American Fork citizen. [volume] (American Fork, Utah) 1912-1979, 1920-04-17
BY
= NctorRe
uvskraA;ons ~ lS,-in No.

IN tne ietter-b0x there ne Thought the
loafers seated about the place looked
at him curiously. He had several times
noticed certain furtiveness In their
regard. but had each time ascribed IL
to imagination and dismissed the mat
ter. He did so again. He was walk
Ing back when he saw a boy outside
the office.
captain Dupont says he is ready to
sail. monsieur" he said.
"Tell him I'm coming down to speak
to him." said Hilary.
He went toward the wharf. Dupont
was talking to Baptiste. As he ap-
preached Hilary saw the two cease
their conversation and look ut him.
Then Baptiste walked slowly away to-
ward his vessel. Dupont, who had
just received the message from the
boy, stood motionless where he had
been. waiting.
Hilary became suddenly conscious of
an atmosphere of hatred. When he
reached Dupont the old man eyed him
with the same searching and malignant
stare that he had given him on the &C.
casion OF their first encounter. But
now the eyes that blazed foot from
his own did not relax their gaze. There
was menace there. immediate and
hostile, though the face was immobile
1t flashed through Hilary's mind that
the old man was mad. that his long
brooding had at last broken the fragile
vessel of the mind.
Disregarding the captains look,
Hilary explained briefly the matter on
which he had come. All the while
he spoke Dupont continued cycling him.
Hilary began to feel uneasy. "Well,
is that clear?" he inquired.
THAT much is clear" answered Du-
pOnt reluctantly.
swell, what's the matter, thenT de.
manded Hilary sharply.
Suddenly he perceived that the old
mans face was twisted with passion.
His expression was so fanatical that
Hilary thought he was going to attack
him.
But then the face resumed its masl;
again. Without a word, Dupont
swung onto the ship and left him.
Baptiste's vessel was moored next
to the wharf. AS Dupont crossed |,
to reach his own, Hilary saw Baptist,
on deck. bending over "a tarpaulin
The two men did not speak. and
Hilary, moved by Q sudden impulse
walked the length Of the wharf and
accosted the little Frenchman.
'Baptiste." he said. "some time acc
I told you didn't know whether you
had any knowledge about the cutting
of my boom or not. want to say Tn
sorry. / know that you had none, and
l shouldn't have spoken as 1 did,
And he put out his hand.
Baptlste looked up. The little mans
face was like thundercloud. He
clenched and unclenched his fists
fiercely, muttering. Then he dashed
Hilary's hand aside with his.
81 don't shake hands with you'll" he
cried. and the tears began to stream
down his cheeks. "You keep out OF
my way, or kill you"
And he rushed below. leaving Hilary
utterly nonplussed at his behavior.
When Brousseau, driving furiously
hOmeward from the Chateau, reached
the cottage Of Jules Dupont. he saw
the solitary figure Of the girl Marie
seated outside the door. lie let his
horse rest for breathing spell before
continuing up the hill. dotted his hat
and saluted her.
"Bonjour Mademoiselle Dupont" he
called heartily.
"Bonjour Monsieur Brousseau," she
answered mechanically.
Brousseau had never been able TO
force smile from her lips. For n
long time he had dreaded this silent
girl, then he had ceased to think about
her: Of late he had again begun to
hate the presence Of that lonely figure
upon the porch. which was always
there whenever he drove into st. Boni-