The Connecticut labor press., 1920-01-10

"fuur proposal. please" said Hilary quietly
 'Now you're talking sense. This ain't the United States, where you rich men can come into territory and grab 1t away from the people under their noses. You'll put MT. Morris back as manager and go home. or else you'll sell out to me-"
 "YeS, it does come to about the same thing" said Hilary. "Why don't you ask me to make you a free gift of the concession?"
 Brousseau scowled savagely at the sarcasm. He was educated enough to be stung by banter, but not quick enough to retaliate in kind.
 "Now I'll make you my own proposi- tfon." said Hilary. ''It's this. You can either submit your books to my inspec- t1On and make good on that lumber that Morris stole from me last year, ana Keep your men on your own limits. or you can give up the mill rights after October first end build your own mill. g
 Brousseau turned white with rage.
 
 raved. I'll freeze you out before the winters over, Monsieur Askew. You watch me l''
 Maybe" said Hilary. Meanwhile, think you're keeping the buggy wait Ing, and there is no use in prolonging this conversation unless you want to accept my terms''
 brousseau shook with wrath; he opened his mouth to speak, bat snorted instead; he shook his fist furiously and, turning upon his heel, stamped out of the office. From his desk Hilary watched him climb into the buggy and drive away. His head was bent to- ward Madeleine Rosny's, and he was talking emphatically and gesticulating freely.
 Wars declared" said Hillary to him. self, with relief, as he settled himself in his chair.
 Hillary talked the matter over with Lafe later in the day. eff we can get a good shipment out before the Gulf closes" he said, i've can carry on till spring. But of course we. can't haul lumber out of the woods until there's several feet of snow on the ground"
 And that won't be till navigatfon's ended for the year. said Lafe.
 So I'm going to put through the mill every cord of lumber in the river" con- tinued Hilary. 'We'H keep Dupont busy. And we'll wind up the year with a substantial balance to our credit"
 "The Ste. Marie lumber" unused Lafe.
 T guess they call 1t so. But I he lieve it's all ours. We've got the whip hand of Brousseau there, because it's our mill, and Dupont's independent of Brousseau. Brousseau can't stop me using that lumber, and he daren't 20 to law about it.'
 Lafe approved the scheme, with warnings to Hilary about going slow. They went up to the dam and looked over the logs in the river. Riyiere Ro- cheuse was packed as far, as the eye could reach. The sight raised Hilary's spirits. There must be thousands of dollars worth of lumber in between the high banks, ready to be passed through the rossing mill for Dupont's schooner.
 A<0AC NdAAC tO Liu u0XL QaY.
 The logs in the dam are going into tlie mill all right. he said, .but they ain't coming downstream above it, Baptiste says there's jam in the gorge"
 They got the rig and drove to the spot. At the gorge was a solid wall of logs, packed like the straw coverings Of wine-bottles. The starring of fhe logs had wedged them together here. It was clear that 1t would be necessary to start the mass with dynamite.
 T guess that's the trick" said Lafe. ssBaptiste here is an expert dynamiter. .n
 "Yes, that shift him quick" said Jean-Marie. Mighty quick, maybe. Il think, MT. Askew, it is better first to make stronger your boom, or else your lumber go over the rapids into the Gulf"
 How long will 1t take?' asked Hil- ary.
 "A week. maybe. for good work. That boom. he will never stand so many logs as that, MT. Askew."
 "Get a gang to work at daybreak to- Hilary instructed him.
 That night Hilary congratulated him. self on having started his counter-of- fensive against Brousseau. In spite of the mans influence in the district, he felt assured of the loyalty of the bulk of his men. Lafe was worth hundred and little Baptiste knew his job per- fectly. He went to bed in high spirits.