The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1920-06-12

OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES 22eS2S226SESXE6x
woman's cry. Again came the scream :;
and in an instant, fOrgetful of their
resolution, they had turned and raced
back along the trail.
Not many steps, and, breaking
through the trees, they saw Marie Du-
pOnt struggling In Pierre's arms, while
Leblanc and Nanette stood near them,
laughing.
LATE Ieaped ut Pierre, and his bony
| fist caught the outlaw beneath the
chin. Pierre went down in heap.
Hilary made for Leblanc, whose ex-
preston would, under other circum-
stances, have been comical in it's sur
prise.
He turned upon the girl and
knocked her down savagely. Then,
without another glance at Hilary, he
made for the sloop.
Leaving Pierre where he had fallen,
LATE joined in the pursuit. But Lee
blanc had several yards start, and his
experience of Hilary's prowess lent
wings to his feet. He plunged into the
water and, by a miracle Of strength,
swung the sloop clear Of the sand on
which she had been beached. AS the
vessel was carried clear by the swift
flowing tide the ex-jobber scrambled
aboard, dripping, and pushed off with
the oar. LATE and Hilary stood, baf-
fed, upon the brink Of the water,
while Leblanc, at an ever increasing
distance, began to put up the sail,
shouting back defiant curses mean
while.
They heard o sound Of feet upon
the single behind them, and turned
quickly. 1t was Pierre, but he was
boiling for the woods. They ran at
him, but he had gained the shelter Of
the trees, and it was growing too dark
to follow. They stopped and looked
back. Leblanc was now quite dis
lance from the island, and making for
the north shore upon the incoming
tide.
Lets 60" said Hilary, and he took
Marie gently BY the arm. She went
with him obSdiently, and LATE fol.
lowed with Nanette, whose lip was
bloody from Leblanc's blow.
The tide was running fairly for 81,
Boniface. 1t was almost dark now
but the wind had died away and the
stars we're brilliant. Hillary, taking
off his oyercoat, wrapped 1t about
Marie. The girls bewilderment had
yielded to AFFECT gratitude. She
raised Hilary's hand to her lips and
pressed 1t. Beside her Nanette
wrapped in Lafe's waterproof, was
sobbing wildly and wtpIng hel
wounded lip. The words that passed
were drowned In the sound Of the lap
ping waves before they reached the
ears of Louis. at the tiller.
Nov, what happenedT asked Hill
airy of Marie. "Tell me, and wei
clap those ruflans into Jail, assure
you. How did they get you into thai
boatT
Marie sobbed out her explanation
but when Hilary gathered, with diff
Guilty from the broken verbs, STAN
mered In French, that she had gone
aboard with Pierre to marry him II
Quebec, he could hardly believe hi:
ears.
"And your father knows nothing oil
this?" he inquired, when she hat
ended.
"He knows nothing, monsieur. An
monsieur, you saved me before, and
Il was ungrateful. Promise me
swear to me, that he shall never
know
Sand you, Nanette," continued Hill
ary addressing the weeping girl
what have you to say, who lured bel
here, knowing thlsT
II did not know, monsieur" CRIED
Nanette. "Pierre told me that If
bring her he would get me back my
sweetheart"
Leblanc, eh?"
"Oui, monsieur. Then he take mt
to Quebec, and we get married. Ant
he promised me a wedding ring Of
gold, monsieur"
"And he told you that he was goinL
to marry Marie?"
"0ui. monsieur, we all go to Quebe,
together. Only just before we lant
he tell me that we all stay on thu
island together first, and have a holi
day"
"Nanette. Leblanc never intended
to marry you" said Hilary. "The!
were using you to get Marie init
Pierre's power. Nanette-"
He bent toward her and touched