The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1920-11-17
BY
Ns,torRousseo,

precisely. Anu she mas tolu every
thing about the visit to the island,
concerning which. as you are aware,
Mademoiselle Rosny-"
Lafe shook his head. ut amt any
use, father" he said. II been to see
her and told her. She knows that
yarn amt true But she's like all
them Rosnys. She hates. herself So
much because she knows II amt true
that she hates him more And he's
going to leave st. Boniface."
.Tut, tutr' said the cure. "Mr.
Eafe," he added seriously, 1--WE must
stop this. 1t is not for me to inter-
fere. but at least the truth should be
known. i am going to see the girl Ma
rm Dupont"
I'm going that way" said LATE. 'Tll
20 with you. I'm Hilary Askew's
friend. And I'm uneasy about him.
I've just been to the camp, and they
tell me he's gone back to st. Boniface."
II was growing dark. The two set
out with quickened pace. but II was
que dark before they saw the cot
tagcs Of st. Boniface before them. AS
the wharf came into view Lafe uttered
an exclamation.
"The schooner's gone" he cried.
Whose. Mr.. Later"
"The captains. That other ones
laid up for the season. hope to God
Hilary amt done anything foolish and
slipped the cable"
They almost ran to the captains
house. The interior was dark, save
for the dull flicker from the stove.
The cure flung the door open. They
heard sobbing within. Carefully Fa-
thGr Lucien struck match and lit the
lamp. disclosing Marie Dupont kneel-
Ing, her>face In her hands, beside the
embers. She looked up with an ex-
preston of utter despair.
"Where Is thy father2'
He has sailed, with Leblanc and
Pierre, and Monsieur Askew is aboard.
and Madeleine Rosny-"
"Whatw shouted the cure, pulling
her to her feet. ''Thou art dreaming.
childi'
They planned to kill Monsieur AS
kew. went to mademoiselle. and we
drove to the wharf. She sprang
aboard, and the ship sailed. half an
hour ago. They will kill them"
Father Lucien went white and began
to- tremble. Marie Dupont, swear to
me" he began.
"Ah, mon Dieu. II is true. 1 swear
itw
why didn't thou come to me?"
IL was afraid"
The cure translated to Lafe. "If
she speaks the truth" he began.
1T is true. guess" said Lafe.
Quick. father. let's get the other
schooner and go after them. It's our
only chance. I'll go. Darn II. IL they
hurt a hair of Hilary's head, or-or
mademoiselle's, I'll send the gang to
hell !" cried LATE, half sobbing.
But 1t is impossiblel' cried the
cure. "Who will sail herr"
"Come with me, father" answered
LATE, a flicker Of whimsicality appear
Ing on his face, as In such moments.
Il guess I'm In charge now. sect Let's
go to the store"
There were the usual loafers inside
Yes, II was true the schooner had
sailed, and Ii had surprised every
body, because Captain Dupont had
announced that he would not sail for
some days. And he had left his crew
behind. But then every one knew
that he was going out of his mind.
LATE cut the gossips short. ASK
them who can sail the schooner" he
said to the cure.
Only one man could sail the schoon-
er through the ice, = All the rest were
in the woods. Jean-Marie Baptiste I'M
derstood the coast and the currents.
"Where is hep"
The storekeeper shrugged his shout
ders. "He was here half an hour ago
to buy more traps, but he has gone
into the woods again"
At that instant Baptiste entered the
store. saw LATE, and scowled.
"This trap Is broken" he began,
holding 1t up for the storekeeper to
view It,
The cure pounced on him. "Baptiste,
come with me. Thou dost not 20 into
the woods tonight. Thou must take
us aboard the schooner"
Baptiste's jaw fell. Mon pere. 1t Is
impossible" he stammered
dupont has gone"
"Gonef" cried Baptiste. running to
the door. s
The cure followed him. "BaptIste.
thou must sail the schooner and find
him. He is mad. He has left his
crew behind him and taken Leblanc
and Pierre. And Mademoiselle Rosny
is In their hands"
"what7" shouted Baptiste. II 60.
At once I CO."
"And Monsieur Askew, whom they
have sworn 10 murder"
II do not 60" said Jean Baptlste,
and stopped dead.
The cure caught him by the arm.
Listen to me. Jean. His life and that
of MademoIsele Rosny are perhaps at