The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1920-02-07

TWO looked up as the buggy ap-
preached, and the short man scowIed.
Ihls Is Mr.. Leblanc" said Lafe.
Mr.. Leblanc, this is Mr.. Askew. the
owner"
Leblanc put out his hand Imply. but
Hilary, nettled by his manner, did not
take it,
Mr.. Leblanc is clearing camp for
ms next years lease" continued Lafe
But the lease is not signed?" asked
Hilary.
1T will be signed In October" an
swered Leblanc. II have arrange
with Monsieur Norris"
You'll make your arrangements
with me In future" said Hilary. IF
the price is satisfactory, you can have
this tract"
Leblanc stared at him insolently
with his good eye, the other fixing a
tree on Hilary's right. 81 work for
Mr.. Morris. make arrange with him.
he answered
See here, Leblanc, you didn't catch
who this gentleman is" said LATE.
This Is Mr.. Askew, the nephew of
the late Mr.. Askew. He has come into
the property. He's boss. You get me,
don't you, LeblancY'
Leblanc shrugged his shoulders.
ooh, yes, l understand" he answered,
and, turning without another word,
walked back toward the lumbermen,
accompanied by the short man, who
was chuckling maliciously at Hilary
discontinue.
Hilary flushed, but Lafe laid his
hand on his wrist, closing the fingers
about it with a viselike grip.
"Steady, Mr.. Askew. Don't let those
fellows get you riled," he said eff
you're coming into this game it means
steady work. You've got to hold back
and hold back, until you've got things
ready"
They re-entered the buggy and, turn
ing the horse, drove back
Presently Hilary cooled down. "Who
was the little MANI" he asked
That's Pierre something or-other
Black Pierre, he's called. He's Brous-
seau's chief crook He's a trouble
some man, Mr.. Hilary. He'll bear
watching"
"We1l fire him first thing said Hill
airy.
why, he amt hired by u.s." an
swered LATE.
"Then what in thunder is he doing
on my concession, talking to my chief
jobber?"
"WelI, there amt no law against
it." said LATE, with a humorous look
on his face. 81 guess them two are
pretty thick together.
"You see, Mr.. Askew, it's this way
he went on. IF you're going TO clear
up this mess, it amt bit Of good
going for the little fellows. They're
the tail that Brousseau wags. Once
you get Brousseau's hand out of your
pie, the others follow him. When
Pierre sees there amt no more pick,
ings out of the st. Boniface land he'll
90 back to the smuggling business"
Brandy smuggling?"
"Why, he's the bad man of Ste. Ma
RE He runs cargOes of gin and brandy
ashore from the south coast, and
there's never been a revenue officer in
this district within human memory, nor
would one dare to show his face here.
Say, I'll take you through Ste. Marie
on the way back to the mill =
They had reached the main road
again; they went on a little way and
then turned westward over a rough
track through burned-over district
densely covered with fireweed and
white starved asters. Soon another
rig appeared before them, topping the
hill. LATE pulled in as 1t approached.
"Bonjour. Father Lucy" he called
to the elderly priest, who sat inside.
"This gentleman is Mr.. Askew, the new
owner Of the Rosny concession. He's
old Mr.. Askew's nephew"
The cure looked Hilary over, then
he leaned forward and extended his
hand, which Hilary grasped.
81 am please to meet you, Mr.. AS
kew" he said II 'ope we shall be-
come friens, like Mr.. LATE here, an not
quarrel so much"
"Ah. Father Lucy, you make me tired
sometimes" said LATE. what in thun-
der's the use of praying for rain when
the forests are burning, instead of
getting busy and putting out the fireg'
"Mr. Lafe, there is many thing you
do not understand" said the cure. pat
ting the Yankee on the shoulder be-
nevolently. "Mr. LATE is fine fellow
he added to Hilary. "but he want to &c
too quick all the time
1t was evident to Hilary that the
two were fast friends. Father Lucien
CLICKED to his pony, took off his hat
with flourish, and resumed his jour.
ney.
Father Lucy's a good Sort" NUT
tered LATE, but he makes me tired
sometimes. Slow as the devil, Mr.
Askew. And yet, now 1 come to think
Of it. he does get results in his OWL
time He amt equal to cleaning UP
Ste. Marie, though"
After a pause he added: Some
times I've thought that Father Lucy
had something up his sleeve about Ste
Marie after all"
An hours drive brought them within
sight Of the village. Ste. Marie was
almost a replica of st. Boniface ex.
ternally, with the same shacks, clus