The North Platte semi-weekly tribune. (North Platte, Neb.) 1895-1922, May 04, 1920, Image 2

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    NORTH PLATTE SEMI-WEEKLY TRIBUNE.
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i4
WOODEN SPOIL
By VICTOR ROUSSEAU
Illustrations by Irwin Myers
(Copyright, 1019, by George n. Dornn Co.)
CHAPTER XVII Continued
13
Father Luclen hnd Jast laid down
his singlestick when a boy brought
him a letter In an unknown hnnd
wrltlng. A letter was an Important
event In the cure's day. He put on his
spectacles, sat down, opened the en
Telope, and began to read.
It was from the priest at St. Joseph,
and stated that Nanette Bonnnt had
given him the full story of the adven
tures upon the Island, together with
an account of the activities of Pierre
and Simeon Duval.
Bad as Father Luclen hnd known
conditions at Ste. Mnrle to be, ho bad
never guessed at the revelations which
Nanette had made to his confrere.
Ills Indignation spilled over, and bo
paced his study In agitation for sev
eral minutes. At last, struck with an
Inspiration, he took up bis singlestick,
put on his cap, fur coat, and snbw
shoes, and started off toward Ste.
Mnrle.
It wus about an hour later when the
few loafers In Simeon's saloon looked
up to see the cure standing In the
doorwny. Slnco the lumbermen hud
gone Into camp for the winter the
glories of the dunce hull had faded
and disappeared, but Simeon still did
a thriving liquor business. He saw
the cure and cume waddling forward,
his palo bluo eyes blinking with muck
humility.
"Come iu, father," ho said suavely.
"We don't often seo you hero. What
will you liuve? A drop of gin? A lit
tle brandy, now Or mnybo you're
looking for, some of the girls to dance
with 7"
The men grinned and nudged each
other. It Is not often that one sees a
cure baited.
"You're a sport, father," suld Sim
eon. "What sort of stick do you call
tbat, with a knob each end?"
"I oball como to that later," an
swered the cure. "Simeon, Simeon, how
often have I spoken to you about the
evil tbnt you aro doing here I It is n
statutory offense to sell liquor with
out a-, license, but It Is nn offense
against God to run this sort of plnce.
Simeon, for the good of your soul, will
you not close down this pluce and
lead a different llfo?"
Tho mild words and humble nttl
turo of tho old priest were so comical
that nobody could conceal his amuse
ment any longer. A roar of laughter
shook tho shuck. Simeon yawned.
"I'll think about my soul when I'm
sick," he answered.
"You may bo very sick, at any mo
ment, Simeon, without expecting it."
"I'll take the chances of thutj" an
swered Simeon.
"Simeon, I am growing tired of
speaking to you. Do y,ou know tbnt
your house is a plague-spot In this vil
lage? Simeon, for tho last time, won't
yu close up for good and all?"
"Ah, father, you mean all rlglit,"
aid Simeon, "but that's your Job. I
bet you're Just as much a sport as
anybody hero, If only you let yourself
CO. Come on now, and get Into u
came with us."
"Simeon," sold Father Luclen, "you
were asking me about this stick. I'll
show you what It's for. Look I"
Smack 1 went the hazel knob on Sim
son's head.
Simeon was so flabbergasted tbnt
he fell back against the plank table.
(Smack, Smaokl) "Are You Going to
Close Down?"
As for the cure, ho seemed trnnsflg
,Hred. Holding tho singlestick In the
middle, he twirled It until It looked
Hke a knobby streak of light, while ho
pirouetted like a dervish.
I reality he wus going through the
Important foot exercise marked coin
telnatlon 6; but nobody know that.
"Como on, Simeon," said Father Lu
clen, flicking him across tho nose,
which Instantly became ensanguined,
With a howl of wrath Simeon cunio
.forward, and the singlestick descended
'on his head with a thud tbnt was
ifceard, aelghbors said afterward,
across the Btreot. Another thud from
tfee other end ! and Simoon was blink
tt up at tho cure from the floor.
