The Crittenden press., 1920-03-19

ItTt, Dut III leuSt tne ruin SnOul1 he
known. ! ain going to see the girl Ma.
ric Dupont"
I'm going that way" said Lafe. "Pll
~ with you. I'm Hilary Askew's
friend. And I'm uneasy about him.
i've Just been 10 the camp, and they
tell me he's gone back to 81. Bonlface."
II was growing dark. The two set
ont with qulckened pace hut II was
quite dark before they saw the cot
tages OF st. Boniface before them. As
the wharf came into view Lafe uttered
an exclamation
THE schoOner's gone!" he cried.
Whose, Mr. Lafey-
THE captains. That other ones
laid up for the season. hope to God
Hilary amt done anything foolish and
slipped the cable"
Ihey almost ran TO the captains
house. The interior was dark save
for the duh flicker from the stov,.
The cure flung the door open. They
heard n sobbing within. Carefully Fa.
ther Lucien struck match and lii the
lamp. disclosing Marie Dupont kneel.
Ing, her face In her hands, beside the
elnbers. She looked up with an ex.
preston OF utter despair.
where IL thy father?"
"lie has sailed, with Leblanc and
Pierre. and Monsieur Askew is abonrd.
and Madeleine R0sny--"
What" shouted the cure, pulling
her to her feet. Thou art dreaming.
! child"
They planned to kill Monsieur As
Kew. ! went TO mademolsele. 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. swear
Il"
"Why didn't thou come to me?"
II was afraid"
The cure translated to Lafe. "If
she speaks the truth" he began.
at IL true. guess" said Lafe.
Quick. father, let's get the other
schooner and 20 after them. It's our
only chance. I'll go. Darn IT, II they
hurt n hair OF HIlary's head. or-or
mndemoIselle's. I'll send the gang to
hell!' cried Lafe. half sobblng.
"But 1t is impossible" cried the
cure. "Who will sail herr"
Come with me. father" answered
Lafe, flicker Of whimsicality appear.
Ing on his face. as In such moments.
u guess I'm In charge now, see? Let's
go TO the store" a.
There were the usual loafers inside.
Yes. II was true the schooner had
sailed. and II had surprised every
body. becnuse 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.
Lafe cut the gossips short. ASK
them who can sail the schooner" he
said TO the cure.
Only one man could sail the schoon.
or through the Ice. All the rest were
in the woods. Jean.Marie Baptiste un-
derr'ood the coast and the currents.
"Where Is he?"
The stOrekeeper shrugged his shoul.
ders. "lle was here half an hour ago
To buy more traps, but he has gone
into the woods again"
Al that instant Baptlste entered the
store. saw Lafe, and scowled.
This trap is broken" he began.
holding It up for the storekeeper to
view Il.
The cure pounced on him. "Rnptlste.
come with me, Thou dost not 20 into
the woods tonight. Thou must take
us aboard the schooner"
BaptIste's jaw fell. mon pere. II Is
impossible" he stammered
dupont has gone"
Gomez" cried Baptiste. running to
the door.
The cure followed him. "Baptiste.
thou must snil the schooner and find
him. lie is mad. He has left his
crew behind him and taken Leblanc
and Pierre. And Mademoiselle Rosny
is In their hands"
"Whatf" shouted Baptiste. ~ go.
At once I go"
"And Monsieur Askew. whom they
have sworn to murder"
~ do not 60" said Jean Baptlste.
and stopped dead
The cure caught him by the arm.
Listen to me. Jean. Hts life and tha,
of Mndemolselle Rosny are perhaps at
stake"
II do not 20" cried Baptiste again.
and snatched up his trap. He strode
to the door and turned fercely upon
Father Luclen. who followed him. Lex
him diel" he shouted. you know.
mon pcrc, you know what he has done
10 me and mine"
Intc, VINO UNDERSTOOD nnruly word
of this colloquy, caught precise sense
of what BOptistc was saying, partly Of
the gestures, hut more by his faculty
brought out through dialogues on
many evenings with his friend Treni
blny. lie tuggcd nt the cures arm.
Tel him that story amt true, IN.
Their" he said. That's what's worry.
Ing him"
Hut Father Lucicn resumed. as II he
had not heard.
"Even 81. Jean. Mndcmolscllc Ros.
nys llfc perhaps, Is In danger. And
even II thu, were no, 81, thou must
return good for evil. Else his blood Is
upon thee"
"l.ct II he there would have killed