The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1920-09-25
BY
VICTOR
ROUSSEAU
Illustrations by
4spifs Myers

1
; made for Louis, who was just open
: ing the back door. He grasped at hin
but Louis was just a second too quick
lie darted through, and the door
. thrown back violently, struck Hilar.
upon the forehead. The next instan
: Hilary passed through the doorway il
pursuit.
) The shanty which Baptiste had one,
occupied had formerly been a part O.
a large structure used by the mill fol
storing machinery. At the back, an(
contiguous with it, had been the ole
mill stables. The door connecting the
two places had been nailed up. but
Duyal had opened it that morning in
the course of his preparations for Hill
ary'S advent.
AS Hilary entered the stable the
door closed behind him, and he heard
the bolt shot. The yells of the lumber.
men grew faint. 1t was only then Hill.
airy realized that he had run into g
trap.
The stable contained Louis, who haC
| posted himself within the stall imme
diately opposite the entrance, anC
grinned at Hilary defiantly. Between
the two stood Simeon Duval, a gro
| tesque grin upon his schOlarlike fea-
| lures. The man who had bolted the
| door was Leblanc, and Black Pierre
stood beside him.
The four. executing a flanking move
ment simultaneously, advanced and
took up their position between Hilary
and the door. Nobody spoke, but
Simeon Duval took off his spectacles
quite methodcally, folded them in
their case, and placed it back in his
pocket. Standing with his back close
enough to the wall of one of the horse
boxes to be able to prevent an attack
from behind Hilary watched the four
contemptuously. They had got him
there to fight and there was nothing
he wanted more, even against the lot
of them. lie half regretted having
drawn his cartridges. but he was con
scious of no sense OF fear whatever.
He kept his right hand lightly against
the pocket in which the revolver lay;
it might be useful for intimidation, or
even for self-defense.
We'll, we got you, Meestair ASkew."
sneered Simeon. Now you listen here.
We're peaceful men an we hate trou-
Bile. We don't want to hurt you if you
go away from st. Boniface Go back
where you come from. Else we kill
you tonight. What you say? You are
alone here, no police, and every one
hate you. If we kill you every one
swear you try to kill Black Pierre, an
my brudder, an me. Now what you
say?"
II haven't come here to say, but TO |
give your brother thrashing." an
swered Hilary scornfully. 1.-THE thrash |
ing that 1 promised him that night at
Ste. Marie"
You spy on me in Ste. Marie an
bring revenue Offices. 1t cost me q
hundred dollar you damn police spy.
You go now, Ell? What you say?"
Hilary wheeled upon Leblanc and
Pierre. "And these men-what are
they doing here? You want three men
to help you kill me. eh, Simeon?"
He did not want to parley. but in
spite OF his eagerness his Judgment
old him that he was in perilous sit
lation. He must taunt them till they
ost their heads; that would give him
IN advantage.
You, Leblanc want your lease
lgain, I suppose. you thief" he said.
You, Pierre, didn't get enough of
liding that day l caught you cutting
lown my trees. There's another COM
ne to you in a minute or two. Simeon,
I'd been you I'd have picked some
nen who could help me fight if 1 was
fraid, instead"
He got no further, for at that mo-
lent, taking the initiative, he sprang.
lis fists dashed full into Simeon's
ice, right and left. almost together. I
imeon toppled backward; his head
truck the edge Of the stall behind I
i'm. and he dropped moaning to the
DOR and lay there. b
Passing him, Hilary leaped for Louis. b
ut the agile little man eluded him
nd darted down the middle of the n
able Before he could quite recover II
mseif Leblanc and Pierre sprang
ON behind. AS Hilary swung side
Use he saw the knife in Pierre's hand. L
e thrust his arm up. and the blow.
verified. glanced. the knife ripping his
eeye open. Leblanc, also with
life. was springing from the other
lie. Hilary sized up the situation with ii
dSnent for which he could never f
terward account. DaShing his fists "
ward, he caught Pierre under the 9;
IN. forcing his head back: at the a.
me time he graspeG the wrist which n
III the knife and swung 50 az TO in NJ
Ipose the outlaws body between vi
lnsesf and Leblancs blow. As Le- n,
INC struck again Hilary turned. shell @
ring himself behind Pierre. one hand IL
der his chin. the other holding back r.!
wrist. SO that Leblancs short. stab le
ls strokes always fell short, being W
ned around Pierre's body. CO
Backing into the stall adjacent To
one in which Simeon had fallen
larry In this manner continued to