Show DEYO 1 TS T S tafv D fi v I 1 s a 1 JL 1 IL ji a V 1 l OF DP EARI calvy EAl VY bj A A AV A AC C 0 co SYNOPSIS 3 adele la Is Ches nayne a belle of lew new france is among consa gators at her un cle s house cassion the commas s alre has enlisted her uncle clevet a aid against la salle D cartigny la salle a friend offers his services as guide to cas slon ion s party on the journey to the wilder ness the uncle informs adele that he has betrothed her to cass on and forbids her to see D cartigny again in quebec adele visits her friend sister celeste who brings D cartigny to her she tells him her story and he vows to release her from the bargain with cassion D artig ny leaves promising to see her at the dance cassion escorts adele to the hall she meets the governor la barre and hears him warn the commiss alre against D cartigny D cartigny a ticket to the ball has been recalled th the wa way y of a m man n with t h a ma maid I 1 d fw ade adele I 1 e fo forgets ages h her er 0 own 1 n d dan an ger q t to warn ar D atigna ag aga ast t the he patt plotting I 1 g of f L la 13 barre r and d C cassion th the youth f ands ads him self if I 1 in the role rie of protector to th the e girl gil H how w h he ie learns r some m of f th the enemy y a r secrets r et and dahy why they thy hate hat him hi and awant want to con an ta the th g rl 1 I are r told in 1 n an n ab ng manner in th s install ment CHAPTER IV continued adele arrived at the ball with cas t on has just been introduced to gov arnor la barre she hears h rn m warn er ter escort to beware of D art gny perchance not yet the way is long nd he knows the wll lernes I 1 advise ou iou guard him well I 1 shall send to fou for council in an hour there are aayers yet unsigned he turned away to greet those who allowed us in I 1 ne while we moved orward into the crowd about the walls cassion whispered in my ear ell ng me bits of goss p about this lud and that one who pas passed ed us seeking to exhibit bis lus wit and me lk with ith his wide acquaintance I 1 must nave made fit response for his voice never ceased yet I 1 felt no interest in the stories and disliked the man more than ei et er for his big vapid boasting the truth is my thought was principally concerned with D and cheth er he would really gain admission still of th 8 I 1 had small doubt for his was it daring to make light of guards or any threat of enemies if desire urged h in on and I 1 had his pledge my eyes watched every moving fig ire but the man was not present my anxiety increasing as I 1 realized his absence and speculated as to its cause cassion have interfered inter feied feted could tie ie have learned of our interview and ased his influence secretly to prevent our dur meeting again ft it wis not imps bible ible for the man was seemingly in close touch with quebec and adly possessed power my desire to ee D was now tor for h s own sake gake to warn him of danger and treachery the few words I 1 had caught passing between la barre and cas sion had to me a sinister mean ng they were a promise of protection aiom the governor to his lieutenant and this officer of la salle s should be warned that he be was suspected and N watched there was more to la barre barres s words than appeared openly it be later when they were alone that he would give his real orders to cassion yet I 1 felt small doubt as to what those orders would be nor of the failure allure f of the I 1 eu tenant to execute them the wilderness hid bid many a secret and might well conceal another in some manner that n I 1 must find D cartigny and whisper per my warning these were my thoughts cryst illia ing into purpose yet I 1 managed to smile cheerily into the face of the corn mis rals saire and make such reply to his badinage as gave him pleasure I 1 danced with him twice pleased to know I 1 had not forgotten the step and then as he felt compelled to show at to the governors lady he left me in charge of a tall thin officer a major gallons I 1 th reluctantly and disappeared in the crowd never ever did I 1 part with one more willingly and as the major spoke pole scarcely a dozen words during our long dance to agether fg ether I 1 found opportunity to th and decide upon a course of action As the music ceased my only plan nas to avoid casson cass on as long as pos sible and at my suggestion the silent major conducted me to a side room and then disappeared seeking refresh ments I 1 grasped the opportunity to slip through the crowd and find con ceal ment in a quiet corner I 1 leaned forward scanning each pass ing face my whole attention colleen grated on the discovery of D VI here he be came from I 1 knew not but his voice softly speaking at my very ear brought me to my feet with a little cry of relief the joy of finding him must have found express on in my eyes in a my eager leager clasp clasping rg of his hana for be laughed Us as thourl I 1 was truly wel wei corned coined maderI selle be said and gravely enough could I 1 hop that you were even seeking me we yonder it would be the truth if you did I 1 responded frankly and I 1 was be to doubt your promise nor was it as easily kept as I 1 supposed when given he said under his breath come with me into this side room where we can converse more freely I 1 can perceive monsieur cas sion across the floor no doubt he Is seeking