The Crittenden press., 1920-01-30

him, will you not, Mr.. Connell?" asked
the girl, looking earnestly at Lafe. As
their eyes met Lafe realized suddenly
that her agitation had more than an
lmpcrsOnnl cause behind il. The swift
knowledge came home to him with n
shock; 1t cleared up many things
among them the fOgs of rancor that
had cl0udcd his mind.
"l'll do everything that's In my pow
er, Mndemolselle" he said. 9Th stand
by him-lll fight for him If there's any
fighting"
There will be none" said Father
Lucien. but Madcmolselle Rosny
understands now what Brousseau Is,
She knows his character and his evil
mind. And she has learned, fortunate
ly. before II Is too late"
Not another word was spoken. The
buggy descended the hill and rolled to-
ward st. Bonifnce. As II crossed the
rickety bridge they heard the sound of
distant shouting In Duval's saloon
About the front Of It was gathered the
entire male population of 81. Boniface
gcsticulnting and chnttering.
They fell back in dsmay as the cure
lenped from the buggy and assisted
Madeleine RoSny down Lafe fol.
lowed. He tried to urge the girl TO re-.
main In the rig. but she paid no atten.
tion TO him. She listened with anxious
lntentness MS the cnre addressed the
crowd, her lips compressed. her bosom
rising and falling quickly. All eyes
were fixed on Father Luclen, but each
as the priest turned to him. tried to
shrink back behind his nelghbor.
They were pointing inside the sa.
loon. The cure hurried through the
doorway, Madeleine Rosny immediate.
ly behind him, and Lafe following
them. The saloon. though III by an oil
lamp, was empty, MS seemed 10 he the
dark stable beyond It, seen through the
open doorway.
Father Lucien snatched down the
lamp and carried II hastily toward the
stable door lie raised II and looked
In, then turned and tried 10 bar Made.
leine from entering. But she pushed
past him. saw. cried. wrung her hands,
and rnn into the middle space between
the rows OF stalls. Lafe. following her
saw her seated upon the floor, and
Hilary. covered with blood. lying
stretched out and motionless, his head
In her lap. She bent over him and
Lafe never forgot the look Of anguish
In her eyes, or the tension Of the white
face.
Stll supporting Hllary's head. she
began tearing long strips OF her petit
coat. frnntically, as II she hardly knew
what she was doing. Hllary's clothing
was 81 drenched with blood that II
was difficult 10 determine where the
wound lay. There were llvid bruises
about his mouth and cheeks, and on
his forehead us II his nssallants. after
stabblng him. had kicked him.
Father Lucien half turned him over
and, uttering nn exclamation. pointed
to the shoulder, from which fresh blood
wns slowly wclllng Lafe saw that
Hilary was alive; he brcathed very
family, but his fnce was the color OF
death, more bloodless than that of
Madeleine. The cure began cutting
away the coat. then the lining. which
would not come with II; then the shirt
lie looked up.
Bring some water" he said
Lnfe hurried out. the few curious
lumbermen scattering In panic and
Scurrylng before him. As he stood
among them. shouting. window In Il
nearby house went up. and n woman
handed out pail. three parts full.
Lnfc took II. As he re-entered the
shunty the crowd slowly gathered he.
hind him again. lie hurried into the
stable, The cure took n strip Of the
girls pettlcoat. dipped II In the pail
aud hcgan Ia cleanse the wound, purs.
Ing his lips and shaking his head the
while. Lafc could see that the wound,
while not long. was terribly deep, and
II was still bleeding. II was Impossl.
BILE TO do more than clean II superb.
cially. owing To the need for haste,
Having done this, Father Luclcn mdc
pnd and placed II In position, while