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"Oil, 1 shall I) !I!i.:;.h:h to hear luw
you riiim.'ed'vl." hn retorted. "I'o-l
will irlng Miss llolladay to u.-t?"
"If wo liml htr. yes."
"Then, again, goudby."
She waved her hand, smiling, and
was lost in tho crowd.
"Come on, Lester," Bald Mr. Hoyce's
voice. "There's no use standing star
ing here."
Suddenly I remembered Martigny.
"I'll be hack in a minute," I cailcd,
and ran up the gang plank, "lias M.
Martigny left tho ship yet?" I Inquired
of tlie first steward I met.
"Martigny?" lie repeated.
"The sick gentleman In .TT."," I
prompted.
"Oh, yes," he said. "I do not know."
"Well, no matter. I'll find out my
nolf." I mounted to the upper deck and
knocked at tho door of 375. There was
no response. After a moment I tried
the door, but It was locked. The win
dow, however, was partly open, and,
shading my eyes with my bauds, I
peered inside. The stateroom was
empty.
A kind of panic seized me as 1 turned
away. Had he indeed seen through
my artifice? In attempting to blind
htm had I merely uncovered my own
plan, or and my cheeks burned at the
thought was he so well Intrenched
that he had no fear of me? Were his
plans so well laid that It mattered not
to him whither 1 went or what I did?
I passed a moment of heartrending
uncertainty. I saw quite clearly what
a little, little chance of success wo had.
Hut I shook the feeling off, sought the
lower deck and inquired again for
Martigny. At last the ship's doctor
told me that he had seen the sick man
safely to a carriage and had heard him
order the driver to proceed to the Hotel
Continental.
"And frankly, Mr. Lester," added the
doctor, "I am glad to be so well rid of
him. It Is most fortunate that he did
not dfe on the voyage."
I turned away with a lighter heart.
From a dying man there could not be
much to fear. So I hunted up Mr.
ltoyce and found him, iinally, endeav
oring to extract some Information from
a supercilious olhcial.
It was, It seemed, a somewhat com
plicated proceeding to got to Etretat.
In half an hour a train would leave
for Heuzevllle, where we must transfer
to another line to Les Ifs. There a
second transfer would be necessary be
fore we could reach our destination.
How long would It take? Our In
formant shrugged his shoulders with
Jluo nonchalance. It was Impossible to
say. There had been a heavy storm
two days before, which had blown
down wires and dumaged the little
spur of track between Les Ifs and the
sea.
Amid this Jumble of uncertainties
one delinltc fact remained a train was
to leave in half an hour, which wo
must take. So wo hurried back to the
boat, and Anally were shut luto a
compartment two minutes before tho
hour.
Then, In that llrst moment of Inac
tivity, tho fear of Martigny came back
upon me. Had ho really gone to the ho
tel? Had he deemed us not worth
watching, or had he watched? Was
he on the train with us? Was he able
to follow?
I looked out cautiously from tho win
dow, up and down the platform, but
saw no sign of him, and in a moment
more we rattled slowly away over tho
switches.
An hour's run brought us to Bouze
ville, whore wo wero dumped out, to
gether with our luggage, in a little
frame station. An official iuformed us
that wo must wait there three hours
for tho train for Les Ifs. Heyoud that
lie could not say.
"How far Is Les Ifs from hero?" In
quired my companion.
"About twelve kilometers, monsieur."
"And from there to Ktrctat?"
"Is twenty kilometers more."
"Thirty-two kilometers altogether,"
flald Mr. Royce. "That's about tweuty
miles. Why can't wo drlvo, Lester?"
Certainly It seemed better than wait
ing on tho uncertain railway, and wo
set nt onco about the work of finding
n vehicle. I could bo of little use, slnco
English was an unknown tonguo at
IJouzevllIe, and even Mr. Royco's
French was sorely taxed, but wo suc
ceeded at last In securing a horse and
light trap, together with a driver who
claimed to know Uio road.
