The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1920-04-17

man or great muscular power. The
two looked up as the buggy APP
preached, and the short man sc0wled.
"Ghis is Mr. Leblanc" said LATE.
"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 a camp for
his next years lease" continued LATE.
"Edlt the lease. is not signed?" asked
Hilary,
1T will be signed in October" an
swerPd Leblanc. 81 have arrange
with Monsieur Morris"
You'll make your arrangements
with me in future" said Hilary. 'If
the price is satisfactory, you can have
this tract"
Leblanc stared at him insolently
with his good eye, the other fixing
tree on EIilary's right. 81 work for
Mr., Norris. make arrange with him."
he answered.
"Soe here, Leblanc, you didn't catch
who. this gentleman is" said Late.
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 maIlciously at Hilarys
discontinue.
Hilary flushed, but LATE laid his
hand on his wrist, closing the fingers
about it with a viselike grip.
STEADY, Mr.. Askew. Don't let those
fellows get you rlled," he said. "If
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"
Theyre-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 a trouble
some man, Mr.. Hilary, He'll bear
watching"
"WeIl fire him first thing" said Hill
airy.
"Why, he amt hired by US" 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 Brousseau wags. Once
you get Brousseau's hand out Of your
pie, the others follow him. Wher
Pierre sees there amt no more pick
ings out of the st. Boniface land he'll
go back to the smuggling business"
"Brandy-smuggling?"
"Why, he's the bad man of Ste. Ma
rie. He runs cargoes of gin and brandy
ashore from the south coast, anC
there's never been revenue officer il
this district within human memory, mol
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 roat
again; they went on a little way anc
then turned westward over a rough
track through a burned-OVer distric
densely covered with freWeed anC
white starved asters. Soon another
| rig appeared before them, topping thu
hill. LATE pulled in as 1t 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'
old Mr.. Askew's nephew"
The cure looked Hilary over, ther
he leaned forward and extended hi
hand, which Hilary grasped.
II am please to meet you, Mr.. As
kew" he said. 81 'Ope we shall be
come friens, like Mr.. LATE here, an no
quarrel so much"
"Ah, Father Lucy, you make me tire
sometimes" said LATE. "What in thun
ders the use of praying for rain whel
the forests are burning, instead o
getting busy and putting out the fire?
"Mr. LATE, there is many thing yo1
do not understand" said the cure, pal
ting the Yankee on the shoulder be
nevolently MIR. LATE is fine fellow,
, he added to Hilary, "but he want to 6
too quick all the time"
1t was evident to Hilary that tn
, two were fast friends. Father Lueie
clucked to his pony, took off his ha
| with flourish, and resumed his 1oul
ney.
! Father Lucy's a good sort" mut
> tered LATE, "but he makes me tire
, sometimes. Slow as the devil, Nj
: Askew. And yet, now / come to thin
3 of it, he does get results in his ow
!. time. He amt equal to cleaning u
Ste. Marie, though"
After a pause he added: "Somt
times I've thought that Father Luc
had something up his sleeve about st,
e Marie after all"
$ An hours drive brought them with
Z, / ry~bA 20 Gbo ,,iIIoOo CO AFo-sa -,