The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1920-02-20

and 10 remember Connell's counsel.
Pierre thought he was afraid. he
sneered openly.
Last time came here" said Hilary
calmly. disregarding the others trucu-
hence Monsieur Leblanc was in
charge of this territory. Now / find
you here in Leblanc's place. | have
not hired you. Again 1 ask what you
are doing here"
81 don know what you mean" snort
ed Pierre. IAN | gotNno time to waste
in damn foolishness. This here is the
/ Ste. Marie limits Monsieur Brousseau
an Monsieur Morris run the Ste Marie
limits. Leblanc he work for them las
year. Now / got Leblanc's place"
The Ste Marie limits are on the
other side of the Riviere Rocheuse.
said Hilary.
"Holy Name amt this side OF Ri
Were Rocheuse? Didn' you cross him
coming here?"
THAT creek is not the Riviere Ro-
cheuse. rs you know very well. Pierre.
Black Pierre thrust his face forward
into Hilary's. Say. I got no time TO
waste wit you" he snarled. If you
come TO fight, say So"
'TIl give you five minutes 10 get on
my land"
You wan to fight. eh? All right.
growled the other. suddenly stripping
off his short. open jacket.
Hilary had just time TO fasten the
top button OF his coat before Pierre
with a below, charged him. his head
70
Pierre made short, vicious stabs at
him; he was muscle-bound and couid
not extend the elbow-joint with any
force. but any of his short blows. deliv-
cred from Il shoulder like a mutton
joint. would have knocked a man sense
less
Hilary stepped aside as Pierre pre-
cipitated himself upon him, and gave
him a short uppercut with the left
Pierre went Keeling past him, tripped
over a projecting trunk of a tree, ana
fell sprawling 10 the ground.
A second later he was up again. rush.
ing at Hilary. Despite Iiilary's blows.
which nearly blinded him, and covered
his face with blood, he managed 10 get
home two body deliveries which knock
airy WAS forced TO give ground. He
had boxed at college a good deal that
was several years before. but the mem
DRY instinctively came back TO him. 1T 8
foot-work wins" his teacher had told
him. He stepped from side To side.
guarding himself against Pierre's furi-
Gus lunges dexterously, until the OPP
portunity for a telling cross-counter
with the right sent Pierre crashing
backward.
He rose, splitting the blood out of
his mouth and rushed at Hilary again.
This time he managed TO lock his arms
about him and. holding him securely
with the left. pummeled him. Hilary
forgot his science and shot his right
upward between the arm and the body.
landing on Pierre's chin. Pierre reeled.
but ne did not let go his hold. He
grasped Hilary like bear. hugging
him till the breath was nearly out of
his body. and forcing the point of his
chin in under Hilary's colar-bone.
Pierre was several years the older,
and winded by fast living, but his mus
Giles were as firm as young mans.
Knowing that his enemy'S science was
more than n match for his superior
strength. he maintained the clinch. but
gradually shifted his grasp upward,
first pinioning Hilary's arm. then grip
ping his shoulder, until he had him by
the throat.
Hilary gasping under the relentless
pressure, saw the faces of the lumber
men swim round him. He saw the tri-
umph and the joy. the mockery and
the hatred on each; there was no pity
for the American; many an old land
question, many a racial conflict had be
come incarnate in that figlir under the
pines. Hilary realized that Ii was a
battle, not for the timber tract. but for
his own life.
Pierre's face grinned into his own
Indignantly. plas-ered with dust and
Smeared with the sweat that drove
white burrows across ii. Hilary let his