you and my presence here will give the man no pleasure I 1 glanced in the direction indicated and although I 1 saw nothing of the I 1 sl aped back willingly enough through the lifted curtain into the deserted room behind it was evidently an office of some kind tor for it contained only a desk and some chain and was unlighted except for the gleam from between the curtains the outer wall was so thick a consid erable space separated the room from the window which was screened off by heavy drapery D appeared familiar with these details for with scarcely a glance about he led me we into th s recess where we stood con cealey lights from below illumined our faces and revealed an open win dow looking down on the court my companion glanced out at the scene beneath and his eyes and lips smiled as he turned again and faced me but monsieur I 1 questioned aled why was it not easy you met with trouble 9 hardly that a mere annoyance I 1 mav only su suspect hect the cause but an ho ir after I 1 left you my ticket of in vi tation was withdrawn withdrawn by whom the order of la barre no doubt an officer of his guard called on me to say he preferred my absence the work of carslon so I 1 chose to believe especially as he sent me word later to remain at the boats and have them in readiness for departure at any minute some inkling of our meeting must have reached h s cars ears but how came you here then he laughed in careless good humor why that was no trick think you I 1 am one to disappoint because of so small an obstacle 9 1 ks s the door was refused me I 1 sought other entrance and found it here he pointed agh the open window it w was wis is not a dif ficula passage but I 1 hid to wait the withdrawal of the guards below wh wb ch ell caused my late arrival yet this was compensated for by discovering yon you so quickly my only fear was encounter ing someone I 1 knew while seeking you on the floor 1 I iou on entered through th s wt yes there Is a lattice work below and nd whose office Is that with si my guess Is that of colonel del guard la barre s chief of staff for there was a letter for him lying on the desk what difference you are glad I 1 came yes tes monsieur but not so much for my own sake as for yours I 1 bring you warning that you adventure with those who would do you evil eill if the chance arrive bah ball monsieur cass ona on not well for you to depase the man for he has power and Is a villain at heart in spite of all his pretty wa w Is s Us said he has the cruelty of a ager a and nd in this case la barre gives him full authority 0 hath the governor grudge against me also only that you are follower of la salle and loyal while he is heart and hand with the other faction he ile ch ell d ed carslon tor for accepting you as guide and advised close watch lest yon you show treachery D cartigny leaned motionless against the window ledge and the light streaming in through the opening of the draperies revealed the gravity of AA A AI j bah I 1 monsieur Cass Cassi loni ont his express on for the moment he remained silent turning the affair over in ia his mind I 1 thank you mademoiselle he said finally and touched my hand for your report gives me one more link to my chain I 1 have picked up several in the past tw few hours and all 11 II seem to lead back to the manipulations of carslon faith there is some sonne mystery here for surely the man seemed happy enough when first we met at chevet 8 house and accepted my offer gladly have you any theory as to this change in his front I 1 felt the blood surge to my cheeks and my eyes fell before the intensity of his glance if I 1 have monsieur no need that it be mentioned your pardon mademoiselle but your words already answer me then that I 1 have shown interest in you the dog Is jealous monsieur he ile laughed and I 1 felt the tightening of his hand on mine good and by all the gods I 1 will give him fair cause the thought pleases me for rather would I 1 be your soldier than my own see how it dove tails in I 1 meet you at the convent and pledge you my aid some spy bears word of our conference to mon bleur and an hour later I 1 receive word that if I 1 have more to do with you I 1 d e I 1 smile at the warning and send back a message of insult then my invitation to this ball Is withdrawn and later still la barre even advises that I 1 be assassinated at the least ex cuse atwould seem they deem you of importance mademoiselle you make it no more than a joke far from it the very tact fact that I 1 know the men makes it matter of grave concern I 1 might indeed smile did it concern myself alone but I 1 hive your interests in mind you have h hon ored me by calling me your only friend and now I 1 know not where I 1 may serve you best in dai wilderness or here in quebec there can nothing injure me here monsieur not with cassion traveling to the illinois no doubt he be will leave behind him those who will observe my mo mon cements that cannot harm it is hugo chevet I 1 fear chevet my uncle I 1 do not under stand no for he Is your uncle and you I 1 now him only in such relationship he may have been to you kind and in fulgent I 1 do not ask I 1 ut to those who meet him in the world he is a big cruel savage brute who would sierl fice even you if you stood in his way and now if you fall to marry cassion you will so stand he is the