The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1920-08-25


the floor. cleared his way again, and
made for Louis. who was just OPEN
Ing the back door. He grasped at him.
but Louis was just a second too quick.
He darted through. and the door.
thrown back violently. struck Hilary
upon the forehead. The next instant
Hilary passed through the doorway In
pursuit.
The shanty which Baptiste had once
occupied had formerly been a part of
large structure used by the mill for
storing machinery. At the back, and
contiguous with It, had been the old
mill stables. The door connecting the
two places had been nailed up, but
Duval had opened 1t that morning In
the course of his preparations for Hill
ary's advent.
AS Hilary entered the stable the
door closed behind him, and he heard
the bolt shot. The yels Of the lumber
men grew faint. 1t was only then Hill
airy realized that he had run into q
trap.
The stable contained Louis, who hac
posted himself within the stall imme
diately opposite the entrance. anc
grinned at Hilary defiantly. Between
the two stood Simeon Duval a gro
tesque grin upon his scholarlike fea-
lures. The man who had bolted the
door was Leblanc. and Black Pierre
stood beside him.
The four. executing fianking move
ment simultaneously. advanced and
took up their position between Hilary
and the door. Nobody spoke, but
Simeon Duval took of his spectacles
quite methodically. folded them In
their case. and placed 1t back In his
pocket. Standing with his back close
enough to the wall of one Of the horse
boxes to be able to prevent an attack
from behind. Hilary watched the four
CONTEMPORARY. They had got him
there to fight and there was nothing
he wanted more, even against the lot
Of them. He half regretted having
drawn his cartridges. but he was con-
scious Of no sense Of fear whatever.
He kept his right hand lightly against
the pocket In which the revolver lay |;
II might be useful for intimidation, or
even for self-defense.
well. we got you, Meestair Askew,"
sneered Simeon. "Now you listen here.
We're peaceful men an we hate trou-
BILE. We don't want to hurt you If you
go away from st. Boniface. Go back
where you come from. Else we kill
you tonight. What you. say? You are
alone here, no police, and every one
hate you. If we kill you every one
swear you try TO kill Black Pierre, an
my brudder, an me. Now what you
sayr
81 haven't come here to say, but to
give your brother a thrashing," an
swered Hilary scornfully. "The thrash
ing that / promised him that night at
Ste. Marie.v
"You spy on me in Ste. Marie an
bring revenue officers. 1t cost me a
hundred dollar, you damn police spy.
You go now, Ell? What you say?"
Hilary wheeled upon Leblanc and
Pierre. "And these men-what are
they doing here? You want three men
| to help you kill me. Ell, Simeon?"
He did not want TO parley, but in
spite of his eagerness his judgment
told him that he was in perilous sit
uation. He must taunt them till they
lost their heads; that would give him
an advantage.
"You, Leblanc, want your lease
again, / suppose, you thief" he said.
you, Pierre, didn't get enough of a
hiding that day / caught you cutting
down my trees. There's another COM
ing 10 you in a minute or two. Simeon,
If I'd been you I'd have picked some
men who could help me fight If was
afraid. instead"
He got no further, for at that mo-
ment, taking the initiative, he sprang.
His fists dashed full into Simeon's
face. right and left. almost together.
Simeon toppied backward; his head
struck the edge Of the stall behind
him, and he dropped moaning to the
floor and lay there.
Passing him. Hilary leaped for Louis,
but the agile little man eluded him
and darted down the middle of the
stable. Before he could quite recover
himself Leblanc and Pierre sprang
from behind. AS Hilary swung side
wise he saw the knife in Pierre's hand.
He thrust his arm up. and the blow,
diverted, glanced. the knife ripping his
sleeve open. Leblanc, also with a
knife, was springing from the other
side. Hilary sized up the situation with
! judgment for which he could never
afterward account. Dashing his fists
upward, he caught Pierre under the
! chin, forcing his head back; at the
same time he grasped the wrist which
held the knife and swung so as TO in
terpose the outlaws body between
himself and Leblancs blow. AS Le-
blanc struck again Hilary turned, shell
tering himself behind Pierre. one hand
under his chin, the other holding back
| the wrist, so that Leblanc's short, stab