Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1920-05-06

o0o OA(S NHNS
Hes cheated us out of eighty thou
sand dollars, and he's cheated you. Mr..
Rosny, out of about as much, and prob
ably more, and you can put 1t in any
words you like. And I've got the pa
pers to prove it-all of EN-"
Brousseau WINGED and staggered
back ~dumfounded; there was no mis-
taking now that the man was afraid.
Though Madeleine would not deign to
acknowledge that she had listened to
Lafe's words, LATE caught the flicker
of her eyelids as she glanced quickly
toward Br0usseau, and he knew that
at the same instant she had seen the
look on B~rousseau's face. The Seig-
neur, mouthing impotently, had kept
trying to rise; but now he sat open
mourhed in his chair, and thereafter
they listened.
I'll tell you why he wants the
seigniory," continued LATE. 81 guess
it's part plain greed. but there's an
other reason, and that explains why
he wants to get Mr.. Askew off. There's
an asbestos mine on the island-Look
at him Look at him!"
Brousseau was glazing at him, the
picture of impotent rage. LATE, hav-
ing indicated him with his hand, re-
sumed:
He kept it off the map in our office,
pretending the island isn't on our linn
its, and he spread that story, but you
know better, Mr.. Rosny. The island
has the best asbestos mine this side of
Thetford, and I've seen the mines at
Thetford. And it's worth a good quar-
ter million dollars, l reckon. Maybe
nor Maybe a million-I amt no
judge. And he's kept it secret from
you"
Hes drunk or dreaming" NUT
tered Brousseau, trembling. "a few
strands of rock flax, commercially
worthless"
"But that amt roguery. That's just
a business trick" said Cornell. "How
did he get you into his power, Mr.. Ros-
ny, asking your pardon? Tll.tell you.
He's cheated you as he's cheated us,
except that it was worse, because you
trusted him, which we never did.
That's what I come to tell you, Mr..
Rosny. He's swindled you out of
nearly forty thousand dollars on one
deal, in North Empire Development
company stock, and maybe in other"
Brousseau leaped at LATE like a
tiger. LATE, who had anticipated the
move, stepped dexterously aside, at
the same time twirling the chair on
which his hand was resting. Brous-
seau, in his plunge forward, tripped
we it, stumbled and fell prone to the
floor.
"And l got the papers to prove that
here !" said LATE triumphantly.
Brousseau rose, rubbing his shins
and muttering curses, and glared saw
agely about him. Madeleine was
breathing quickly, her eyes fixed in
tently on Lafe's face.
Its a id lie /" cried Brousseau.
They've forged those papers. Where
are they? Eli? Show mel"
He said he was speaking for you,
Mr.. Rosny," said LATE, $50 here they
are / guess you know your sigma
ture?"
He drew the envelope from his pock-
ct and placed the three documents on
the Seigneur's knee, standing between
him and BrouSseau, who looked ready
to leap again. But he did not leap (;
he muttered to Madeleine, who still
watched LATE breathlessly.
81 guess these letters don't tell you
much, Mr.. Rosny," continued LATE. IF
you'll put them together you'll see that
those fifty thousand-dollar shares were
sold for you in Quebec at a hundred
dollars apiece"
Eyes. Monsieur Brousseau had ill
fortune with that company. He ex-
planned it to me-" said the Seigneur,
trembling. "What Of itY
why, here's the market price of its
shares five days before at 1915, that's
ALL" said Lafe. "It didn't tumble that
fast. All the country would have been
ringing with it if it had done that. ]
guess Brousseau has that money OF
yours tucked away safely somewhere
"You gave me your power Of attor.
ney-" Brousseau began.
But his guilt was written on his
face. The swiftness Of the blow had
utterly disconnected him and made him
incapable Of defense. LATE saw the
Seigneur's expression change as If q
mask has been torn from his fea-
lures. He staggered to his feet, his
left side helpless, and, grasping the
chair with his right hand, confronted
Brousseau.
what have you to say? Is it true
or false, monsieur?' he cried. Where
!, are my other stocks? You had a hun.
! dred thousand Of my money. Where
! Is it?'
"Ffnd itr yelled Brousseau. go tt
t the devil with your money! I tried tt
!. help you out of friendship. / haven
time to work out your stock exchang,
q accounts for you. If anybody's cheat
ed you it's the stockbroker. Go to hin
! for 1t" He started toward Madeleine
o "You don't believe these lies agains
met" he cried.