The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1920-04-29
CHAPTER xi.
Dreams and Dangers.


Thanks TO a constitution Injured By
hard work and healthy living. Hilary
improved rapidly under Madeleine's
nursing. aided by her fathers skilled
treatment of the wound. On the sec
ond day Hilary was conscious. on the
fourth Rosny announced that the
crisis was past; upon the ninth the
patient was sitting up in bed and de-
manding solid food.
Lafe was the happiest man In ths
world when, at last admitted to the
bedside. he asked and received abso-
luton for his desertion.
snow I've got some good news" he
said, when Hilary persisted in asking
ABOUT the work. We've got tEat
shipment off, and Dupont will hove
both vessels back in a few days for
the next. The mills working over
time and the gangs back on the Iob.
"You paid them two dollars"
"Not a cent more" said Lafe tri-
umphantly. "They asked to go eack
to work. and you ought to see them
workingl l guess they feel that they
haven't given you a square deal, ana
Mr.. Rosny's been having few words
with them, I hear. Anyway, they
know now it's Morris who tippen Oft
the revenue people, in order to lake
trouble for you, and the result is this
part Of the country has grown too hot
for him. SO he's gone away. l hear
he had a quarrel with Brousseau over
the share of their plunder, and they
almost came to blows over II. Wei.
that's the first of the gang cut. And
MACPHERSON has turned out trump.
working overtime and making the
hands work, and it begins to look to
me as If we'll win out after ALL
This was good news. It was now
September, and in little more than a
month the snow should extend con-
siderably their cutt;oe area.
SO they discussed their plans, Gntil
Madeleine, coming in, drove Connell
away. Hilary would not ask him
about his assailants, and Lafe was
glad to avoid the subject. 1t was
Father Lucien who took It up later.
when Hilary was convalescent.
lie hummod AT Axwed a good deal,
ana finally the rrutk came out. i
would be easy enough 10 get the po-
lice up from Quebec, but tSc quar-
tctte would have to be laid ny the
heels before the advent of winter
made further actioa impossible for
months. OF the four, Pierre had DIS.
Il oh has
gone into the woods for the winter TO
trap, having apparently abandoned HIS
pretense of a suitcase on the Sta
Marie limits. Simeon Duval was run.
ming his saloon wide open, and swear
ing that, Hilary having assaulted him
he had struck with his kuife iu self-
defense, while in a half-stunued coz
dition. Little Louis, his brother.
scared out of his wits, had been to
see the cure with view to making his
peace.
Hilary had no desire to punish
Louis any further, though he meant 10
deal with Pierre and Leblanc when
the opportunity arose. He meent to
rid the community Of them and
Simeon; but he had strong mans
reluctance 10 call upon the law to
avenge a physical assault. In the end
the cure went away with the under
standing that Louis was forgives. sne
with no decision taken as to further
action.
"But what strength! What power,
monsieur" he said admirlngly, clench-
ing his hand over the muscles OF
Hilary's arm. "Do you know, mos.
sieur," he continued thoughtfully. =
have often thought that a priest In
such a district as this needs the niue
cularity almost as much as the good
ness! All, Monsieur Askew, IL J
were your age, and of your strength.
what would not dol"
To Hilary his convalescence was .
foretaste of paradise. Edmond Rorn>
came In only for formal visits new,
twice or three times a day; but 1t was
wonderful TO see Madeleine, whom he
knew that he loved with all his heart.
about his bedside all day long, and
then about his chair, waiting on him.
anticipating his wishes, until he felt
ashamed TO be so helpless, her pride
gone, her scorn gone, her enmity as
well. When Hilary learned OF the
part that she had played in his rescue.
and thanked her gratefully. she could
not meet his eyes.
Then came the first day on which
he was permitted to leave his room.
Leaning on Madelelne's arm, he had
gone out to feel the wonder of the
sunshine and the crisp autumn air.
The garden had originally been Ind
out, more than a century before, 10
imitation of the formal garaess os
France of the period, with terraces
and statuary. Everything was "
ruin; and yet Hilary had the sudde
lnexplicable sense of having come
home.
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