The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1920-02-28


off into Mr. Leblanc's lease"
"Who's hep"
"Your chief jObber," said LATE.
The buggy turned off through the
| forest. along a new road. Here was
some splendid timber, black and white
spruce and tall white pine. The sound
of axes began to be audible, and pres
emily they reached clearing, in which
a number of frame shacks were under
construction. Experimenting the work
was a tall, rather fair man of about
forty years, with q cast in one eye
and with him was a short, thickset
man of great muscular power. The
| two looked up as the buggy ap-
| preached, and the short man scowled.
"This is Mr.. Leblanc" said Lafe.
''Mr. Leblanc, this is Mr.. Askew, the
owner
Leblanc put out his hand Imply, but
Hilary, nettled by his manner, did not
| take it.
"Mr. Leblanc is clearing camp for
his next years lease" continued Lafe
But the lease is not signed?" asked
Hilary.
1T will be signed in October" an
| swered Leblanc. Il have arrange
with Monsieur Morris"
you'll make your arrangements
with me in future" said Hilary. eff
the price is satisfactory, you can have
this tract"
Leblanc stared at him insolently
with his good eye, the other fixing a
tree on Hilary's right. 81 work for
he answered.
"See here, Leblanc, you didn't catch
who this gentleman is" said Lafe
''This is Mr. Askew, the nephew Of
the late Mr.. Askew. He has come into
the property. He's boss. You get me,
don't you, Leblanc?"
Leblanc shrugged his shoulders.
"Oh, yes, understand" he answered,
and, turning without another word,
walked back toward the lumbermen,
accompanied by the short man, who
was chuckling maliciously at Hilary's
discontinue.
Hilary flushed, but LATE laid his
hand on his wrist, closing the fingers
about it with viselike grip.
STEADY, Mr.. Askew. Don't let those
fellows get you riled," he said. eff
you're coming into this game it means
steady work. You've got to hold back
and hold back, until you've got things
ready"
They re-entered the buggy and, turn
ing the horse, drove back.
Presently Hilary cooled down. "Who
was the little man?" he asked.
"That's Pierre something-or-other.
Black Pierre, he's called. He's Brous-
seau's chief crook. He's trouble
some man, Mr.. Hilary. He'll bear
watching"
"Well fire him first thing" said Hill
airy.
why, he amt hired by u.s." an
swered LATE.
"Then what in thunder is he doing
on my concession, talking to my chief
jobber?"
swell, there amt no law against
it," said LATE, with humorous look
on his face. II guess them two are
pretty thick together.
"You see, Mr.. Askew, it's this way"
he went on. "If you're going to clear
up this mess, it amt bit of good
going for the little fellows. They're
the tail that BrousseeI wags. Once
you get Brousseau's hand out Of your
pie, the others follow him. When
Pierre sees there amt no more pick
ings out Of the st. Boniface land he'll
60 back to the smuggling business"
"Brandy-smuggling?"
"Why, he's the bad man Of Ste. Ma
RE. He runs cargoes Of gin and brandy
ashore from the south coast, and
there's never been revenue officer in
this district within human memory, nor
would one dare to show his face here.
Say, I'll take you through Ste. Marie
on the way back to the mill!"
They had reached the main road
again; they went on little way ard
then turned westward over a rough
track through a burned-over district
densely covered with fireweed and
white starved asters. Soon another
rig appeared before them, topping the
hill. LATE pulled in as it approached.
"Bonjour, Father Lucy" he called
to the elderly priest. who sat inside.
"This gentleman is Mr.. Askew, the new
owner Of the Rosny concession. He's
old Mr.. Askew's nephew"
The cure looked Hilary over, then
he leaned forward and extended his
hand, which Hilary grasped.
81 am please to meet you, Mr.. As
kew" he said. II 'ope we shall be-
come friens, like Mr.. LATE here, an not
quarrel so much"
."Ah, Fsther Lucy, you make me tired
sometime !" said LATE. "What in thun-
der's thel hse Of praying for rain when
tho fOrnEtS are burning instead of