Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1920-01-06

He touched his hat and withdrew with
a sort of shutting bow.
you certainly do have the knack of
putting things across, Mr.. Askew," said
LATE admiringly. 81 guess you're ready
to go back to the hotel. Wait. There's
old Dupont, the captain of the lumber
schooner. I guess you'll want to meet
him?"
81 suppose So" said Hilary.
Dupont came toward the rig. &C
companied by the timekeeper. The
captain was a tall old man of about
sixty years, with gray beard, a
weather-beaten face, and pale gray
eyes that seemed to burn with some
consuming fire. His look, as he turned
it on Hilary, was so searching. and so
inscrutable, and so momentarily hos
tile, that Hilary felt uncomfortable.
There was a history behind that pene-
trating stare-a history and hate.
But after moments examination
of Hilary's face film seemed TO come
over the old mans eyes. Whatever
the reason for his strange gaze, Du-
pont was satisfied. He stood by LATE,
and Jean-Baptiste translated.
"The captain says the schooner's
full" he said. "He want to start for
Quebec on tonight's tide"
Tell him TO speak to Mr.. Askew
Askew's in charge"
The timekeeper translated back into
the French. A smile flickered upon
Dupont's face. He shook his head and
answered.
'He says he's got to have Mr.. Nor
ris' ORDERS" said Baptiste.
LATE turned to Hilary, who took up
the conversation. "Ask him If he
doesn't understand what / am here
for" he suggested.
Dupont was impregnable in his po-
sition. He had lumber from both con-
cessions, and Mr.. Morris was in charge
of both. What orders had been left
with reference to his freight?
LATE was pleased and surprised at
the way Hilary took it. But Hilary
had learned a good deal during that
morning.
THAT sounds reasonable" he said
"Give him Mr.. Morris orders, Connell
whatever they are" And, when the
matter had been settled, he added
'You were dead right, Connell. We've
got to settle with the big fellows first
He dropped LATE at the mill and
drox,o eIoxxrIxv oo,aee, ho
bridge, thinking hard. There would
probably be no trouble with Leblanc
after he had shown that he was mas
ter And Lafe would be pillar of
strength. Hilary had instructive faith
in the slow-speaking Yankee.
81 must get little Baptiste on our
side, too" he said aloud, as the buggy
topped the hill beyond the bridge and
then he became aware of Madeleine
Rosny upon her horse, at the end OF
the branch road, waiting for him to
pass.
Hilary felt uncertain and awkward
Ought he to raise his hat to her? A
glance at her face showed him that
she was perfectly aware who he was
1t showed him a firm chin, resolutely
set, two angry blue eyes, and flushed
cheeks whose redness did not come
from hard riding.
He decided to bow. But before he
did so the buggy had passed, leaving
a path; and Mademoiselle Madeleine
her face averted started her horse
down the hill Hilary ier<ed the reins
angrily, and the pony set off at gal
lop for Monsieur Tremblay's stables
But before the final descent was
reached Hilary was laughing. Some
how the girls hostility seemed to add
zest to the game.
81 don't know that I'll be so very
diplomatic with Brousseau after all.
said Hilary, as he drew rein at the
stable entrance.