"Oct up, Simeon : I'm going to cure
your soul," snld the cure. "Are you
going to close down?"
Simeon struggled to his knees. With
an unwonted agility he dodged the sin
glestick (movement 10 bud always
bothered the cure) and rushed forward
with arms extended, like a bear. Dut
Father Luclen had movement 17 pat,
and movement 17 Is especially de
signed for this. Placing the right toe
ngninst the left heel, he made a half
turn. Smack! Simeon was reclining
against tho counter, his hands over his
head, and blood streaming through his
fingers.
"Simeon, Simeon," snld the cure
(smack, smnckl) "are you going to
close down?"
Simeon lifted up his voice In a long,
melancholy howl. He struggled feeb
ly to his feet, and Instantly went down
again under a terrific blow across the
right ear (movement 22A).
"Is your soul better, Simeon?" asked
Father Luclen.
Simeon blinked up Into tho ring of
faces about him. It was an extraor
dinary thing, but, though everybody
seemed very much interested In his
predicament, nobody showed any signs
of Interfering to help him. Public
opinion was very fickle In Ste. Marie.
"Now you may get up, Simeon,"
snld tho cure, and Simeon hastened to
obey. Ills eyes traveled quickly In
the direction of an empty brandy bot
tle upon the counter. If he could get
It Into his hand.
Smnckl went the singlestick, und
Simeon was down uguln with a roar
like n poleuxcd bull.
"What did you do tbnt for?" ho
whimpered.
"I'm helping you the best way I
know, Simeon," answered the euro
mildly. "Aro you going to close down?"
"I'll huvo you arrested," Simeon
yelled. "I'll write tq the bishop about
you."
Crash went tho singlestick. "Are
you going to lmve me arrested?" In
quired Father Luc'n.
"No," muttered Simeon, covorliSg his
head with his lands.
Crash I Simeon's hnnds flew apart
as If they -were attached to' springs.
"Are you going to write to the bish
op?" asked tho cure.
"No. For God's sake let me go,
you d bully 1"
Simeon snatched at tho knob on tho
end of the singlestick nearest him. but
movement .4 provides for tbnt, and the
crack of n broken finger wus distinctly
audible to tho Intensely Interested
spectators.
"When are you going to close down,
Simeon?" demanded Fathor Luclen,
standing over tho prostrate liquor-
seller.
"At once!" yelled Simeon, bursting
into tenrs. "For God's snke don't hit
me again 1"
Simeon looked so nbject that the
euro hnd not the heart to contlnuo his
punishment. He looked nbout him. A
singlestick describes n circle having n
radius of several feet. Exercise 2
cleared the counter in a Jiffy, lenvlng
n wreck of reeking spirits hnd broken
glass.
When the euro turned upon the en
thuslnstlc, shouting throng, the grins
died off their faces.
"Get out of here, my children 1" he
shouted. And, twirling his singlestick
with indescribable velocity, ho brought
It down on ono bend nfter another,
much us fce might strike n row of
fence posts. The terrlblo Implement
seemed to fly in nil directions at tho
snme time. Father Luclen cracked the
last mnn across the shoulders und sent
him flying Into tho street.
"Kor aod's sake don't leave me
alone in here with hlra !" moaned Sim
eon from tho floor.
Fnther Luclen enmo back and stood
over him, twirling his singlestick
meditatively. At Inst ho laid It down
upon the counter.
"It's nil right, Simeon, my son." he
snld gently. "I think I've cured you
now. I'm going to henr your confes
slon. A man never knows when he's
going to be sick, Simeon. Let roc henr
you suy your Act of Contrition, If you
haven't forgotten It."
"Wnlt n minute," plended Simeon
"Aro you going to see my brother
Louis afterward?"
"I've seen him," answered the cure.
"And Jean Poullot, and Albert
Drouln, and George Molsan, and
"I'm going to," replied the cure
grimly. So Simeon, with u new ox
presslon of gratification, ennio buck
Into the church.
