The Crittenden press., 1920-03-19
CHAPTER xVli-contInued

"rltlhg. letter was nn important
event In the cures day. He put on his
Spectacles, sat down. opened the en.
velope. and began to read.
II was from the priest nt st. .Joscph.
ana stated that Nnnette Bonnut had
given him the full story Of the ndyen.
lures upon the island. together with
nn account OF the activities OF Pierre
and Simeon Duyul.
Bnd as Father Luclen had known
conditions ut Ste. Mnrle 10 be. he had
never guessed ut the revelations which
Nhnettc had made to his confrere.
Ills Indignation spilled over. and he
paced his study In agitation for sev.
"rhl minutes. AT last, struck with nm
Inspiration, he took up his snglcstck,
put on his cup, fur coat. and snow.
shoes and started OF toward Ste.
Marie.
II was about nm hour later when the
Few lonfers In Slmems saloon looked
up to see the cure standing In the
doorway Since the lumbcrmcn Ind
gone into camp for the winter the
glorlcs OF the dance hall had faded
and disappeared, bu, Simeon s,lll did
n thriving liquor business. lie saw
the cure and came wuddlIng forward.
his pale blue eyes blinking with mock
humility.
Come In, father" he said sunyely.
"Wc don't often see you here. What
VIII you hnve, A drop Of gln7 A NJ.
lie brandy. now' Or maybe you're
looking for some OF the girls TO dance
with?
The men srinncd and nudged each
other !, II not often that one sees
cure bnlted.
You're sport father" said Sim.
con. What sort of stick do you call
That, with n knob each endf"
y shall come "a that Inter" mn.
'vcrcd the cure. "Sineon. Simeon. how
often have ] spoken 10 you about the
evil that you are doing here! II Is n
statutory offense Ia sell liquor with.
out license. but II is nn offense
ngnlns, God To run this sort Of place
Simeon, for the good OF your soul will
you not close down this place and
lead different llfe?"
The mild words and humble nttl.
ture of the old priest were so comIcnl
that nobody could conceal his nmuse.
ment any longer. A roar Of laughter
shook the shnck. Simeon yawned.
I'll think about my soul when I'm
sick he answered.
You may be- very sick nj any mo-
mrnt. Simeon, without expecting H."
"l'll take the chances OF that" nm.
sworcd Simeon.
"Simeon. nm growing tired Of
speaking TO you. Do y6n S,now tina,
your house 10 n plngue-spnt In this vii.
lnge' Simeon, for the las, time. won't
you close IN for good and nlli"
"Ah, father, you mean all right"
snid Simeon, hut that's your job. I
bet you're Just Ms much sport ns
anybody here, II only you let yourself
go. Come on now and get into
gimc with us"
"Slmcrn," said Father Lucien. you
were asking me about this stick. III
show YOU what ll's for. Look"
Smack went the hazel knob on Sim.
cons head.
Simeon wns so ilnhhergasted that
he fell hack ngpinS the plank table
As for the cure. he seemed trnsNc
ured. Holding the slnrlcStIck In the
middle. he twlrlcd II until II looked
IKE knohhy streak NJ light, while he
plrouettcd like n dcrvlsh.
In reality he was going through the
Important foot exercise marked com.
blnnilon y: but nobody knew that.
Come on. simeon" 0id Father Lu.
Glen, fllcklng him across the nose,
which Instantly bccnme cnsanguned
with n howl NJ wrath Simeon came
forward, and the slnglestIck descended
on his head with n thud that wns
henrd, neighhors snid nfterward,
ncross the street. Another thud from
,he other end; and Simeon was blink.
Inn up NJ the cure from the floor
Get up. Simeon; I'm going 10 cure
your soul" said the cure. Are you
going 10 close DOWN
Simeon struggled To his knees. with
nn unwonted agility he lodged the sin.
iIeStlck movement 10 had always
bothered the curc) and rushed forwnrd
win arms extended. like bear. But
FATHER Luclen hnd movement II mt,
una movement II is especially dc.
signed for this. Placing the right toe
against the left heel. he mnde hnlf
turn Smack +! Simeon wns reclining
against the counter. his hnnds over his
head, aud blood streaming through his
fingers
simeon, Simeon" said the cur,
tsmnck, smack y are you going TO
close DOWN
Simeon lifted M his voice In long.
melancholy howl. lie struggled fcch.
ly to his feet, nnd Instantly went down
again under terrific blow across the
right car movement 22A).
us your soul better Slmconf" asked
Father Luclcn.
Simeon bllnkcd up into the ring ~
faces about him. II was an cxtruor.
Illnnry thing, hut, though everybody
seemed very much Interested In his
nobody showed amy signs
Of interfering TO help him. Public
opinion wns very hcklc IN Ste. Marie.
"Now you may get up, Simeon"
suid the cure, aud Simeon hasicned to
ohcy. Ills eyes travelled quickly In
The direction Of mn empty brandy bot.
lie upon the counter II he could get