The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1920-04-22

game was to freeze out your uncle
and get the property for a song.
That's how 1t stands. Here we turn
Off into Mr.. Leblanc's lease"
who's hep
"Your chief jobber," said Lafe.
The buggy turned Off through the
forest along a new road. Here was
some splendid timber, black and white
spruce and tall white pine. The sound
OF axes began to be audible, and pres
emily they reached a clearing, In which
a number OF frame shacks were under
construction. Superintending the work
was a tall, rather fair man OF about
forty years, with a cast In one eye;
and with him was a short, thickset
man of great muscular power. The
two looked up as the buggy APP
preached, and the short man scowled,
"This 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 II.
MIR. Leblanc Is clearing a camp for
his next years lease" continued LATE.
"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 i~nsolently
with his good eye. the other fixing a
tree on Hilary's right. II work for
MIR. Morris. l 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, Leblanc?"
Leblanc shrugged his shoulders.
"Oh, yes, / understand" he answered,
and. turning without another word,
walked back toward the lumbermen,
accompanied by the short man, who
was chuckling m~aliciously al Hilary's
discontinue.
Hilary flushed, but LATE laid his
hand oil his wrist, closing the fingers
about II with a viselike grip.
STEADY. Mr.. Askew. Don't let those
fellows get you riled," he said. IF
you're coming into this game 1t 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 man?" he asked.
THAT'S Pierre something-or-other.
Black Pierre, he's called. He's Brous-
seau's chief crook. He's q trouble
some man. Mr.. Hilary. He'll bear
watching"
Eve fire him first thing" said Hill
airy.
why, he amt hired by us" an
swered Lafe.
"Then what In thunder is he doing
on my concession. talking to my chief
jobberT
swell. there amt no law against
It" said LATE. with a humorous look
on his face. IL 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, II amt n bit OF good
going for the little fellows. They're
the tall that Brousseau wags. Once
you get Brousseau's hand out of your
pie. the others follow him. When
Pierre sees there aln't no more pick
ings out of the st. Boniface land he'll
go back 10 the smuggling business"
"Brandy-smuggiing?"
"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 millr'
They had reached the main road
again; they went on a little way and
tAEa WtctW0iu osSk Ap16h
track through a b~urned-over district
densely covered with fireweed and
| white starved nsters. Soon another
rig appeared before them, topping the
Hill. Lafe pulled In as II approached.
"Bonjour, Father Lucy" he called
TO the elderly priest, who sat inside.
AThis 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.
II am please to meet you, Mr.. As
kaw.s he said. II sona we ehen he
rome s=.sss. s:ss "a. i1ais mere. an not
quarrel so much"
"Ah. Father Lucy, you make me tired
souetimea.s said Lafe. 'TWhat In thun-
der's the = o. praying for rain when