Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1920-03-16

noise like that of artillery, but Made
leine saw his purpose, and in an In
slant was at work helping him. They
began swiftly building a barricade;
and, as Madeleine deposited her logs
by the side of Hilary's, Hilary wedged
the ends against the chained stacks on
either side, so that the whole would
form an immovable barrier. He toiled
furiously, for their scanty time was
precious beyond value. Soon Made
leine was behind the barricade, adj
justing the logs that Hilary brought,
and 1t stood the height of his waist.
1t was improbable that either Du-
pont, Pierre or Leblanc carried a re-
volver; but, even If they did, the bar
ricade was bullet-proof. Hilary for
got his aching head, the retching nau-
sea. The barrier was shoulder-high.
He. clambered behind 1t and took his
station there just as the grinding of
the foes ceased, and the schooner
caught the clear water.
A ray of moonlight, struggling
through the fog, disclosed old Dupont
at the wheel above the poop, and the
great mainsail sweeping over it-and
two forms that crept along the pas
sage between the lumber piles. They
started back in sudden CONSERVATION
at the sight OF the unexpected barri-
cade, and Hilary's club, aimed at
Pierre's head, descended upon the out
laws arm, which dropped limp at his
side.
With yell Pierre started back, but
Leblanc leaped forward, knife In hand.
So sudden was the attack that it
drove within an inch of Hilary's
throat. Madeleine screamed, rushed
forward. and pulled Hilary back. As
Leblanc caught sight of her he uttered
an exclamation and followed Pierre
back into the darkness of the lumber
piles.
Silence followed That wait was
tense and nerve gripping. Hilary tried
TO get Madeleine to return into the
cabin. but she kept her place at his
side. Then, to Hilary's utter surprise.
he heard Brousseau's voice, and dis
cerned him moving out of the dark
ness of the lumber.
Monsieur Askew, want to speak to
you" he called. Il am coming to
you. l can trust you"
Hilary returned no answer, but
Brousseau, apparently confident of
Hilary's honor, pushed forward and
came up to the barricade.
"Ah, mademoiselIe, you have done q
foolish thing!" he said quietly to Mad
eleine. mo harm was meant to Mon
sieur Askew. | want those papers
that's all. heard he was coming
aboard and adopted this ruse to get
them. They are lies, written by dis
charged employee, and can't afford to
be lied about. 1 want to clear my
honor in your eyes, mademoiselle."
But as neither answered him he
dropped his pose of blandness and adj
dressed Hilary.
tive got more at stake than the
seigniory and the asbestos mine," he
cried. That's only a drop in the
bucket. l admit it's been a fair fight
between us and you've won. l didn't
want the seigniory wanted the fight.
I'm willing to drop 1t now and give
you best. But want those papers.
"They amt yours, Monsieur Askew.
Morris forged them. but you kept
them, and that's why / trapped you
here. 1t was me stopped Dupont from
killing you, because of his daughter"
Madeleine laughed contemptuously
at the lie, and Brousseau snorted like
a dashed horse,
81 want those papers," he went on
doggedly. "They amt In your clothes,
and they amt in your bag. Give them
to- me and we'll cry quits. and Til put
you and Madeleine ashore at Ste.
Anne. ! can trust you and you can
trust me. Are you going to agreeT"
"No" shouted Hilary.
He had had the sense that Brous-
seau meditated some treachery, but he
was not prepared for what followed.
Madeleine cried to him and pulled
him back. just as Pierre and Leblanc
leaped down from the forecastle roof.
to which they had climbed during
Brousseau's fictitious parleying. Each
had his knife ready, and they were
upon Hilary together.
There was no room for maneuyering.
and Hilary never knew afterward how
lie escaped. But he thrust his club
into Leblanc's face. and, then. as the
man stumbled back, brought. it down
with full force upon Pierre's skull.
All the strength of his arms went
into the blow. Pierre never spoke