Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1920-03-09

down, Mr.. Rosny. I'm telling you what
| think of him. That's what / came
here for. And if you'll excuse me for
referring to your mortgage, which
everybody knows, if he doesn't turn
that in to you by tomorrow Mr.. Askew
will sue him criminally as we'll as civ
lilly for what he's done to us, because
we've got the confession of the man
that sawed the boom for him.
Brousseau swung on his heel sud
denly and strobe toward the door. lie
turned and shook his fist at LATE. "rll
pay you for this, you and that other
blackmailer! he swore. "I'll smash
your rotten concern. III"
He broke off with a derisive snort
and made toward the entrance. But
LATE strobe past him and blocked his
way.
lust a moment" he said 'Mr
Rosny's got something TO say to you"
Brousseau tried 10 fling himself
past. but LATE. standing like an iron
sentinel, completely filed the open
ing.
Monsieur BrOusseau," said the
Seigneur, there are just few words
10 say before you go. When Monsieur
COnnell came here he did not meet
with encouragement. He proved his
case. and you have proved it by your
actions. When you were boy / adj
vanced you, l interested myself in you.
You climbed high, and you tried TO re-
pay me by ousting me from my lands
and stepping into my shoes. You
sought TO dishonor US through my
daughter, who was wiser than In her
recognition of what you were.
thought thar you were only ill-bred,
but you have proved yourself scoun-
drel as well. You will repay me
everything you have stolen or go to
Jail. Good-day. monsieur"
That's all, guess" said LATE, and
opened the door.
Brousseau dashed through and along
the corridor LATE followed him at an
interval but Brousseau did not wait
for him. He pulled the front door
open and slammed 1t behind him.
When Late reached it Brousseau was
already dragging his horse, already
harnessed to his sleigh, out of the sta
bles.
LATE watched him drive away and
turned back into the hall. He hesitat-
ed to return into the room. but rs he
stopped uncertainty in the corridor be-
hind the entrance Madeleine came to-
ward him.
My father thanks you. Mr.. Con
NELL" she said. and though the tears
rained down her face she smiled. 1T
is like the lifting of e nightmare" she
whispered.
Yes, mademoiseIle,' said LATE. "But
il was you I wanted chiefly to See."
You saw me. What else is there to
say? Mr.. ConnelI. if you have come
here on any other mission it is hope
less. Why did you let him send you
for-for that?' she continued, reading
his face.
Because he's my friend" said Lafe.
"But he didn't send me here. He's
talking Of going away. That's Why
came"
He saw her start, hen control her
self.
I'm forty years old" said Lafe. and
conscious OF The ineptness Of the be
ginning. hesitated ''I'n forty years
Old" he continued. mot old enough
to BE your father. mademoiseIle. but
old enough to be sort of uncle.
though ] amt got your education That
don't matter. It's experience that
counts. and knowledge Of the world
And / seen good bit more Of life
than you. mademoiselle.
y seen enough 10 learn one thing.
and that is that MISUNDERSTANDING are
the cause of nearly all the trouble IN
the world When Mr.. Askew come
here I wasn't altogether too much
pleased I'd been Soesned into tie