The Raymer enterprise., 1920-05-20

s~~As AsS hA~1 1VV0A tNs
Brousseau was not long In declaring
war. On the following afternoon, a. he
sat In his office, Hilary. looking through
the window, saw Madeleine Rosny
driving rig along the road toward the
mill. Beside her sat q man whom he
had never seen before. He surmised
At once that Il was Brousseau, but he
hardly expected that the girl was
bringing him to the Office.
Such proved to be the case. The rig
stopped at the door and Hilary had
glimpse OF Madeleine's averted. scorn-
ful face as she sat waiting. as II Hilary
was beneath her pride, as II to stop
there was no more than to stop at any
laborer's shack. Her companion leaped
out and came briskly to the door.
BE was a man Of something more
than forty. but active and young-look-
Ing. He came into the Office and giared
down at Hilary. who at once rose and
faced him.
I'm Mr.. Brousseau." said the visitor.
'T've heard Of you" said Hilary.
you'll hear more Of me. You as
saulted one of my men yesterday. Do
you think you can come into this coun-
try and knock my men about like that
for doing their dutyr
He was on the Rosny selgniory, and
cutting my timber"
"He was on the west side Of Riviere
Rocheuse." snaried Brousseau. "The
RlvIere Rocheuse has never been sur
yeyed. What you call the creek is the
upper part Of Riviere Rocheuse. LIE.
blanc had permission to cut that tract
for Mr.. Morris because our two COM
panies worked hand In hand. It is not
my way to make explanations. Mons
ieur Askew. but take that for what II
Is worth"
II do 70, and II Is worth nothing"
Hilary answered. What is your prop
osltIon?"
"You assaulted my man."
"Neyer mind your man. He started
II. and he needed II. II find him on
my limits I'll assault him again. You
haven't come here to complain about
that, Monsieur Brousseau. What have
you come fori'
Brousseau advanced and banged his
fist on the desk, 1--WE come here to
tell you that you're fool. young man"
he answered. my word goes In this
part Of the country. and you can't come
In here and nght me-"
"Your proposal. please" said Hilary
quietly.
"Now you're talking sense. This
ain't the United States, where you rich
men can come into territory and grab
It away from the people under their
noses. You'll put Mr.. Morris back as
manager and 90 home, or else you'll
sell out to me-"
Yes, 1t does come to about the same
thing" said Hilary. "why don't you
ask me to make you free gift Of the
concessionf"
Brousseau scowled savagely at the
sarcasm. He was educated enough to
be stung by banter, but not quick
enough to retaliate In kind.
Now III make you my own PROPOSE
tion," said Hilary. sits this. You can
either submit your books to my inspec-
ton and make good on that lumber
that Morris stole from me last year.
and keep your men on your own fmats.
or you can give up the mill rights after
October first and build your own mill"
Brousseau turned white with rage.
"I1l run you out Of this country" he
raved. "Tll freeze you out before the
winters over. Monsieur Askew. You
watch me!'
Maybe" said Hilary. Meanwhile.
I think you're keeping the buggy wait.
Ing. and there Is no use In prolonging
this conversation unless you want to
accept my terms"
Brousseau shook with wrath; he
opened his mouth to speak. but snorted
instead; he shook his fist furiously
and, turning upon his heel. stamped
out Of the office. From his desk Hilary
watched him climb into the buggy and
drive away. His head was bent to-
ward Madeleine Rosny's, and he was
talking emphatically and gesticulating
freely.
"war's declared" said Hilary to him.
self. with relief. as he settled himself
In his chair.
Hilary talked the matter over with
Lafe later In the day. "If we can get
good shipment out before the Gulf
Closes" he said, I'VE can carry on till
spring. But Of course we can't haul
lumber out Of the woods until there's
several feet Of snow on the ground"
"And that won't be till navigation's
ended for the year." said Lafe.
$50 I'm going to put through the mill
every cord Of lumber In the river" con-
tinued Hilary. "We1l keep Dupont
busy. And we'll wind up the year with
substantialsbalance to our credit"
THE Ste. Marie lumber" mused
Lafe.
II guess they call II 30. But ! be-
lieve It's all ours. We've got the whip
hand Of Brousseau there, because it's
our mill. and Dupont's independent Of
Rrorocaorv Rrnuaaonu ~nnst ufoFS mo