The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1920-03-12
CHAPTER xIv-continued.

oIouSSedu WINGED now. III Amos
looks as if you didn't love me-" hi
muttered in disgust. And in that
sentence the major part Of his charac
ter might have been epitomized.
Two days after the news reached
Hilary he went into the village for his
mail. Taking it to his office to read
he found among it bulky envelope
addressed to him from Ontario In ar
unknown writing. He opened it and
found letter from Morris.
However evasive the ex-managel
had been in conversation, he was di
rect enough in writing. "You didn't
treat me well, and 1 guess you haG
reason to act as you did," he wrote
THAT hound Brousseau swindled me
as he was swindling you, and I'm go
Ing to put you in possession of the
facts and documents, which I took
from his desk before leaving. You
needn't have any scruples about using
them. because they refer principally to
you"
Hilary thought enough of the mat
ter to send man to Lafe asking him
to come in Immediately; and that
afternoon the two men went over the
situation together.
'Its a clear case" said Hilary
"He's been swindling the property
right and left. it seems. 1 allowed for
a few thousands, but as I make it out
it amounts to nearly eighty thousand u
LATE whistled and took up the paper
that Hilary handed him.
This is the contract with Leblanc
to cut on the st. BOniface limits" he
said. $50 there's no mistaking who
owned that lumber in the river"
He took up another document. "a
contract with the Cornwall Paper
company to supply twenty thousand
cords of spruce wood from the st.
Boniface limits" he said. "And
here's Morris receipt for seven thou
sand dollars commission on 'gummy
fir as he would call tin other words,
pulpwood sold off the seigniory during
1914, at 10 per cent. What do you
make of it, Lafe?"
"Water-tight," answered LATE.
Here's another document that
makes interesting reading" continued
Hilary, handing it to him.
LATE studied it. 81 don't get it," he
said.
"It's Lamartine's acknowledgment of
fifty thousand dollars received from
Rosny for fifty shares in the North
Empire Development company-One of
BrOusseau's interests. Now look at
this one. Lamartine is remitting five
thousand dollars less the brokers'
charges for the sale of North Empire
Development stock, as per order. He
doesn't say how much stock Lamar
tine isn't fool. But here's Rosny's
acknowledgment of the five thousand
dollars less brokers' charges for the
sale of fifty shares, dated March 9,
1913. Now here's stock market
clipping from newspaper of March
4, showing the stock at S875.
That's where we've got him, LATE.
l-diuttI LlllS iSlleI pIoNeS hOlhlnS, Dut
Morris got hold of Rosny's acknowled-
ment, probably for matchmaking pur-
poses. and it shows Brousseau has
swindled ROsny out of $37 900 on that
deal. Probably there were others.
That's where his money went"
Its pity Morris couldn't run
straight, being as thorough as he is"
said LATE
Hilary looked at him searchingly
until he compelled him to return his
gaze. ...
You have been very reticent of late,
LATE. What's the trouble?"
81 guess it amt much" said Connell.
well, you see, it's this way" he went
that blackguard was spreading about
yoC And l didn't know whether to
tell you or not, Mr.. Askew. l knew
Baptiste saw us with that girl in Ste.
Marie, and l knew from his face that
he wasn't pleased. And again l didn't
know what to do. And L decided to lie
low. It's my way; maybe l was wrong,
but I'm against butting in, by nature"
"Never mind, Lafe," said Hilary.
'It's too late to make any difference
now"
mo, it amt too late," shouted LATE.
leaping to his feet. ''Mr. Askew, you
haven't told him-Mr Rosny-about
that asbestos mine, have you? You
o,,Ubt m bavo rnno RI b;,,, ond LOT I,;,,,
know. You could have saved Nam
zelle RoHny from sacrificing herself
this way. You can save her. and
you're going to-
Il suppose have let things drift"
said Hilary somberly. 81 lived in q
sort of hope that the mess would clear
up. And hadn't the heart to do any
thing at ALL"
There's the girl Marie-won't she
say anything?'
She's afraid of her father There's
no telling how he would take it. At
present l don't think he knows any
thing"
Il wouldn't let that stand in my
way" said LATE emphaticaIly.
II don't think you'd really use that
means of clearing yourself, if you were
[, LATE. And, besides that, she has
my promise to say nothing, and that
settles the matter No, LATE, you're
talking nonsense"
Maybe am" said LATE stubbornly
But | amt going to see your happi-
ness wrecked because two women
haven't the sense and the heart to |
clear you. And I'm going to do it."
mo, you're not, Lafe," said Hilary
bluntly.
why not? Good Lord, why not?"