The Arvada enterprise., 1920-07-15


"He's cheated ~ out Of eighty thou.
sand dollars, and he's cheated you. Mr..
Rosny, out of about a. much. and prob
ably more. and you can put 1t In any
words you like. And I've got the pa
pers to prove it-all Of EN-"
Brousseau WINGED and staggered
back dumfounded; there was no mis-
taking now that the man was afraid.
Though Madeleine would not deign to
acknowledge that she had listened to
Lafe's words. Lafe caught the flicker
Of her eyelids' as she glanced quickly
toward Brousseau, and he knew that
At the same instant she had seen the
look on Brousseau's face. The Seig-
neur. mounting impotently. had kept
trying to rise: but now he sat open.
mouthed In his chair, and thereafter
they listened.
"1'll tell you why he wants the
seigniory," continued Lafe. II guess
its part plain greed. but there's an
other reason. and that explains why
he wants to get Mr.. Askew of. There's
an asbestos mine on the Handbook
at MIN LOOK At him J"
Brousseau was glazing at him, the
picture Of impotsnt rage. Lafe. hav-
ing indicated him with bis hand, ~
sumed:
He kept 1t OF the map In our ONCE.
pretending the island isn't on our lin
its, and he spread that story, but you
know better. Mr.. Rosny. The island
has the best asbestos mine this aide Of
Thetford. and I've seen the mines at
Thetford. And it's worth 4 good quar-
ter million dollars, reckon. Maybe
more. Maybe million-I amt no
Judge. And he's kept 1t secret from
you"
"He's drunk or dreaming" NUT
tered Brousseau. trembling. "A few
strands Of rock nax. commercially
worthless"
But that amt rosusry. That's Just
business trick" said Cornell. "How
did he get you into his power. Mr.. RIOS
ny. asking your pardonf TIL tell you.
He's cheated you a. he's cheated ~,
except that II was worse, because you
trusted him. which We never did.
That's what come to tell you, Mr..
Rosny. Hes swindled you out Of
nearly forty thousand dollars on one
deal. In North Empire Development
company stock. and maybe in other"
Brousseau ieapsd at Late like .
tiger. LATE. who had anticipated the
move, stepped dsxterously aside. at
the same time tWiriing the chair On
which his hand was resting. Brous-
seau. in his plunge forward. tripped
over II. stumbled and fell prone to the
floor
"And I got the papers to prove that
-here!" said Lafs triumphantly.
Brousseau rose. rubbing his shins
and muttering curses. and glared saw
agely about him. Madeleine was
breathing quickly. her eyes nxed In
tently on Lafe's face.
Its q dNd lie !" cried Brousseau.
They've forged those papers. Where
are theyf Ehf Show met"
HE said he was speaking for you,
Mr.. Rosny." said Lafe. 80 here they
are I guess you know your sigma
turef'
He drew the envelope from his pock.
ct and placed the three documents ON
the Seigneur's knee. standing between
him and Brousseau, who looked ready
to leap again. But he did not leap /;
he muttered to Madeleine. who still
watched LATE breathlessly.
II guess these letters don't tell you
much. Mr.. Rosny." continued Lafe. III
you'll put them together you'll see that
those fifty thousand dollar shares were
seld for you In Quebec at q hundred
dollars apiece"
"Yes. Monsieur Brousseau had III
fortune with that company. He ex.
planned 1t to me-" said the Seigneur.
trembling. "What Of itr'
"Why. here's the market price Of it,
shares I'VE days before at 1915. that's
ALL" said Life. ut didn't tumble that
fnst. All the country would have been
ringing with 1t II It had done that. l
guess Brousseau has that money Of
yours tucked away safely somewhere"
you gave me your power Of attor.
ney-" Brousseau began.
But his guilt was written on his
face. The swiftness Of the blow had
utterly disconnected him and made him
incapable Of defepse. LATE saw the
Seigneur's expression change as II .
mask has been torn from his fea-
lures. He staggered to his feet. his
left side helpless. and. grasping the
chair with his right hand. confronted
Brousseau.
what have you to sayi 10 It true
or false. monsieur" he cried. "Where
are my other stocksf You had q hun.
dred thousand Of my money. Where
10 ~"
"F'ind III" yelled Brousseau. go to
the devil with your money! I tried to
help you out Of friendship. I haven't
time to work out your stock exchange
accounts for you. II anybody's cheat.
ed you it's the stockbFoksr. % to him
for ~" He started toward Madeleine.
You don't believe these lies against
nsT he cried.
"You have insultsd my father, but
ron have not anavered him."