The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1920-05-20
BY
VICTOR
ROUSSEAU
Illustrations b.
Irwin Myers

but Louis was jest a C too quick.
He darted through, and the door,
thrown back violently, struck Hilary
upon the forehead. The next instant
Hilary passed through the doorway In
pursuit.
The shanty which Baptiste had once
occupied had formerly been a part OF
a large structure used by the mill for
storing machinery. At the back. and
contiguous with 1t, had been the old
mill stables. The door connecting the
two places had been nailed up. but
Duval had opened 1t that morning in
the course of his preparations for Hill
ary's advent. ~
AS Hilary entered the stable the
door closed behind him, and he heard
the bolt shot. The yells of the humber.
men grew faint. 1t was only then Hill.
airy realized that he had u into a
trap.
The stable contained Louis, who haC
posted himself within the stall imme
diately opposite the entrance, ant
grinned at Hilary d~ef1antly. Between
the two stood Simeon Duval, a gro
tesque grin upon his scholarlike fea-
lures. The man who had bolted the
door was Leblanc, and Black Pierre
stood beside him.
The four, executing a flanking move
ment simultaneously, advanced and
took up their position between Hilary
and the door. Nobody spoke, but
Simeon Duval took off his spectacles
quite methodically, folded them in
their case, and placed II back in his
pocket. Standing with his back close
enough to the wall of one of the horse
boxes to be able to prevent an attack
from behind, Hilary watched the four
contemptuously. They had got him
there to fight and there was nothing
he wanted more, even against the lot
Of them. He half regretted having
drawn his cartridges, but he was con
scious of no sense of fear whatever.
He kept his right hand lightly against
the pocket in which the revolver lay ;
it might be useful for intimidation. or
even for self-defense.
Well, we got you, Meestair Askew,"
sneered Simeon. snow you listen here.
We're peaceful men an we hate trou-
BILE. We don't wan to hurt you II you
go away from st. B~oniface. Go back
where you come from. Else we kill
you tonight. What you say? You are
alone here, no police, and every one
hate you. If we kill you every one
swear you try to kill Black Pierre, an
my brudder, an me. Now what you
sayY"
: II haven't come here to say, but to
give your brother a th%rashing," an
swered Hilary scornfully. '"The thrash
ing that I promised him that night at
Ste. Marie"
"You spy on me in Ste. Marie an
bring revenue officers. 1t cos me a
hundred dollar, you damn police spy.
You go now, Ell? What you sayT"
Hilary wheeled upon Leblanc and
Pierre. "And these men-what are
they doing here? You want three men
to help you kill me. eh, SimeonT
He did not want to parley. but in
spite of his eagerness his judgment
told him that he was in a perilous sit
uation. He must taunt them till they
lost their heads; that would give him
an advantage.
"You, Leblanc, want your lease
again. / suppose, you thief" he said.
"You, Pierre. didn't get enough of a
hiding that day I. caught yon cutting
down my trees. There's another COM
ing to you in a minute or two. Simeon,
If I'd been you I'd have picked some
men who could help me fight II ! was
| afraid. instead"
He got no further, for at that mo-
ment, taking the initiative. he sprang.
| His fists dashed full into Simeon's
face, right and left, almost together.
Simeon toppled backward; his head
struck the edge Of the stall behind
him, and he dropped moaning to the
floor and lay there.
Passing him. Hilary leaped for Louis,
but the agile little man eluded him
and darted down the middle of the
stable. Before he could quite recover
himself Leblanc and Pierre sprang
from behind. AS Hilary swung side
wise he saw the knife in Pierre's hand.
He thrust his arm up, and the blow,
diverted, glanced, the knife ripping his
sleeve open. Leblanc, also with q
knife, was s%pringing from the other
side. Hilary sized up the situation with
judgment for which he could never
afteTward account. Dashing his fists
upward, he caught Pierre under the
chin. forcing his head back; at the
same time he grasped the wrist which
held the knife and swung so as to in
terpose the outlaws body between
himself and Leblanc's blow. As Lee
blanc struck again Hilary turned, shell
tering himself behind Pierre. one hard
under his chin. the other holding back
the wrist. so that Leblanc's short, stab
bling strokes always fell short. being
aimed around Pierre's body.
Backing into the stall adjacent tc
the one In which Simeon had fallen
Hilary In this manner continued to
ward on Leblanc's attack. The stall
was narrow, and the 5chber was un'
able to get past Pierre. struggling II
Hilary's grasp, In order TO strike q
blow frow thu side er rear. So LONG