When, fifteen minutes intpr, Father
Luclen emerged from the shnnty, Ste.
Murlo was an extraordinary sight.
Every drink-shop had locked up, their
ownprs hnd fled, and the streets were
packed with crowds which, at the sight
of the priest, sot up a yell of delight.
Tho women pressed nbout him, sob
blue their gratitude. It wus with dif
ficulty that ho could mnke his wiry
through the feminine bodyguard that
accompanied him along his way, und
nfter ho hnd porsunded them to go
home the distant cheering still rang In
his enrs.
"I snull como bnck every week," was
Father Luclen's last promise to Ste.
Mario. "I shnll break the bead of
evorv man who has brandy In his
bouse."
"God bless you, father," came hack
from a hundred throats.
And, being at last satisfied tbnt Ste.
Marie' was closed ns tightly as It was
ever likely to be, Father Luclen took
the homeward rond to St. Boniface
aguln.
lie went through tho limits Instead
of along the shore, nnd wns Hearing
the village when he encountered Lnfe.
"Hello. Father Lucy I Where do
you come from?" nsked the latter.
"I've Just been paying a pnstoral
visit to Ste. Mnrle," said the cure de
murely. Lafe stared nt him. "What d'you
call that?" he demanded.
"That Is a singlestick," snld Fn
ther Luclen. "It Is a good exerciser
for old men like you nnd me, Lafe."
"Sort of light double club." said
Lnfe. "Whnt's that hnlr on the end,
father? Say, that rooks llko blood,
don't It?"
"That Is Simeon Duvnl's," the cure
answered, "You see, Mr. Lnfe "
Lafe stopped short. "Father Lucy,
d'you mean to tell mo you've knocked
out Simeon?"
"I'm ufrald so, Mr. Lnfe. .1 couldn't
get Into his soul In uny other wny.
But I'm getting there. Next time I
shall hnve learned some more' exer
cises, and then "
"You closed up Ste. Mnrle?"
"Well, for tho present, yes," ad
mitted the cure. "But next time"
"Shuke, father," snld Lafe, stretch
ing out his hand. "By George, you do
get results nfter all when you stnrt
In. But why didn't you do that be
fore?"
It was your friend, Monsieur As
kew, who put the thought Into my
head," suld Fnther Luclen. "By the
wny, Mr. Lnfe, I have a letter from a
friend In St. Joseph."
"St. Joseph? Why, thnt's where
Nanette Bonnnt "
"Precisely. And she has told every
thing nbout tho visit to tho Island,
concerning vihlch, ns you are aware,
Mademoiselle Itosny "
Lnfe shook his head. "It nln't any
use, father," he snld. "I been to see
her and told her. She knows thnt
yarn ain't true. But she's like all
them Rosnys. She hntes herself so
much becauso she knows It ain't true
thnt she hntcs him more. And he's
going to lenve St. Boniface."
"Tut, tut!" snld the cure,
nr."
Lafe," he added seriously, "we must
stop this. It Is not for me to Inter
fere, but at lenst tho truth should he
known. 1 am going to see the girl Ma
rio Dupont."
"I'm going thnt wpy," snld Lnfe. "I'll
go wltl? you. I'm nilnry Askew's
friend. And I'm unensy nbout him.
I've Just been to tho camp, nnd they
tell me he's gone bnck to St. Bonlfnce."
It wns growing dnrk. The two set
out with quickened pneo, hut It wns
quite dark before they saw the cot
tages of St. Boniface before them. As
the wharf cume Into view Lnfe uttered
nn exclamation.
"The schooner's gone!" he cried.
"Whose, Mr, Lnfo?"
lint. i .. ...
Aiie cnpinin-s. That other one's
laid up for the season. I hone to God
Hllnry nln't done anything foolish nnd
slipped the cable."
They almost ran to the captain's
house. The Interior wns dnrk, snve
for tho dull flicker from the stove.