one who will guard you by choice of the corn mis miss saire alre and orders of la barre and he will do his part well I 1 can remain with the sisters not in opposition to the governor they would never dare antagonize him tomorrow you will return with chevet idrew I 1 drew a quick breath my eyes on all his face how can you know all th tb s mon why should my uncle sacrifice me no matter how I 1 know bome ome of it has been your own confession coupled with my knowledge of the man three days ago I 1 learned of his debt to cassion and that the latter had him in his claws and at hs h s mere mercy Y today I 1 had evidence of what that debt means today ay from chevet the threat came that he would kill me if I 1 ever met with you again a am I 1 could but stare it qt him incredulous ma m fingers unconsciously grasping hia his jacket he said that cheven ay chevet the fesq message ige came by mouth of the halfbreed his MA voyageur and I 1 choked out of him where he had left his master yet when I 1 got there the man had gone it if we might meet tonight the matter would be swiftly settled he gazed out into the darkness and I 1 saw his hind close on the hilt of his knife I 1 caught his arm no 0 o no mons eur cur not that you must not seek a quarrel for I 1 am not afraid truly I 1 am not vou will ill lis IN ten there wis a voice speaking in the office room behind the closing of a door and the scraping of a chair as someone sat down my words ceased and we stood silent in the shadow my grasp still on D cartigny 4 arm CHAPTER V the order of la barre I 1 did not recognize the voice ing a husky vo ce the words N indis yet withal forceful fore forc ful nor do I 1 know what it was he said but when the other answered tapping on the desk with some instrument I 1 knew the second speaker to be I 1 a barre and leaned back just far enough to gain glimpse through the opening in the drapery lie ile sat at the desk his back toward us while his companion a red faced heavily moustached ached man in uni form of the rifles stood opposite one arm on the mantel over the fireplace his expression was that of amused interest you abw the lady he asked in the receiving line for a moment only a fair enough maid to be loved for her own sake I 1 should say faith never have I 1 seen handsomer eyes the other laughed well madame does not over hear that confession an heiress and beautiful full piff but she might find others to her liking rather than this cassion it is small chance she has had bad to make choice and as to her being an betress heiress where heard you such a ru mor colonel edelguard Del guard the officer straightened up ion lou forget sir he said slowly that at the papers passed through my hands after captain la Chesna Ches nayne ynes s death it was at your request they failed to reach the hands of fronte nac la barre gazed at him across across the desk his brows contracted into a frown no I 1 had not forgotten and the words sounded harsh but they came to me properly sealed and I 1 supposed unopened I 1 think I 1 have some reason to ask an explanation monsieur and one easily made I 1 saw only the letter but that revealed enough to permit of my guessing the rest it Is true Is it not that la Ches nayne left an estate of value he thought so but as you must be aware it had been alienated by act of treason ay but comte de Fron frontenac tenae ap pealed the case to the king who grant ed pardon and restoration so rumored but un support ed by the records so far as new I 1 thrust D cartigny back behind me and held aside the drapery france knows there was no reply from N V er ersal sailles lles the colonel stood erect and ad alced a step his expression one of sudden curiosity in faith governor he said swiftly but your statement awakens wonder if this be so why does francois cas slon sion seek the maid so ardently nener did I 1 deem that cavalier one to throw himself away without due reward la barre laughed perchance you do francois III judg ment monsieur ie le colonel he replied am amused used so no doubt love tor for in truth the witch would send sluggish blood dancing with the glance of her edesa still more soberly his eyes falling failing to the desk as you say scarce in accord with casson cass on s na ture to thus make sacrifice and there have been times when I 1 suspected he did some secret purpose I 1 use the man yet never trust him nor I 1 since he played me foul at L la a chine could be he have found the paper of restoration and kept it concealed until all was in his hands I 1 have thought of that yet it doth not appear possible francois was in ill grace with frontenac Pronte nac and could never have reached the archives if the paper came to his hands it was by accident or through some ery cry well Us small use of our dis cussing the matter he hath won my pledge to mademoiselle la Ches nayne s hand for I 1 would have h in friend not enemy just now they marry on his return he ile Is chosen then for the miss on to fort st louis ay there were reasons for his selection the company departs at dawn tell him monsieur that I 1 await him now low for final interview I 1 watched edelguard Del DeI guard salute and turn away to execute his order la barre drew a paper from a drawer of the desk and bent over it pen in hind hwd my eyes lifted to the face of D arti artl gny ny qt standing |