The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1920-04-24
CHAPTER XVII-Continued

MS SlngleStick when q boy brought
MIN a letter in an unknown hand
writing. A letter was an important
event in the cures day. He put on his
spectacles, sat down, opened the en-
velope, and began to read.
1t was from the priest at st. Joseph,
and stated that Nanette Bonnat had
given him the full story Of the adven-
lures upon the island, together with
an account of the activities Of Pierre
and Simeon Duval.
Bad as Father Lucien had known
conditions at Ste. Marie to be. he had
never guessed at the revelations which
Nanette had made to his confrere.
His Indignation spilled over, and he
paced his study in agitation for sew
eral minutes. At last, struck with an
inspiration, he took up his singlestick,
put on his cap, fur coat, and snow
shoes, and started off toward Ste.
Marie.
1t was about an hour later when the
few lOaferS in Simeon's saloon looked
up to see the cure standing in the
doorway. Since the lumbermen had
gone into camp for the winter the
glories of the dance hall had faded
and disappeared, but Simeon still did
a thriving liquor business. He saw
the cure and came waddling forward.
his pale blue eyes blinking with mock
humility.
"Come In, father" he said suavely
"We don't often see you here What
will YOU have? A drop Of gin? A lit
tie brandy, now' Or maybe you're
looking for some of the girls to dance
with?"
The men grinned and nudged each
other. 1t is not often that one sees a
cure baited.
You're a sport, father said Sim
con. What sort of stick do you call
that, with q knob each end?"
Il shall come to that later" an
swered the cure "Simeon, Simeon, how
often have / spoken to you about the
evil that you are doing here! 1t is a
statutory offense to sell liquor with
against God to run this sort Of place.
Simeon, for the good of your soul, will
you not close down this place and
lead different life?'
The mild words and humble atti-
ture Of the old priest were SO comical
that nobody could conceal his amuse-
ment any longer. A roar of laughter
shook the shack. Simeon yawned.
'T'll think about my soul when I'm
sick" he answered.
you may be very sick at any mo-
ment, Simeon, without expecting it."
'I'll take the chances of that" an
swered Simeon.
simeon, I am growing tired of
speaking to you. Do you know that
your house is plague-spot in this vii
lage? Simeon, for the last time. won't
you close up for good and all?"
'Ah, father, you mean all right"
said Simeon, "but that's your job. !
bet you're just as much sport as
anybody here, if only you let yourself
go. Come on now, and get into a
game with u.s."
Simeon" said Father Lucien, "you
were asking me about this stick. I'll
show you what it's for. Look"
Smack! went the hazel knob on Sim
cons head.
he fell back against the plank table.
AS for the cure, he seemed transfig-
ured. Holding the singlestick in the
middle, he twirled it until it looked
like a knobby streak Of light, while he
pirouetted like dervish.
In reality he was going through the
important foot exercise marked COM
bination s; but nobody knew that.
"Come on, Simeon" said Father Lu-
Glen. Ticking him across the nose.
which instantly became ensanguined
With a howl Of wrath Simeon came
forward, and the singlestick descended
on his head with Il thud that was
heard. neighbors said afterward,
across the street. Another thud from
the other end; and Simeon was blink
ing up at the cure from the floor.
"Get up, Simeon: I'm going to cure
your soul" said the cure. Are you
going to close DOWN.?
Simeon struggled to his knees. With
an unwonted agility he lodged the sin
glestick movement 10 had always
bothered the cure) and rushed forward
with arms extended, like bear. But
Father Lucien had movement u pat,
and movement II is especially de-
signed for this. Placing the right toe
against the left heel. he made half
turn. Smack Simeon was reclining
against the counter, his hands over his
head. and blood streaming through MS
fingers.
"Simeon, Simeon" said the cure
(smack. smack y "are you going to
close down.!
Simeon lifted up his voice in q long.
melancholy howl. He struggled feeD-
ly to his feet, and instantly went down
again under terrific blow across the
right ear movement 22A).
as your soul better, Simeon?" asked
Father Lucien.
Simeon blinked up into the ring OF
faces about him. 1t was an exfraor-
binary thing. but. though everybody
seemed very much interested in his
predicament, nobody showed any signs
of interfering to help him. Public
opinion was very tickle in Ste. Marie.