The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1920-07-07
Victor kotssseou
u~ssrss;e"s ~ Irwin fiys's
Copyright. 1919. by George II Doran Co

construction. experimenting the work
was a tall, rather fair man of about
forty years, with a 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.. As..ew, the
, owner"
Leblanc put out his hand Imply, but
Hilary, nettled by his manner, did not
take it,.
"AIr. Leblanc is clearing a camp for
his next years lease" continued LATE.
"But the lease is not signed" asked
Hilary.
at will be signed in October" an
swered Leblanc. II have arrange
with Monsieur Norris"
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 a
tree on Hilary's right. 81 work for
Mr.. Morris. l make arrange with him."
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, Leblancw
Leblanc shrugged his shoulders.
"Oh, yes. l 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 ii with a viselike grip.
STEADY. Mr.. Askew. Don't let those
fellows get you riled," he said. eff
you're coming into this game il 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 morse, drove back.
Presently Hilary cooled down. "Who
was the little MANI" he asked.
That's Pierre something-or-other.
Black Pierre. he's called. He's Brous-
sears 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 Lafe.
'"Then what in thunder is he doing
on my concession, talking to my chief
jobber?"
''Well, there amt no law against
it," said LATE, with a humorous look
on his face. 81 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. When
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.
RE. He runs cargoes of gin and brandy
ashore from the south coast, and
there's never been a revenue officer In
this district within human memory, MOI
would one dare to show his face here
Say, I'll take you through Ste. Marie
on the way back to the millp
They had reached the main road
again; they went on little way and
then turned westward over rough
track through burned-ever district
densely covered with fireweed and
white starved asters. Soon another
rig appeared before them. topping the
/ hill. LATE pulled In as IL 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.
II am please to meet you, Mr.. As
kew" he said. II 'ope we shall be-
come friens. like Mr.. Lafe here, an not
quarrel so much"
"Ah. Father Lucy, you make me tired
sometimes" said Lafe. "what In thun-
der's the use Of praying for rain when
the forests are burning. instead of
getting busy and putting out the fire7'
Mr.. LATE. there IL many thing you
do not understand" said the cure. pat.
ting the Yankee on the shoulder be.
nevolently 'Mr. Lafe Is fine fellow"
he added to Hilary, sbut he want to 60
too quick all the time.r
1t was evident to Hilary that the
two were fast friends. Father Lucien
cIucked to his pony, took or his hat
with a flourish, and resumed his Jour.
ney.
ssFather Lucy's a good sort" NUT.
tered Lafe. "but he makes me tired
sometimes. Slow as the devil, Mr.