The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1920-05-13

The lumbermen had begun to edge
In about them. Sentiment, while run
ming strongly against the intruder,
was not angrily hostile. The mel were
eager to see how Hilary would bear
himself against Simeon, and they
hoped for some fun. Hilary saw among
them the face Of Simeon's brother
Louis, who looked like a small model
upon a lighter scale.
my brother here. He speak for
himself, Meestair >Askew. He not
afraid. You think, p'r'aps, because
you thrash Black Pierre, you boss In
Ste. MarieT
Hilary. 'If i were, Simeon, ] should
run you down to Quebec Jail right off
the reel. But I'm boss in st. Boniface,
and If Louis opens a liquor den there,
I'll break his head open and run him
In afterward."
Few of those present understood his
exact meaning, but an ominous growl
showed that this declaration was ap-
preciated at more or less its correct
value. The mob began moving for
ward. For a few moments the situa-
ton looked menacing. Hilary took the
aggressive, as usual.
"Ah, Leblancl" ne called out. "How
do you like your new job? I'm start
ing in to cut out that limit you
handed back to me. There's some
good timber there, Leblanc"
Leblanc snarled and started for
ward, shaking his fist and muttering.
However, he could not get through the
press. and 1t Is not probable that he
tried very hard TO do SO.
"Well. that's about all, Simeon"
Hilary called. 81 just came In to look
at your place and give your brother a
friendly warning. because 1 never
warn when I'm ready TO strike"
my brother take care of himself.
He amt afraid of you" said Simeon,
who kept as cool as Hilary. Hilary
intuitively summed him up as the most
dangerous of his opponents. "But /
guess you amt going like that, Mees-
tair Askew," continued the liquor
seller. 81 ask you to have a drink On
me an you say no. Now you going to
buy drinks all round, ehY"
Hilary laughed out loud. mot for
your crowd. Simeon" he answered.
Simeon planted his fat body heavily
before him. "What you say? You buy
drinks, eh?" he demanded truculently.
Hilary put his hands on Simeon's
shoulders and pushed him bodily back
ward. Simeon, who was planted
rather than stood. at first resisted as
a tree might resist a gentle shove with
the hand but he could not resist the
strength behind Hilary's shoulders,
and he began TO sway and went top
ping backward, landing, still rigid.
upon the floor.
Some of the girls shrieked, and the
lumbermen came surging forward
toward Hilary and Lafe and began to
hustle them. Yet, knowing Hilary's
| reputation, they hesitated a moment
before Initiating hostilities. and that
moment brought an unexpected inter
ruption.
For a boy ran screaming In at the
door. and what he cried startled the
entire assemblage. Simeon. who had
been struggling to his feet, was upon
them In an instant. But before the
crowd had recovered from Its confn-
sion two officers In the uniform of the
revenue department came running In.
They carried reyolyers In their hands,
and they pounced upon Simeon and
had him at their mercy IN an instant.
At once the whole scene was dis
solved. Men and girls ran this way
and that, a wildly flying. panicky mass.
1t was one thing to drink and brawl In
ste. Marie. but quite another 10 defy
the tireless officials Of the revensc de-
partment. who patroled the river at
uncertain intervals, whose arms were
very long.
whether any one except Simeon was
wanted In that particular place was
never known. for It was all the officers
could do to hold on to him. while the
crowd stanpeded past them toward
the door, a cursing. struggling mass
carrying Lafe and Hilary along with II,
In the street they pulled themselves
out Of tho crush and took refuge in an
alley. All Ste. Marie was In q turmoil.
News OF the raid had spread every.
where with lightning swiftness. Iigkts
were being extinguished. liquor hidden
away, lumbermen and girls were run
/ nfnc m wild uanic fhrourh fho streets