Tho cure flung the door open. They
heard n sobbing within. Carefully Fa
ther Luclen struck a match and lit the
lnmp, disclosing Mnrle Dupont kneel
ing, her fuce In her hands, beside the
embers. She looked up with nn ex.
presslon of utter despnlr.
"Where Is thy fnther?"
"Ho has sailed, with Leblanc nnd
Pierre, nnd Monsieur Askew Is aboard
nnd Mndelclne Itosny"
"Whntl" Wiouted tho cure, pulling
.
ner to her feet. "Thou nrt dreaming.
child J"
"They plnnned to kill Monsieur As
kew. I went to mademoiselle, nnd wo
drovo to the wharf. She sprang
aboard, and the ship sailed, hnlf nn
hour ngo. They will kill them."
Father Luclen went white nnd begnn
to tremble. "Mnrle Dupont. swenr to
me " he begun.
"Ah, roon DIeu. It Is true. I swenr
It 1"
"Why didn't thou come to me?"
"I, wus ufrnld."
Tho cure translated to Lnfe. "If
she speuks the truth " he begnn.
"It Is true, I guess," snld Lnfe.
"Quick, futher, let's get the other
schooner nnd go after them. It's our
only chance. I'll go. Darn It, If they
hurt n hnlr of nilury's hend, or or
mademoiselle's, 111 send tho gang to
hell !" cried Lafe, half sobbing.
"But It is Impossible!" cried the
cure. "Who will sail her?"
"Como with met father," rinswercd
Lafe, a flicker of whimsicality appenr
lng on his face, ns In such moments.
"I guess I'm In churgo now, seo? Lot's
go to the store."
There wero tho usunl loafers Inside.
Yes, it wns true the schooner hnd
sailed, nnd It hnd surprised every
body, becuuso Captain Dupont hud
announced thnt he would not sail for
soino days. And ho hud loft his crew
behind. Hut then ovory ono knew
that ho wus go'ne out of his mind.
Lnfe cut the gosslpi short "Ask
them who can sull tho schooner." he
snld to the cure.
Only one mnn could soil the schoon
er through the Ice. All the rest were
In tho woods.Kjcnn-MnrIe Bnptlste un
derstood the Wist and the currents.
"Where Is ho?"
The storekeeper shrugged his shoul
ders. "He wns here half an hour ago
to buy more traps, but he has gone
Into the woods again "
At thnt Instant Bnptlste entered the
store, saw Lafe, and scowled.
"This trap Is broken" he begnn,
holding It up for tho storekeeper to
view It.
Tho cure pounced on him. "Bnptlste,
come with me. Thou dost not go Into
tho woods tonight. Thou must take
us nbonrd the schooner "
Bnptlstc's' Jaw fell. "Mon pore, It Is
Impossible," he stnmmered
"Dupont has, gone "
"Gone?" cried Bnptlste, running to
the door.
Tho cure followed him. "Bnptlste,
thou must snll the schooner nnd find
him. He Is mnd. He lias left his
crew behind hltn and taken Leblnnc
and Pierre. And Mademoiselle Rosny
Is In their hnnds"
"Whnt?" shouted Buptlste. "I go.
At once I go "
"And Monsieur Askew, whom they
hnve sworn to murder "
"I do not go," said .Tenn Bnptlste,
nnd stopped dead.
The cure caught him by the arm.
"Listen to me, Jean. His life nnd thnt
of Mndemolsclle Rosny are perhnps at
stnke."
"I do not go!" cried Bnptlste ngnln,
nnd snntched up his trup. He strode
to the door and turned fiercely upon
"But When God Calls a Man to Duty,
He Must Obey."
Father Luclen, who followed him. "Let
him die !" he shouted. "You know,
mon pere, you know whnt he has done
to me nnd miner'
Lnfe, who understood hardly a word
of this colloquy, caught a precise sense
of whnt Bnptlste was saying, partly of
the gestures, but more by his fnculty
brought out through dialogues on
many evenings with his friend Trem
blny. ' He tugged at tho cure's arm.
