Elbert County tribune and Elbert County banner., 1920-06-04
CHAPTER XII.
Marie Awakes.

Hilary heard from mdueieine hiinost
daily. but they seldom met. Once or
twice they made an appointment, but
both hated the thought of clandestin-
lty, and Hilary realized the need of
concentrating all his thoughts upon his
work. Dupont had made three more
voyages, and Baptiste. who kept out
Of sight, had given complete sntisfac-
tion. The lumber had brought unex-
pectedly good prices. and there was
now a probability that before naviga-
tfon closed Hilary would be In posi-
tfon to carry on till spring. When the
winter cutting began. and there was
more leisure, Hilary meant to fight out
the issue with Rosny. The old man
was still partly paralyzed. and he had
made no reference of any kind to what
had occurred. but his mind was quite
clear, and, Madeleine thought, his
memory.
Toward the middle of the month the
newly discovered spruce supply had
all been numbered. Success seemed
now almost assured. Dupont was get
ting ready to make his last voyage.
The snow was not yet deep enough
for the teams to be sent into the
woods, and Hilary turned his thoughts
once more to the island, more from
engerness to explore that part of his
domain than from any thought of cut
ting there that winter.
Hilary was In his Office one day
when there came n tap at the door,
and. to his astonisliment, in walked
Louis Duval.
The little liquor-seller approached
him in an ingratiating manner. Mon
sieur Askew." he said. 81 am very
sorry for that night. 1 have been
away. Now I come back. and Mon
sieur TessIer tells me that you for
give. Now come to thank you"
"That's all right. Louis" said
Hilary. "You are forgiven, as long as
you keep out of that trade of yours.
It's bad business when It's run In
the Ste. Marie way"
Louis Duval sniffed contemptuous-
Iy. "Tm out" he announced. "And
Simeon's out. And he say he hope
you don't bear ill-feeling. Them fell
lows never pay us cent. An got
my head busted open too." he added
refiectively.
Hilary sprang to his feet and took
the little man by the arms. "DO you
mean to tell me Brousseau offered
you money to open saloon in st. Boni-
facef" he asked.
"Sure he did. He said II open he
set me up an he pay me two hundred
dollars more II those fellows kill you"
Good Lord Is that all I'm worth"
asked Hilary.
"Oh 1t amt that" answered Louis.
81 guess you're worth more than that
much. But Pierre an Leblanc. they
crazy to kill you, because you thrash
Pierre an you take away Lebianc's
business an his family starve. May
be he pay them too; maybe they pay
him to let them. I dom know. But
Pierre an Leblanc swear they get you
yet. An Simeon's out of the game.
An want to tell you something. Mon
sieur Askew. If you won bust my head
open again."
your heads quite safe, Louis.
What is it?"
"That damn SrOusseau promise me
two hundred for the other job an only
pay me fifty"
'What other job?"
.For to- get them fellows to saw
your boom, monsieur"
80 1t was sawed. was it?" demand
ed Hilary furiously.
Eyes, monsieur. 1 get three fellows
from the south shore. an 1 fell into
the water an got rheumatic, an pay
ten dollars for medicines, an that
damn Brousseau-"
Louis, will you sign your name to
thatT
30 sure. II you get them fellows
an Brousseau first" replied the little
man, edging toward the door. Finding
thnt he was not pursued, he halted.
"Monsieur Askew. gone back to my
fishing job" he said.
Hilary thought this was a character
istic occupation for Louis to take up,
since 1t afforded him several months
of idleness before the fishing season
opened.
"You have boatT he asked, re-
pietiperins ms pan " re'iSie 'he 10
land.
20 sure" said Louis. "New sails
an rudder-all new except the boat.
A YER fine boat. monsieur"
"Could you take Mr.. Connell and
myself over to the island and back
tomorrow"
'T think so. monsieur, If the sea
ain't running too high"
''Be ready with your boat at one"
said Hilary.
1t was practically his last chance
for six months of visiting the island.
He sent messenger with n note to
Lafe at the camp. asking him to be
In St Boniface at noon. Then he
wrote his daily letter to Madeleine.