The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1920-06-10

'But ! amt going 10 see your hhppl-
ness wrecked because two women
haven't the sense and the heart to
clear you. And I'm going to do It,"
mo. you're not, Lafe," said Hilary
bluntly.
"Why not7 Good Lord. why notr
Because I'm leaving st. Boniface,"
answered Hilary.
"Mr. Askewl"
'I'm going" repeated Hilary, with a
swift gesture OF hopelessness. You'll
call me quitter, / suppose"
81 certainly should" answered Lafe
coolly. THE same as you did me-"
Maybe. But | came up here to
play certain game. came to put
the seigniory lumber business on its
legs. And I've done II. stayed to
fight Brousseau after he nearly got me
down. and I've beaten him. I've won
that game on every point. I'm going
10 make Brousseau refund his steal
ings, and I'm going to leave You here
In charge for the present, TO wind up.
l shall go to Quebec to start proceed
ings and try to find a purchaser. Your
contract will hold as long as you want
II TO. And I'm not coming back. I've
done what I came for. haven't II" he
ended defantly.
"Thats the way all cutters talk"
said Lafe.
Hilary's nerves were gone. Of course.
Lafe knew that the last lap of the
race was the grueling one. Hilary need
ed help, that was all. Lafe grew
crafty with his idea.
swell, you're boss. of course" he
said reluctantly. "If you've made up
your mind, II amt for me to interfere.
when are you leaving. siri"
II shall go out with Dupont when he
takes his last load" answered Hilary.
"That1l be Friday. We can't have
the logs through the mill before then.
Dupont doesn't know yet?"
"No."
| Lafe reflected. The weather had
changed suddenly during the preceding
| night. Already the shores of the st.
Lawrence were thick with grinding
foes. The middle passage was clear,
but In few days navigation would be
impossible; n dog team would have to
be procured and trained TO run to.
gether. Already II was difficult jour.
ney with a horse-sleigh between the
camp and the mill If the weather
held, Hilary could be held until he
Lnfe had accomplished his purpose.
Hilary put on his hat and overcoat
picked up his snowshoes and went to-
ward the stables. In few minutes
the horse had been harnessed to the
sleigh and stood breathing great
clouds of smoke into the frosty air
way Lafe watched the man whom ne
loved best in the world of men driving
away.
lie waited till the sleigh had dlsap
penred among the trees behind the
bridge. He allowed ten minutes more
to make sure that Hilary would not
change his intentions and return. Their
he coolly opened Hllary's desk with d
duplicate key that had been mad,
after the burglary and took out the en-
velope that contained the papers from
Morris. He removed these and thrus
them into his pocket. In the empt,
envelope he placed some discarded let
ters from the waste-basket. Then HI
put back the envelope, closed the desk
strapped on his snowshoes and lef
the office.
Five minutes after he left Hilary wa
back. His decision had suddenly com,
To him. He had resolved to leave 81
Boniface, and there was nothing to b,
gained by procrastinatlon.
He wanted to leave st. Bonifac
forever, and TO put the memory of tn
past months out of his mind, so far a
II could be possible. He hated the III
tie village; even Lafe's presence hat
become intolerable TO him.
lie went to Dupont on board hi
schooner and arranged for him TO sal
for Quebec the following evening witt
the little load-one schooner full
which he had. He instructed him {
say nothing to anybody about the al
rangement. He saw nothing strang
In Dupont's manner or aspect and, ha
he done SO, he would not have though
anything about II.
Having issued his Instructions. h
drove back toward the camp.
But. seeing that the Office was dar
and unoccupied, he stopped there o
his way, opened his desk and took ou
the envelope which he supposed {
contain the letter and paper from MOI
ris. In Quebec he meant to go throug
them again, mailing to Rosny thos
papers that had reference TO his al
fairs and placing the others in Law
yers hands for n civil suit.
He packed few OF his personal e
fects In bag and left the office, as
supposed for the last time.
) CHAPTER XIV.