"Tell him thnt story ain't true, fa
ther," he suld. "That's whut's worry'
Ing him."
But Fnther Luclen resumed, as If he
had not heard:
"Even bo, Jenn, Mndemolselle Ros-
ny's life, perhnps, Is In dnnger. And
even If thnt were not so, thou must
return good for evil. Else his blood Is
upon thee."
"Let It be there 1 1 would hnve killed
him, only they pulled mo nwny."
"It Is thy duty, my son," said the
euro quietly. "It is a hnrd test, Jenn,
but when God calls a mnn to duty, he
must obey.
Bnptlste began to brenk down. "Ah,
mon pere, you nsk me tho hardest
thing In my life," he groaned. "In
the forests I hnve seen his face before
me. I have dreamed that I hnd him
by the throat, and stnrted up with Joy,
I hnvo struggled, nnd I have contrived
to fight down my desire to slay him.
And now you tell mo I must save him.
No, no, mon pere. Snve tho gfrl yes.
But let some one else sull the schoon
er."
"Say, Father Lucy, why don't you
explain to him that that yarn's a He?'
persisted Lnfe.
But ngnln tho cure Ignored him
"We shnll snll ns soon ns possible,
Jenn," he snld. "Go back to the store
and Instruct the storekeeper to tele
phone to tho crew Drouln Is one, and
the others I do not know. And then
return to me."
Jenn-Buptlstc stood like a statue. He
hung his hend, muttering. Then, slow
ly, ho raised it nnd smiled Into tho
cure's fnce.
"Enough, then. I go," he said
gravely.
"Well, I'm domed 1" exclnlmed Lnfe.
"Suy, fnther, why didn't you tell him
It wnsn't true, thnt story?"
The euro smiled whlmslcnlly nnd
laid his lmnd on Lnfe's shoulder.
"Ah, Mr. Lnfe," he nnswered, "when
exerclso will enro a paralyzed limb, we
do not use tho crutch."
Lnfo stared at him. And slowly he
began to understand. Father Luclen's
ways were often Inscrutable, .but some
how he got there In the end.
"By Jlng, you're a brick, fntberl" he
cried, striking tho priest between tho
shoulders, "And, suy I I tnko It nil
bnck everything 1 Go on nnd bless
the cnbbngcs. Go on prnylng out fires.
Go on, go on! You've got the knack
somehow only I'm I'm Jlngcd If I
see how you do It till It's nil overl"
Baptlste, who hnd been telephoning
Inside the store, came out. "Drouln
nnd Lnchnnce will be nt fltc whnrf In
fifteen minutes, Monsieur. Tesster," he
snld.
The aire nodded and took Baptlste
by the arm. The three began to stroll
townrd the whnrf. When they nrrived
at tho wharf-head, however, Instead
of proceeding townrd the schooner tho
cure led the wny, still holding Bnp
tlste, toward Dupont's cottage. Bap-'
tlste stopped near the door.
"Where ore you taking me, Father
Luclen?" lie nsked. 'i do not go
there."
And, ns the cure seemed bent on
proceeding Inside, he wrested himself
nwny.
"No, mon pere," he snld firmly. "I
hnve obeyed thee once tonight, hut
now thou nskest what Is beyond thy
right or power. I do not enter there."
"My son," nnswered the . priest.
"since thou hnst chosen rightly to
night, I tell thee now that thnt story
wus not true. It was Pierre and Let
blnnc who took Mnrle Dupont to the
Island, 'and Monsieur Askew nnd Mon
sieur Connell here found her nnd
saved her from them, nnd brought her
home. In my pocket I have a letter.
Tomorrow thou shalt read It and un
derstand." "Mon pere!" stnmmered Baptlste,
nnd begnn to tremble.-
"Lenrn It from her lips."
"Mon pere, I 'do not go inside thnt
house. If It Is true, I am not worthy.
Besides, she hntes me, and "
Still holding his arm the euro opened
the door. "Mnrle Dupont!" he culled.
