The Rice belt journal., 1920-07-03
CHAPTER XVll--contlnued
-13-

letter in an unknown hand
,t,ne A letter was an important
N in the cures day. He put on his
.s,ocles. sat down, opened the en-
oDe, and began to read.
|, ras from the priest at st. Joseph
stated that Nunette Bonnat had
!, him the full story Of the adyen,
upon the island, together with
account of the activities of Pierre
4 Simeon Duyal.
es1 as Father Lucien had known
.dttions at Ste. Marie to be. he had
Z, messed at the revelations which
,otte had made to his cOnfrere.
Indignation spilled over. and he
IN his study IN agitation for sew
minutes. At last, struck with an
rl,otion. he took up his SingIeStiCk,
on his cap, fur coat, and snow
os and started off toward Ste.
itb, NV
pic. y,
h was about IN hour later when the
loofprs in SImeOn's saloon looked
10 see the cure standing in the
orwoy Since tie lumbermen had
y into camp for the winter the
ories Of the dance hall had faded
4 disappeared. but Simeon still did
thriving liquor business. He saw
cure and came waddling forward,
NILE blue eyes blinking with mock
imlllty.
,Come in, father" he said suavely.
q don't often see you here. What
h you have? A drop of gin? A lit
brandy. nOw' Or maybe you're
osng for some of the girls to dance
| hr
The men grinned and nudged each
hen. It is not often that one sees a
! Re balted.
| "YoR're a sport, father" said Sim
b. Nyhat sort of stick do you call
Id with a knob each end?"
n shall come to that later" an
cred the cure. "SimeOn, Simeon, how
! len have | spoken to you about the
|l that you are doing here! 1t Is a
| tutOry OffenSe to sell liquor with
tia license, but it is nm offense
| alnSt God to run this sort of place.
neOn for the good of your soul, will
b not close down this place and
ID q different llfe?"
| Ihe mild words and humble attl-
ge Of the old priest were so cOmical
at nobody could conceal his amuse-
Pnt any longer. A roar of laughter
ook the shack. Simeon yawned.
"lll think about my soul when I'm
X he answered.
4Rm may be very sick at any mo-
Pnt Simeon, without expecting it."
4rll take the chances of that" an
erred Simeon.
simeon, I am growing tired of
pakiRg TO- you. Do you know that
r house is plague-spOt in this viii
n; Simeon, for the last time, won't
e close mp for good and all?"
Ah. father, you mean all right"
y Simeon, "but that's your job. |
you're Just as much q sport as
SbOdy here, II only you let yourself
Come on now. and get into a
'me with MS"
Sinlenn" said Father bucien. "ynu
e asking me about this stick. I'll
og you what It's for. Look"
SAack went the hazel knob on Sim
A's head.
Simeon was 50 fiabbergasted that
tel back against the plank table.
iof the cure. he seemed transfig-
A Holding the singlestick in the
dlle, he twlrled It until it looked
E . sRabhy streak of tight, while he
eletted like a deryish.
= reality he was going through rhp
portant foot exercise marked COM
allOa o; but nobody knew that.
Tome on. SimeOa." said Father Lu-
tleklng him across the nose.
leii Instantly became ensunguined.
alth howl Of wrath Simeon came
ward, and the singIestlck descended
pis herd With a thud that was
" nelghbOrs said afterward,
esS the street. Another thud from
''aer end; and Simeon was blink.
Up az the cure from the floor.
~ w simeon; I'm going to cure
soul said the cure. "Are you
V 70 close downT
@Poa struggled to his knees. with
invented agility he lodged the sin.
RS tiaovement 10 had always
efea The cure) and rushed forward
1'lS extended, like bear. But
w Lneien had movement II pat.
movement II is especially de-
sN 'or lilis- Placing the right toe
F s''e left heel, he made half
Nlark! Simeon was reclining
'hp rounter, his huills over his
la blood streaming through his
sa Slnleon," said the cure
y slllackD "are you going to
,1aeon lifted up his voice in y long
se0ly howl. He struggled feeb-
y Ieei' and instantly went down
lllatr . terrific blow across the
Y movement 22A).
opF soul better SImeonY asked
Peg Lucien.
1.0 olinked up into the ring Of
ao9at him. 1t was an extraor.
nlng' but, though everybody
very much interested in his
., sQ!' nobody showed any signs
'eftering tn helm him p,,blto