,
you. How did they get you into thn
boat?"
Marie sObbcd out her explanation
but when Hilary gathered. with diff
Guilty from the broken words, STAN
mered In French. that she had gon
aboard with Pierre To marry him II
Quebec, he could hardly believe hi
ears.
And your father knows nothing q
thiST he inquired, when she ha,
ended
"llc knows nothing. monsieur Al
monsieur. you saved me before. and
i was ungrateful Promise m,
swear to me, that he shall neye
know"
"And you, Nnpctte," continued Ill
AIRY. addressing the weeping cir
what have you Ia say, who lured he
here, knowing this?"
II did not know. monsieur" erie
Nnnette. pierre told me that II
bring her he would get me back IN
sweetheart"
Leblanc, eh?"
"Oui. monsieur. Then he take m
to Quebec, and we get married. An
he promised me u wedding ring Il
gold, monsieur"
And he told you that he was goln
TO marry MarIe?"
"Oul. monsieur. we all 90 TO Quehc
together. Only Just before We Ian
he tell me that we all stay on tn
island together first, aud have n hol
day"
"Nanettc. Leblanc never Intcnde
10 marry YOU" said Hilary. "Thc
were using you To get Marie Int
rlcrrc's power. Nancttc-"
lie bent toward her and touchc
her on the shoulder. She looked up q
him. her lips qulvcring, her face ~
thetic MS scolded chlld's.
"Is II long since you left yor
homer
"'rwo years, monsieur"
"Nnnettc, you were II child then. IN
Marie here? Leblanc cnme 10 YOU An
told YOU of the great world outsid
, and how he would marry you and 4
Kind to YOU. Two years have pasSc
aud he has ruined your life, and |
, has not kept his promise, and s,ill /
dccelvcs you with his promises. Woul
= you 20 back to himT
"Ncycr, monsieur! lie struck me
p see, Not In just anger Ms II ma
/, strikes his wife who mays him. hut b
r cause he was afraid. Scc where h
- list fcll--scp'"
"Yct Nuncttc. even ms Leblanc II
4 10 YOU. YOU would have had Pierre ,
n tn Marie here"
4 Monsieur, thought he wnS
marry her, Pierre told me IL hrl,
!. Marie to Ste. Marie no harm Is don
. because he loves her and he wishes
= save her from you, who mean nu go,
II to her"
v "trum me. Nnncttc," exclaimed II
= nry. stupchcd.