Tho road was smooth and level, and In
an hour and a half from Ileuzevlllo wo
reached Les Ifs, and hero wo stopped
for a light suppor. Wo had causo to
congratulate ourselves that wo had Bo
cured a .vehicle ntjlouzovllje,. for wq
learned' tfiat no train would start for
Ktrctat until morning. The damage
wrought by the storm of two days be
fore had not yet been repaired.
Luckily for im, the moon soon arose,
bo that we got forward without much
ditllculty, though slowly, and an hour
before midnight we pulled up trium
phantly before tho Hotel ltlnnquot, tho
principal Inn of Etretat.
CHAPTER XVII.
WE wore up at an hour which
astonished the little fat keep
er of tho inn and Inquired
the location of tho otllce of
the registrar of births. It was two
steps away in the Hue Alphonso Karr,
but would not be open for three hours
at least. Would messieurs have their
coffee now? No, messieurs would not
have tholr coffee until they returned.
Where would they find the residence of
the registrar of births his residence""
That was another mattor. His resi
dence was some little distance away,
near the casino, at the right. We
should ask for Maltre Flngret. Anyone
could tell us. When should messieurs
bo expected to return? It was Impos
sible to say.
We set off along the street, leaving
the Innkeeper staring after us.
"Maltre Flngret?" wo Inquired of thi
first passerby, and he pointed us to a
little house half hidden In vines.
A knock brought tho notary himself
to the door, a little dried up man, with
keen face and eyes Incredibly bright.
My companion explained our errand In
laborious French, supplemented by
much gesticulation It Is wonderful
how the hands can help one to talk
and after a time the little Frenchman
caught his meaning and bustled away
to get his hat and coat, scenting a fat
fee. Our first step was to be an easy
one, thanks to tho severity and thor
oughness of French administration,
but I admit that I saw not what wo
should do further, onco we had verified
the date of Miss Ilolladay's birth.
Tho notary unlocked the door, showed
us into his olilco and set our chairs for
us; then he got down his register of
births for 187(5. It was not a largo
book, for the births at Etretat are not
overwhelming in number.
"Tho name, I think you said, was
nolladay?" ho asked.
"Hiram W. nolladay," nodded
Mr.
Royce.
"And the date June 10?"
"Yes; June 10."
The little man ran his finger rapidly
down the page, then went back again
and read the entries oik; by ono more
slowly, witli a pucker of perplexity
about Ills lips. He turned the leaf, be
gan farther back and read through the
list again, while we sat watching him.
At last he shut the book.
"Messieurs," ho said quietly, "no
such birth is recorded here. I have ex
amined tho record for the months of
May, June and July."
"But It must be there!" protested
Mr. Royce.
"Nevertheless It Is not here."
"Could the child have been bom hero
and no record made of It?"
"Impossible, monsieur."
"For a large fee, perhaps," suggested
my companion.
"In Tarls that may sometimes bo pos
sible. But in a small place like this I
should have heard of It."
I "You have beeu hero for that length
of time, then?"
"Oh, yes, monsieur," smiled tho little
man. "For a much longer time than
that."
i Mr. Royco leaned forward toward
him. lie was getting back all his old
power as a cross examiner.
"M. Flngret," ho began Impressively,
"I am quite certain that Hiram W.
llolladay and his wife wero hero dur-
lng tho months of May, June and July,
l 1870, and that while they were here a
daughter was born to them. Think
! again, navo you no recollection of
them or of tho event?"
Tho little notary sat for some mo
ments with knitted brows. At last ho
shook his head. ,
"That would bo tho height of the sea
son, you see, monsieur," he said apolo
getically. "There are a great many
people here at that time, and I cannot
know nil of them. Nevertheless it
seemed to mo for a moment that thcro
was about tho namo a certain famil
iarity as of an old tune, you know,
forgotten for years. Yet It must have
been my fancy merely, for I have no
recollection o'f tho event you mention."
