The Connecticut labor press., 1920-02-14
CHAPTER x.
Unexpected AIIies.

Unexpected AIIies.
 Lafe Cornell, at Monsieur Trem- plays hotel, stretched out his legs upon chair and puffed viciously at his pipe, while Monsieur Tremblay leaned against the wall and listened to his guests semi-sOliloQuy.
 Yep, Tremblay, I'm through now" Lafe was saying. "pm through for good, and I'm going to wait here till the boat comes tomorrow and then beat it for Shoeburyport. Lord, I'll be glad to see Clarice-my wife-and the kids again.
 i've put up good fight, Tremblay. I've dropped eight thousand dollars in this fool game, and Clarice and me will have to start buying our home again when I get back to Shoebury- port, and maybe won't hear nothing about it, neither. But when it's a case of throwing away a few thousand dol lars worth of lumber, just because you look upon a strike as a personal of fense, and me losing my home, I've finished. I've come to the end. The end-fnish-no more. You under stand me, Tremblay. I'm going to leave him to his fate," continued Lafe, trying to draw a few more mouthfuls of tobacco smoke from his burned-out plug. "It's his fault"
 He shook his pipe out angrily.
 "Oui," said TreInblay; and the word conveyed any significance that its nearer might choose to put upon 1t. "Oui," he continued thoughtfully, though what he was thinking about was incomprehensible.
 Tt ain't my job," Lafe pursued. 'T'm family man. I got my wife and kids to think about, and I'm against pre- paredness. It ain't reasonable to hire a man for manager and then expect him to go round saloon-busting, is 1t, Tremblay?"
 "Oui," answered Tremblay.
 You're right" said Lafe. "Of course it ain't." He filled his pipe again, lit and puffed at it. "I don't know what in thunder's wrong with this tobacco tonight" he said, and emptied it. He crossed his right leg over his left, uncrossed them, and then crossed his left over his right. Then he got up.
 Il guess I'll take stroll up the road and see If the stars are out" he said.
 Lafe's stroll was a rapid one. AS soon as he had left the porch he al- most ran up the hill road toward the cliff. AS he panted toward the summit he heard the rumble Of wheels in the distance, and presently he saw the cures rig coming toward him. He hailed.
 Say, Father Lucy, d'you mind giv- ing me a lift into St. Boniface?" he called.
 The rig stopped and Lafe perceived Madeleine Rosny seated at the cures side. Her hands were clasped, her face agitated and deathly pale. Lafe's hand went up to his hat awkwardly. T beg pardon, Father Lucy" he nut tered.
 "T'm glad that we met. We need you We are going to St. Boniface. Jump in and shall tell you on the way'
 Lafe entered the buggy, and Father Lucien urged on the horse; then he turned and said:
 Louis Duval has opened a saloon in Baptiste's old house, and Monsieur Askew has gone to stop him.
 ..'I guessed so. Father Lucy" an- swered Lafe. "I was just on my way there. in case there was going to be trouble. I guess there isn't likely to be. though. MT. Askew knows how to take care of himself''
 '"Trouble?" questioned the cure, sharply. ''They are going to murder him."
 "I heard some yarn like that from Tremblay," said Lafe, ''but I guessed that was all talk"
 Tt was not talk. It is their plan" said Father Lucien. "Mademoiselle Rosny heard of it from Monsieur Brousseau days ago-it was on the day when you went to Ste. Marie. He rode with her toward Ste. Marie and told her so. She did not believe him. This afternoon she learned of it again from little Baptiste, who asked her to warn Monsieur Askew. Everybody knew he would go alone to St. Roni- face to stop the sale of liquor. Made moisele Rosny rode up to the camp to warn Monsieur Askew, as Baptiste had begged her. He would not listen to her. She came to me. It is dev- i1s' plot" he said sternly, "and if they hurt one hair of his head they shall go to prison for it.'
 eve must get there iu time to save