The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1920-05-27
CHAPTER xI.
Dreams and Dangers.

Thanks to q constitution Injured by
hard work and healthy living, Hilary
improved rapidly under MadeleiEe's
nursing, aided by her fathers skilled
treatment Of the wound. On the sec
ond day Hilary was conscious, on the
fourth Rosny announced that the
crisis was past; upon the ninth the
patient was sitting up in bed and de-
handing solid food.
Lafe was the happiest man In the
world when, at last admitted to the
bedside, he asked and received abso-
luton for his desertion.
snow I've got some good news" he
said. when Hilary persisted in asking
about the work. "We've got that
shipment off, and Dupont will have
both vessels back In q few days for
the next. The mills working over
time and the gangs back on the job"
"You paid them two dollars?"
"Not a cent more,' said Lafe tri.
umphantly. 'They asked to go back
to work, and you ought to see them
working! / guess they feel that they
haven't given YOU a square deal. and
Mr.. Rosny's been having a few words
with them, / hear. Anyway, they
know now it's Norris who tipped off
the revenue people, in order to make
trouble for you, and the result iS this
part Of the country has grown too hot
for him. So he's gone away. 1 hear
he had a quarrel with BrOusseau over
the share of their plumber, and they
almost came to blows over it. Well,
that's the first of the gang out. And
MACPHERSON has turned out a trump,
working overtime and making the
hands work. and it begins to look to
me as If wen win out after ALL"
This was good news. 1t was now
September, and in little more than a
month the snow should extend con-
~siderably their cutting area.
SO they discussed their plans, until
Madeleine, coming in, drove Connell
away. Hilary would not AJAX him
about his assailants, and Lafe was
glad to avoid the subject. 1t was
Father Lucien who took it up later.
when Hilary was convalescent.
He hummed and hawed a good deal.
and finally the truth came out. 1t
would be easy enough to get the po-
lice APP from Quebec, but the quar-
tette would have TO be laid by The
heels before the advent Of winter
made further action impossible for
months. OF the four, Pierre had dis
appeared. Leblanc was said TO have
gone into the woods for the winter to
trap, having apparently abandoned his
p%retense of a suitcase on the Ste.
Marie limits. Simeon Duval was run
ming his saloon wide OPEN, and swear
ing that, Hilary having assaulted him.
he had struck with his knife in self
defense, while in a h~alf-stunned con
dition. Little Louis, his brother.
scared out of his wits, had been to
see the cure with a view to making his
peace.
Hilary had no desire to publish
Louis any further, though he meant to
deal with Pierre and Leblanc when
the opportunity arose. He meant to
rid the community of them and
Simeon; but he had a strong mans
reluctance to call upon the law to
avenge a physical assault. In the end
the cure went away with the under
standing that Louis was forgiven, and
with no decision taken as to further
action.
"But what strength What power,
monsieur |" he said a%dmiringly, clench.
ing his hand over the muscles of
Hilary's arm. "Do you know, mon
sieur," he continued thoughtfully, II
have often thought that a priest In
such a district as this needs the mus
cularity almost as much as the good
nessl All, Monsieur Askew, if ]
were your age. and of your strength,
what would I not dol"
To Hilary his convalescence was a
foretaste Of paradise. Edmond Rosny
came In only for formal visits now,
twice or three times a day but 1t was
wonderful to see Madeleine, whom he
knew that he loved with all his heart,
about his bedside all day long, and
then about his chair, waiting on him,
anticipating his wishes, until he felt
ashamed to be so helpless, her pride
gone, her scorn gone, her enmity as
well. When Hilary learned of the
part that she had played In his rescue,
and thanked her gratefully. she could
not meet his eyes.
Then came the first day on which
he was permitted to leave his room.
Leaning on Medicines arm, he had
gone out to feel the wonder of the
lsunshine and the crisp autumn air.
fThe garden hsd originally been laid
out, more than a century before, in
Imitation of the formal gardens OF
France OF the period, with terraces
and statuary. Everything was In
ruin I; and yet Hillary had the sudden,
inexplicahle sense of having come
home.
"Mndemoiselle Rosny," he said, I'VE
are going to be good friends in future,
aren't we? The goodwill goes with
your kindness. even IL 1t does not 70
with the trees"