Thero was one other chauce, and I
gave Mr. Royco the clew.
"M. Flngret," he asked, "are you
acquainted with a uiah of tho namo
of Pierre Bethune?"
And again tho notary shook his bead.
"Or Jasper Martigny?"
I ' .C " i A
im :
liflf'l' 1 'rfe!
Laces, Embroideries, Insertions at
Dress Goods
Fancy Worstod, a good thing for
Children's school drosses, nt
15 and 25c
Henriettas, ,'18 inches wido, at
30, 50 and 75c
Cashmoros, at
15, 30, 50c and SI
Ladies' Cloth, 59 inches wido,
SI and $1.15
Brillantines, .'18 in. wido, in white,
black and colors, at
50c
Baby Clothes
A full lino of roady-mado Baby
Clothes, such as Cloaks, Jackots,
Drosses, Skirts, Vests, Stocking and
Bootees.
Hoods, Scarfs, Fascinators, Mufflers and Ribbons
l lWHOUSE,ly floods & Notions
"I never before heard cither name."
We sat silent a moment, In despair.
Was our trip to Etretat to be of no
nvall? Where was my premonition
now? If we had lost the trail thus
early in the chase, what hope was
there that we should ever run down
the quarry? And how explain tho
fact that no record had been made of
Frances Ilolladay's birth? Why should
her parents have wished to conceal It?
An hour had passed, the shops wero
opening and a bustle of life reached us
through the ppen door.
"The first train for three days is
about to arrive," said tho little notary.
Again wo fell silent. Mr. Royce got
out his purso and paid tho fee. Wo
had come to an Impasse a closed way.
We could go no farther. I could see
that tho notary was a-hungercd for his
roll nnd coffee. With a sigh, I arosa
to go. Tho notary stepped to tho
door and looked up the street.
"Ah," he said, "the train has nrrlved,
but it seems there wero not many pas
sengers. Here Is one, though, who
has finished a long Journey."
Ho nodded to some ono who ap
proached slowly, It seemed. He was
before the door. Ho passed on. It
was Martigny!
"That is the man I" I cried to Mr.
Royce.. "That is Martigny! Ask who
ho really Is."
ne understood on tho instant and
caught tho notary's arm.
"M. Flngret, who is that man?"
Tho notary glanced nt him, surprised
by his vehemence.
"That," ho said, "Is Victor Fnjolle.
Ho Is just homo from America."
"And ho lives hero?"
"Oh, surely on tho cliffs Just above
the town, tho first house. You cannot
miss It, burled In a grove of trees. Ho
married tho daughter of Mmo. Allx
some years ago. Ho was from Paris."
"And his wlfo Is living?"
"Oh, Burely sho Is living. She herself
Your wife and your
daughter need new
Dresses. We have
the jjoods to make
them look as well
or better than your
neighbor's wife or
daughter. Our
Dress
Goods
are of the latest
patterns and the
PRICES RIGHT.
If you are in doubt
as to what is suit
able we will aid
you in making a
selection.
Buttcrick
Patterns
Gloves
Children's Golf Gloves in wool ut
25c
Ladies Golf Glovos in wool at
25 and SOc
Ladies' Golf Glovo, silk finish,
25 'i ml SOc
Handkerchiefs
Plain white Handkerchiefs at Co.
With hemstitched hem and row
of drawn work in center, 5c each.
Hemstitchod hem with throorows
of open work in contor, 10c each.
Hemstitched hem with embroid
ered center, 15 and J5c each. Larger
ones at .1.1 and 50c.
Children's Pioturo Ildkfs. at 5o.
Tho latest novelties In Side
and Back Combs.
returned" from Amerfca but three
weeks ago, together with her mother
and sister. The sister, they say, Is
well" And he finished with 11 signifi
cant gesture toward his head.
I saw my companion's face turn
white. I steadied myself with an ef
fort. "And they arc at home now?"
