The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1920-04-10
CHAPTER Aforementioned

to. And now"
He rose 10 embrace her. but she
| stepped away from him. Not until
we are married. Edouard," she said.
Brousseau WINGED now. 1T almost
looks as if you didn't love me-" he
muttered in disgust And in that
sentence the major part of his charac-
ter might have been epitomized.
Two days after the news reached
Hilary he went into the village for his
mail. Taking it to his office to read,
he found among it bulky envelope
addressed TO him from Ontario in an
unknown writing. He opened it and
found a letter from Norris.
However evasive the ex-manager
had been in conversation, he was d.
rect enough in writing. you didn't
treat me well, and | guess YOU had
reason to act as you did" he wrote.
That hound Brousseau swindIed me
ms he was swindling you. and I'm 60
Ing to put you in possession of the
facts and documents. which ] took
from his desk before leaving. You
needn't have any scruples about using
them, because they refer principally to
you"
Hilary thought enough of the mat
ter to send man to Lafe, asking him
to coale in Immediately; and that
afterLOon the two men went over the
situa'i ion together.
IT'S a clear case" said Hilary.
Hes been swindling the property
right and left. it seems | allowed for
a few thousands, but as I make II out
1t amounts 10 nearly eighty thousand"
Aafe whistled and took up the paper
that Hilary handed him.
This is the contract with Leblanc
to cut on the st. Boniface limits" he
said. $50 there's no mistaking who
owned that lumber in the river"
He took up another document "a
contract with the Cornwall Paper
company TO supply twenty thousand
cords of spruce wood from the st.
Boniface limits" he said. And
here's Morris receipt for seven thou
sand dollars commission on 'gummy
fir as he would call tin other words,
pulpwood sold off the seigniory during
1914, at 10 per cent. What do you
make of it, Lafe?"
"Water-tight," answered LATE.
Here's another document that
makes interesting reading" continued
Hilary. handing it TO him.
LATE studied it. 81 don't get it," he
said
Its Lamartine'S acknowledgment of
fifty thousand dollars received from
RoSny for fifty shares in the North
Empire Development company-one of
Brousseau's interests. Now look at
this one Lamartine is RENTING five
thousand dollars less the brokers'
charges for the sale of North Empire
Development stock, as per order He
doesn't say how much stock. Lamar
tine isn't fool But here's Rosnys
dollars less brokers' charges for the
sale of fifty shares, dated March y.
1913. Now here's stock market
clipping from a newspaper Of March
4, showing the stock at $50.
THAT'S where we've got him, Lafe.
Lamartine's letter proves nothing, but
Norris got hold Of Rosny's acknowled-
ment, probably for Matchmaking pur-
poses. and it shows Brousseau has
swindled Rosny out of $37 600 on that
nfh
That's where his money went"
ats a pity Morris couldn't run
straight, being as thorough as he is"
said LATE.
Hilary looked at him searchingly
until he compelled him to return his
gaze.
you have been very reticent of late,
LATE. What's the trouble?'
Il guess it amt much" said Connell.
"Weu. you see, it's this way" he went
on reluctantly. Il knew what lies
that BLACKBOARD was spreading about
vor And ! didn't know whether to
tell YOU or not, Mr.. Askew. | knew
Baptiste saw us with that giri ID Ste.
Marie. and | knew from his face that
he wasn't pleased. And again didn't
know what to do. And | decided to lie
low. It's my way; maybe l was wrong,
but I'm against butting in, by nature.
"Neyer mind, Lafe," said Hilary.
.sIt's too late to make any difference
now"
.sNo. IT amt too later shouted LATE,
leaning TO his feet. "ATr. Askew, you
haven't told hinl-Mr. Rosny-about
that asbestos mine, have you? You
ought TO have gone TO him and let him
know. You could have saved Nam
zelle Rosny from sacrificing herself
this way. You can save her. ana
you're going to-
Il suppose l have let things drift,
said Hilary somberly. 81 lived in
sort of hope that the mess would clear
up. And | hadn't the heart to do any
thing at ALL
There's the girl Marie-won't she
say anything?"
"She's afraid of her father There's
no telling how he would take it. Al
present / don't think he knows any
thing"
Il wouldn't let that stand in my
way" said LATE emphatically.
81 don't think you'd really use that