The Rice belt journal., 1920-05-15

his gang foreman, who came up sui
lenly.
Whats the meaning of thisY he
asked,
1--WE strike. We want two dollar q
day"
why don't the men come to me?"
Il don't know. We strike, that's
all. You see Leblanc"
SO you've chosen this time to strike
have you?" cried Hilary furiously. "All
right. Get out I'll bring men over
from the south shore"
He went back to his shack and SAT
down, resting his head on his hands
1t was clear that Brousseau had post.
poned his original plan till now to Grip.
pie him beyond hope. And Leblanc
who did not work for him, was in
charge of the affair! He was thor.
oughly disheartened over this new de-
velOpment.
However, if the strike did not ex.
tend to the mill he could still get his
shipment through.
Presently he heard the sound of
wheels, and, going outside, saw Lafe
driving rapidly along the road. He
stopped the horse, jumped out of the
buggy, and came up with a woeful ex.
preston on his face.
u met your men going home, so |
guess you know" he said. They've
struck"
THE mill hands, too?"
Lafe nodded, ITS that fellow Le-
blanc. He's telling them they can get
two dollars and their grub. Mac
PhersOn tried to hold the mill hands,
but he couldn't. You'll have to give
what they're asking"
Suppose pay the mill hands two
dollars, will they stay in?" asked Hill
ary.
Lafe shook his head. II offered it
EN-" he said. Il took the RESPONSE
bility of that. Maybe l was wrong
but anyway, 1t won't go. They say it's
to be two dollars all round, mill hands
and lumbermen."
'I'll not be beaten by Brousseau," {"
said Hilary furiously.
Lafe scratched his jaw. ut appears
to me that you're going in just the way
he wants you to-" he answered. make
it two dollars till we get this shipment
through the MILL"
Hillary shook his head. "Not cent"
he answered. "Tm not going to have
Brousseau dictate the price of ny
labor"
"That's all right, suppose, so far
as you're concerned" said Lafe indig.
nantIy, "but what about me? / guess
I've got the right to have some word
in the matter, with that eight thousand
Of Clarice-my wife-inveSted. Seems
to me you're putting up your front on
my money as well as yours" he blurted
out
"I'll write you a check for it."
"Oh, shucks!" said Lafe; and, turn.
ming upon his heel abruptly, he went
back to the buggy without another
word. He entered it, whisked the
reins, and drove slowly away. But
when he had gone hundred PAGES he
turned the horse and came back.
you'd better know the worst" he
said. Louis Duval's in st. Boniface,
and he's going to open up tonight.
Now I'm through with it-all Of It."
He whipped the horse and drove
away furiouslyy leaving Hilary alone
in the deserted camp.
Hilary sat there for a long time. 1t
began to grow dark, but, absorbed in
his bitter reflections, he took no note
of anything. Everything sank into in-
significance beside the fact that Louis
DuvaI in open defiance of him and his
warning. was selling liquor upon the
st. Boniface property. 1t was a DELHI
crate and direct challenge; and he
must accept it or be for ever discredit-
ed among his men. More: He must ac-
cept it or abandon his plans and re-
turn home.
"Ill stop that, anyhow" he NUT
tered, and, rising took a revolver from
his suitcase, loaded the six chambers,
and thrust it into his coat pocket.
Then he clapped on his hat and went
out.
1t was still light, and he calculated
to reach st. Boniface soon after Duval
opened. But he had not gone dozen
PAGES when he heard the sound of a
trotting horse, and presently, from
among the trees, he perceived Made
leine ROsny upon the chestnut which
had bOlted with her on the day Of the
dynamite blast.
She put her horse to the gallop as
she neared him, and reined up so sud.
denly that she almost threw the beast,
back upon his launches. Hilary saw
that she had a new and powerful bit,
which gave her perfect control. Her
pluck was splendid in this riding of
the same animal along the same road.
He raised his hat and waited. She
leaned over the horses shoulder, and
he saw that her face was expressive of
great concern.
You are not to go to st. Boniface
tonight" she said.
May | ask whyT'