The girl stumbled toward the door,
snw Bnptlste at the cure's side, and
uered a frightened cry.
i utncr luclen iook jenn unpiisie uy
the nrm nnd led htm- Into the house.
He closed the door gently, but not
beforol.nfe hnd seen Murle In Jean's
arms. Lafe swore softly.
"Whnt's the mutter, Mr. Lafe?"
nsked Fnther Luclerj.
"Nothing, nnswerea l.nte snorny.
"I wns Just thinking of Shoeburyport,
Mnss., thnt's ull. You wouldn't under
stand. At lenst "
He looked at the cure, nnd then It
occurred to him that he was viewing
hlra from nn entirely different angle.
For the first time In their acqunlntance
it occurred to him that Father Luclen
was really a mnn undernenth his long
soutane.
When, n few minutes late, the priest
opened the door, Mnrle and Jenn came
forward with linked arms, nnd their
expressions were transformed. Jenn
grasped Lfe by the hand and looked
nt him earnestly, but did not say a
word.
"Come now." snld the cure. "The
men are waiting on tho whnrf for us.
Bon solr, Mnrle."
"I go with Jenn," said the girl.
CHAPTER XVIII.
The Rescue.
Out of the darkness a little light be
gun to glow. It shone nnd sparkled,
and suddenly raced skywnrd, disclos
ing the outlines of the schooner
stranded upon the edge of the .ice field.
Baptlste drove his vessel straight
toward It, running upon the gale. The
little group upon the deck wntched In
terror as the flames spread, until It
could ho seen that they enwrapped the
entire fore pnrt of Dupont's schooner.
Dupont, In his madness, evading
Brousscau, hnd set firo to the lumber
with the aid of the petrolpum kegs
which he carried In the hold. And
Broussenu, ut tho wheel, wus striving
desperately to run tho burning vessel
back Into open water and cast her
upon the Ice-free shore of the south
passage, beyond tho point. In his
fear he hnd forgotten Madeleine and
Hilary.
As Madeleine crouched on tho Ice,
still frantically endenvorlng to recall
Hilary to consciousness, tho thinning
mists rolled bnck. Looming up out of
tho dnrkness, nnd approaching rapidly,
wus the second schooner. At the snme
time voices hulled them. They had
been seen.
Broussenu, upon tho poop, yelled In
nnswer. And he begnn to run to nnd
fro. tn his excitement, possessed only
by tho fenr of death by fire.
The flames spread. The cabin wns
now Involved, and a great column of
smoke wns shooting skyward, carrying
with a fiery spark cloud.
Dupon came out of the smoke, his
fnce nllght with fanatic mndncss. He
cuught him by the nrm.
"Seo tho fine fire !" he shouted. "He
won't get out of that In n hurry. I
told her thnt I would give her his llfo
for tho nnme, but I hnve not got the
nnmo. The nnmo! Whut Is It? The
nume 1"
His voice rang out ncross the heav
ing water, and, as he called, Bnptlste
swung down tho wheel, nnd the second
ship glided alongside nnd passed.
It drove off Into the distance, driven
by the whipping wind, but not before
Dupont's words had been heard.
ljrom the group upon Bnptlstc's ship
a figure dlscngnged herself and
stepped forward. It was Marie Du
pont. She poised herself upon the
deck, nnd her voice rang out abovs
the gnlc nnd the sen.
;i give you the nume," she cried.
"It Is Edounrd Broussenu. It Is he,
nnd I give you my secret which I havo
borne all my life. Tnke It !"
Slie fell bnck Into Bnptlste's arms.
And It seempd ns If, with the breaking
of tho Inhibition, her past life, with
Its fears nnd terrors, wns melted Into
tho life of happiness that wns to be.
Dupont hnd henrd her. For n mo
ment they could see thecal! figure of
the' old mnn, with his wind-tossed hair
nnd beard, standing ns if petrified
Upon his blazing deck. Then he cried
out like n screaming sen-bird, and his
arms closed about the man at his side.
