The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1920-07-21


grown with creeping raspberry briers
which made progress difficult. Sud-
denly the underground fell away. and
the road ran upward again. hard and
firm. toward bridge that 81 anned a
wide creek tributary to Rocky river.
Now Hilary knew where he was. 1t
was the creek which he Lad passed
that morning when he drove out with
Cornell to inspect the seigniory.
He was about to continue his way
along the main road to the mill, but an
impulse urged him to turn the horse
about and seek the road that led to Lee
blanc's old concession. Presently he
heard the sound OF axes among the
trees. He came upon the clearing. to
find the old camp still standing, and a
great pile of newly hewn timber
stacked up under the trees.
At Hilary's appearance two or three
men looked up from the logs which
they were saving and whispered. They
seemed to- draw together. At that mo-
ment Hilary had a clearly defined i'm
preston of approaching trouble.
fastened the horse to a tree. He APP
preached little group that had form
ed. "Where's Monsieur LeblancT he
asked the nearest man.
The man scowled and shrugged his
shoulders. He glanced toward the
camp. Hilary. looking that way, saw
Black Pierre emerging from one of
tha bufc EIa xyanf tou,a "a hin, an1 fha
two men met face to face.
Still without reason to believe In
Pierre's hostile intention, Hilary sud-
denly became aware that they were
ringed by circle of men, who gradu-
ally drew in toward them.
Morning" said Hilary, nodding.
'Where is Monsieur Leblanc?"
81 don know" answered Pierre,
scowling. "Look for him If you want
him. He's your man, amt he?"
''He is, but you are not. What are
You doing on my land? And these men
ARE they yours?"
"What you mean, your land?' de-
manded Pierre. 81 work here for Mon
sieur Brousseau, with Monsieur Brous-
seaus men,"
Hilary saw, out of the corner of his
eye. that the ring was swiftly con-
tracing. 1t struck him that Pierre and
he were posted face to face, like prize
fighters. He tried to keep his temper
and TO remember Connell's counsel
Pierre thought he was afraid. He
Sneered openly.
Last time came here" said Hilary
calmly, disregarding the others trucu-
lence, Monsieur Leblanc was In
charge of this territory, Now I find
you here in Leblanc's place. / have
not hired you. Again ask what you
are doing here"
ed Pierre, IAN I got no time to waste
In damn foollshness. 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 hereT
"That creek is not the Riviere Ro-
cheuse. as you know very WELL Pierre"
Black Pierre thrust his face forward
into Hilary's. Say, 1 got no time to
waste wit you," he snarled. eff you
come to fight. say So"
"rll give you five minutes to get Off
my land"
"You wan to fight. eh7 All right"
growled the other. suddenly stripping
OF his short, open jacket.
Hilary had just time to fasten the
top button of his coat before Pierre,
with below, charged him, his head
down, his arms working like falls.
Pierre made short, vicious stabs at
him; he was muscle-bound and could
not extend the elbow-joint with any
force, but any of his short blows, deliy-
cred from shoulder like a mutton
joint. would have knocked man sense
less.
Hilary stepped aside as Pierre pre-
cipitated himself upon him, and gave
him short uppercut with the left.
Pierre went Keeling past him, tripped
over a projecting trunk Of tree, and
fell sprawling to the ground.
A second later he was up again. rush.
ING at Hilary. Despite Hilary's blows,
witch nearly blinded him. and covered
hts face with blood, he managed to get
home two body deliveries which knock
ed the wind out Of the American. Hill
airy was forced to give ground. He
had boxed at college a good deal; that
was several years before. but the mem
Org instinctively came back to him. TITS
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