The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1920-06-10

sand dollars, and he's cheated you, Mr..
Rosny, out of about as much. and prob
ably more, and you can put II 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 delgn to
| acknowledge that she had listened to
Lafe's words, Lafe caught the flicker
OF her eyelids as she glanced quickly
toward Brousseau. and he knew that
at the same instant she had seen the
look on Brousseau's face. The Seig-
neur, mouthing impotently, had Kepr
trying TO rise; but now he sat open
mouthed 10 his chair, and thereafter
they listened.
I'll tell you why he wants the
seignlory," continued Lafe. ~ guess
It's part plain greed, but there's an
other reason, and fcst explains why
he wants to get Mr.. AcSew off. There's
an asbestos mine on tbs island-Look
at him Look at him -
Brousseau was glarng az him. the
picture OF impotent rage. Lafe. hav-
, ing indicated him with his hand, ~
| sumed:
HE kept II off the map In our Office,
pretending the island isn't on our lin
It's, 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
more. Maybe milllon-I amt no
| judge. And he's kept 1t secret from
you"
Hes drunk or dreaming" NUT
tered Brousseau, trembling. "a few
strands of rock fax, commercially
worthless"
"But that aln't roguery. That's just
business trick" said Connell. "How
did he get you into his power, Mr.. Ros-
ny, asking your pardon? I'll 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 l 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 feaped at Lafe like a
| tiger. Lafe. who had anticipated the
move, stepped dexterously aside, at
the same time twlrling the chair on
which his hand was resting. Brous-
seau, In his plunge forward, trlpped
over II, stumbled and fell prone to the
floor.
"And l got the papers to prove that
-here!' said Lafe 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 n id lle!" cried Brousseau.
They've forged those papers. Where
are they- Eth? Show mel'
"He said ne was speaking for you.
Mr.. Rosny," said Late. $50 here they
are. l guess you know your sigma
ture?
lie drew the envelope from his pock-
ct and placed the three documents on
the Seigneurs knee, standing between
him and Brousseau. who looked ready
to leap again. But he did not leap
he muttered to Madeleine, who still
watched Lafe breathlessly.
81 guess these letters don't tell you
much, Mr. Rosny," continued Lafe. "If
you'll put them together you'll see that
those fifty thousand-dollar shares were
sold for you In Quebec at hundred
dollars apiece"
"Yes. Monsieur Brousseau had Ill
fortune with that company. He ex,
planned 1t to me-" said the Segneur
trembling. "Whet of It"
"Why, here's the market price of Its
shares five days before at SS75. that's
ALL" said Lafe. ut didn't tumble that
fast. All the country would have been
ringing with II IL 1t 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. Lafe saw the
Seigneur's expression change as II a
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 sayf Is II true
or false, monsieur he cried. "Where
are my other stocks? You had hun
dred thousand of my money. Where
Is itf"
"Find it," yelled Brousseau. $50 tC
I the devil with your money! tried tc
!. help you out of friendship. l haven't
d, time TO work out your stock exchange
l accounts for you. II anybody's cheat
ed you it's the stockbroker. Go to him
for IT," He started toward Madeleine
n sVn,, don't haltava fhaSa ltaS apainSi