The Pulaskian., 1920-02-13

Hilary affected not to hear But after Baptiste had gone he felt the incident keenly. He valued the little man, and he knew he had wronged him by re- fusing to affirm his faith in him. Bap- tiste's defection was not very much, but it showed that the wind of adver- sity was still blowing strongly.
 Baptiste secured a job with Brous- seau on the following day and shook the dust of St. Boniface from his heels.
 Leaving Lafe at the mill, Hilary made his headquarters in one of the new camps, about five miles up the river. At five o'clock on the Saturday night he was surprised to see his hands trooping homeward along the road. Many of them did go home over Sunday, and some every night but this was an exodus. Hilary called his gang foreman. who came up sul- lenly.
 What's the meaning of this?" he asked.
 We strike. We want two dollar day"
 Why don't the men come to me?'
 T don't know. We strike, that's all You see Leblanc"
 "So you've chosen this time to strike, have you?" cried Hilary furiously. "All right Get out! I'll bring men over from the south shore"
 He went back to his shack and sat down, resting his head on his hands It was clear that Brousseau had post poned his original plan till now to crip pie him beyond hope. And Leblanc, who did not work for him, was in charge of the affair! He was thor oughly disheartened over this new de- yelopment.
 However, if the strike did not ex- tend to the mill he could still get his shipment through.
 Presently he heard the sound of wheels, and, going outside, saw Lafe driving rapidly along the road. He stopped the horse, jumped out of the buggy. and came up with woeful ex- pression on his face.
 T met your men going home, so I guess you know," he said. They've struck"
 'The mill hands, tool"
 Lafe nodded. Its that fellow Le- blanc. He's telling them they can get two dollars and their grub Mac Pherson tried to hold the mill hands, but he couldn't. You'll have to give what they're asking"
 Suppose I pay the mill hands two dollars, will they stay in?" asked Hil- ary
 Lafe shook his head. q offered it 'em,' he said. q took the responsi- bility of that Maybe I was wrong but anyway, it won't go. They say it's to be two dollars all round, mill hands and lumbermen."
 'I'll not be beaten by Brousseau," said Hilary furiously.
 Lafe scratched his jaw. Tt appears to me that you're going in just the way he wants you to" he answered. Make it two dollars till we get this shipment through the mill"
 Hilary shook his head Mot cent" he answered. I'm not going to have Brousseau dictate the price of my labor"
 That's all right, I suppose. so far as you're concerned" said Lafe indig- nantly, but what about me? I guess I've got the right to have some word in the matter, with that eight thousand of Clarice-my wife-invested. Seems to me you're putting up your front on my money as we'll as yours" he blurted out
 "I'll write you check for it."
 .'Oh, shucksln said I.afe; and. turn hing upon his heel abruptly, he went back to the buggy without another word. He entered #, whisked the reins, and drove slowly away. But when he had gone a hundred paces he turned the horse and came back.
 You'd better know the worst" he said. Louis Duval's in St. Boniface, and he's going to open up tonight Now Pm through with it-all of it."
 He whipped the horse and drove away furiously, leaving Hilary alone in the deserted camp. Hilary sat there for long time. It began to grow dark, but, absorbed in his bitter reflections, he took no note of anything. Everything sank into in- significance beside the fact that Louis Duval, in open defiance of him and his warning, was selling liquor upon the St. Boniface property. It was a delib- crate and direct challenge; and he must accept it or be for ever discredit- l ed among his men. More: He must ac-