As Bnptlste turned nnd tacked It
could be seen that tho old mnn was
holding Broussenu with one arm, ns
easily ns if he hold a child, while his
free hand controlled the wheel again.
What reservoir of strength he drew
upon, whnt miracle of senmnnshlp,
could never be known. But, ns If na
ture wero aiding him, n veering gust
caught tho sails, and with a backward
movement the schooner begnn to glide
through the entrance of the Ice field
Into-open water.
The fire was all about them. Screams
enme from the doorjied ship, but they
enme from Broussenu, struggling In
Dupont's nrms. Not a sound enme
from the captain's lips.
The vessel gained her freedom, she
turned . nnd began to drive eastward,
toward the Gulf nnd Its open water.
Faster and fnster she went as the wind
compelled her. The horrified wntchers
upon the deck of Bnptlste's schooner
snw the blnzlng vessel glide Into the
dlstnnce, n blnzlng comet, nnd Dupont,
hlnck ngninst the henrt of the fire, and
Broussenu In his nrms.
Little wns afterward remembered
concerning the rescue. But from thnt
night legends begnn to spread nlong
both shores : Of Bnptlste's senmnnshlp, .
nnd of Hllnry, who, single-handed,
saved the heiress of the selgnory from
Broussenu nnd the two outlnws.
But none of the principals In these
events enre overmuch to dwell upon
them, even In memory. And, though
memories live long In silence, gossip
soon dies. All this Is becoming a locnl
legend, such ns mothers tell to their
bnbles.
But the St. Bonlfnce mill now hums
from dnwn till dnrk, and tho asbestos
mine hns brought In Its workers nnd
made St. Bonlfnce quite a flourishing
vlllnge In the north country.
Twice a month, when ho pays his
pastoral visit, you may see Fnther
Luclen, still hnle nnd strong, patrolling
Ste. Marie with a curious hazel stick,
fnshioned with n knob at each end;
nnd It Is snld thnt Ste. Mnrle Is one of
the best parishes on the north shore.
On Sundnys, sented In the pnrlsh
church, mny be seen Simeon Duvnl,
nodding his hend npprovlngly as, point
by point, the cure takes up his de
nunciation of liquor selling. For Fa
ther Luclen renlly renched Simeon's
soul with his hnzel stick.
Mnrle hns the best house In the vll
lnge, for Bnptlste does a thriving trade
cnrrylng the St. Bonlfnce lumber.
Here Is Clnrlce, wild looks, somehow,
Just ns one might have expected from
Lafe's descriptions.
"no wouldn't come home," she says
to nilnry, "so I had to come after hlra.
But he's coming home next October, to
see his children and the new house.''
"Bought nnd pnld for," snld Lnfe.
"Yes, I guess thnt's correct, Mr. As
kew, Though I'll be bnck some dny to
see you nil. It nln't so bnd, this coun
try except for thnt pink nnd black
porch Bnptlste's put on his house.
Darn him, whnt did. he want to do that
for? I tell you how It Is: These peo
ple can't help breaking out somewhere
and somehow ; It's In their blood, that's
what It Is."
But In his henrt he knows thnt the
winter will see him bnck In St Bonl
fnce. Madeleine smiles, and puts her arm
through Hilary's.
THE END.
Wane Successful War on Pest.
The worst enemy of the grape grow
ers In California Is a minute Insect
called the "thunder fly," because It ap
pears In grentest numbers In hot and
sultry wenthcr, when thunder storms
nre frequent. A man out there hns ln
vented.n suction nppnratus, with a ten
horsepower blower, that Is placed on
wheels and driven through the vino
yards, harvesting the pests from tha
vines ns It goes along. It Is said t
work very successfully.
Marmot Skins In. Demand.
A large business is done In Man
cluirlnn marmot skins. The murmot Is
very much like a woodchuck, but It do
sesses n finer cont than does our wood
chuck. Thousands of these skins are
shipped from ports in northern Man
churia by parcel post through the
Japanese post office, but skins of the
cheaper grade are forwarded by
freight In the usual way.