The Rice belt journal., 1920-05-15
By
VICTOR
ROUSSEAU
illustrations BY
irwin Myers


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swear you try to kill Black Pierre, an
my brudder, an me. Now what you
say|
Il haven't come here to say, but to
give your brother a thrashing," an.
swered Hilary scornfully. THE thrash
ing that | promised him that night at
Ste. Marie"
You spy on me in Ste. Marie an
bring revenue officers. 1t cost me a
hundred dollar, you damn police spy.
You 60 now, eh? What you say?"
Hilary wheeled upon Leblanc and
Pierre. "And these men-what are
they doing here? You want three men
to help you kill me. eh SimeonY
He did not want to parley, but in
spite of his eagerness his judgment
told him that he was in a perilous sit
uatiOn. He must taunt them till they
lost their heads; that would give him
an advantage.
You, Leblanc, want your lease
again, I suppose, you thief" he said.
you, Pierre, didn't get enough of a
hiding that day l caught you cutting
down my trees. There's another COM
ing to you in minute or two. Simeon,
if I'd been you I'd have picked some
men who could help me fight if l was
afraid, instead"
He got no further. for at that mo-
ment, taking the initiative, he sprang.
His fists dashed full into Simeon's
face, right and left, almost together.
Simeon tOppled backward; his head
struck the edge of the stall behind
him, and he dropped moaning to the
floor and lay there.
Passing him, Hilary leaped for Louis,
but the agile little man eluded him
and darted down the middle of the
stable. Before he could quite recover
himself Leblanc and Pierre sprang
from behind. AS Hilary swung side
wise he saw the knife in Pierre's hand
He thrust his arm up, and the blow,
diverted, glanced, the knife ripping his
sleeve open. Leblanc, also with a
knife, was springing from the other
side. Hilary sized up the situation with
Judgment for which he could never
afterward account. Dashing his fists
upward, he caught Pierre under the
chin, forcing his head back; at the
same time he grasped the wrist which
held the knife and swung so as to in
terpOse the outlaws body between
himself and Leblanc's blow. AS Le-
blanc struck again Hilary turned, shell
tering himself behind Pierre, one hand
under his chin, the other holding back
the wrist, so that Leblanc's short, stab
bing strokes always fell short, being
aimed around Pierre's body.
Backing into the stall adjacent to
the one in which Simeon had fallen,
Hilary in this manner continued to
ward off Leblanc's attack. The stall
was narrow, and the johber was un-
able to get past Pierre, struggling in
Hilary's grasp, in order to strike q
blow from the side or rear. So long
as Hilary could retain his hold On
Pierre and keep him in this position he
was comparatively safe. But he had
no more than about fifteen seconds in
which to think out his next move. 1t
was all question of muscular en-
durance. He could not hope to retain
his clutch On Pierre's throat with one
hand for many seconds. against the
force behind the outlaws shoulders,
and his strong, thick-set body. Sud-
denly he made up his mind. He re-
leased Pierre, fiinging him backward
with all his might. Pierre fell against
Leblanc, sending him staggering; the
two clawed at each other and fell to
the floor.
AS Hilary released Pierre he caught
sight of Louis face peering across
Pierre's shoulder, The fall of the two
men left Louis Hilary's only immedi-
ate opponent. Hilary hesitated; in
spite of his threat, spoken to Simeon,
he hesitated to attack man much his
inferior in size and strength. But at
that moment he saw Louis right arm
drawn back, and the CLEAN Of the
knife he held. Before the upward
thrust came he stepped back, pulled
the revolver from his pocket, and
brought the butt crashing down on
Louis head.
That's what I promised you" he
shouted.
The little man, instantly drenched