"I believe so," said the notary, eying
him with moro and more astonish
ment. "They have been keeping CI030
at home since their return. They will
permit no one to seo tho Invalid."
"Come, we must go'." I cried. "He
must not get there before us!"
But a sudden light gleamed in the
notary's eyes.
"Walt, messieurs!" he cried. "A mo
ment, but a moment. Ah, I remembei
It now. It was tho link which was
wanting and you have supplied it
Holiaday, a millionaire of America, his
wife, Mine. Allx. Sho did not live hi
the villa then, messieurs. Oh, no. 6h
was very poor, a nurse; anything to
make a little money. Her husband,
who was n fisherman1, was drowned
and left her to take care of tho chil
dren as best she could."
Ho had got down nuoUier book and
was running his fingers rnpldly down
tho page, his finger all a-trcmble with
excitement. Suddenly he stopped with
a little cry ol triumph.
"Here It is, messieurs! Seo!"
Under the date of Juno 10, 1870, was
an entry of which this Is tho English:
llolladay, Hiram W and Elizabeth, I1I1
wife, of tho city of Now York, United
Btntea of America; from Coloato Allx,
widow of Auguate Allx, her daughtei
Coloato, aged five months. All claim mir
rondered In consideration of tho payment
of 25,000 franca.
Mr. Royco caught up the book and
glanced at tho back. It was tho "Bee
ord of Adoptions."
CHAPTER XVIII.
IN a moment wpwere hurrying alouy
Reduced Prices
Collars
Lndis' Turnovor Collars at
1 24, 15 and 25c
Silk embroidered wash collars, in
all black, all white and ussurtod
colors, at
20 to 60C
Laco Collars, in all black and all
white, at
25 and 50c
Handbags
Patent Leather Handbags at
25c
Leather Handbags, wiih coin
purse inside, from
50c to $1.50
A good Handbag with two out
sido pockets and two contor pock
ets at O'jc, 75c, $1.00 and $1 50.
S
Itho street in the direction tho nota
ry had pointed out to us. Martigny
was already out of sight, and wo
had need of haste. My head was in a
whirl. So Frances llolladay was not
really the daughter of tho dead million
aire! Tho thought compelled a com
plete readjustment of my point of
view.
Wo had reached the beach again, and
wo turned along It In tlie direction of
the cliffs. Far ahead I saw a man hur
rying In the same direction, I could
guess at what agony and danger to
himself. Tho path began to ascend,
and wo panted up it to tho grassy
down which seemed to stretch fot
miles nnd miles to tho northward.
Bight befors us was a little wood, In
the midst of which I caught a gllmpsa
of n farmhouse.
Wo rau toward it, through a gate and
up the path to tho door. It was closed,
but wo heard from within a man's ex
cited voice, a resonant voice which f
know well. I tried the door. It yield
ed, nnd wo stepped Into tho hall. The
voice came from tho room at tho right.
It was no time for hesitation. We
sprang to the door and entered.
Martigny was standing In tho middle
of tho floor, fairly foaming nt tho
mouth, shrieking out commands and
imprecations nt two women who cow
ered In tho farther corner. The elder
one I knew at a glance; tho younger
my heart leaped as I looked at her
was It Miss llolladay? No, yet strange
ly like.
(To ba Continued )
INFLAMMATORY KHKUMATI8M OUKKD IN
3 DAYS
Morton L. II til. of Lebanon. Ind., nays; "My,
wife had Itillammatorv IthonmntlHtn In every
miucle and Joint; her MifferliiB wan terrlblo
Mid her body and face wero swollen almost be
yond recognition; had been In bed nix woeka
and had eight phyblolans, but recolved no
benefit until she tried tho Mystic finro for
llhiumatlam, It gavo Immediate relief and
he waa able to walk about In threo days. I am
sum It satfd her life." Sold by II. it. Qrloo,
Drugglot, Ited Cloud,
I