The Pulaskian., 1920-02-06

The lumbermen had begun to edge in about them. Sentiment. while run hing strongly against the intruder, was not angrily hostile. The men 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 small model upon lighter scale.
 My brother here. He speak for himself, Messiah Askew. He not afraid. You think, p'r'aps, because you thrash Black Pierre, you boss in Ste. Marie?"
 NO, don't. I wish were" said Hilary. "If I were, Simeon, I should run you down to Quebec jail right off the reel. But I'm boss in St. Boniface, and if Louis opens 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 it's correct value. The mob began moving for ward. For a few moments the situa- ton looked menacing. Hilary took the aggressive, as usual.
 "Ah, Leblanci' he 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 it is not probable that he tried very hard to do so.
 'Well, that's about all, Simeon" ]" Hilary called. q just came in to look at your place and give your brother a friendly warning, because never warn when I'm ready to strike"
 My brother take care of himself. He ain't afraid of you" said Simeon, who kept as cool as Hilary. Hilary intuitively summed him up as the most dangerous of his opponents. But l guess you ain't going like that, Mees- tair Askew," continued the liquor seller. ''I ask you to have drink on me an you say no. Now you going to bay drinks all round, eh?"
 Hilary laughed out loud "Not for your crowd Simecn." 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 Simeons shoulders and pushed him bodily back ward. Simeon, who was planted rather than stood, at first resisted as a tree might resist gentle shove with the hand; but he could not resist the strength behind Hilary's shoulders, and he began to sway and went top bling 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 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 it's confu- sion two officers in the uniform or the revenue department came running Ill. They carried revolvers in their names, and they bounced upon Simeon ana had him at their mercy in an instant.
 At once the whole scene was dis- solved. Men and girls ran this way and that. wildly flying, panicky mass. It was one thing to drink and brawi m Ste Marie. but quite another to defy the tireless officials of the revenue de- partrnent, who patroled the riVer a. 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 olncefs could do to hold on to him, while the crowd stampeded past them toward the door cursing, struggling mass carrying Lafe and Hilary along Witil u.
 Tn the street they pulled themselves ont of the crush and took refuge m all o1lev All Ste. Marie was in turmoil. News of the raid had spread every where with lightning swiftness. Llgnts .r.1>,.o ho;nu extinruished. liquor hidden way. lumbermen and girls were run n;ng in wild panic through the streets
 Suddenly they perceived Marie Du- nont among the crowd. Her eyes were wide with fright, and she was strug-