The Connecticut labor press., 1920-09-18
Tsame and the gangs back on the .vo.

Same and the gangs back on the Juo
 "You paid them two dollars?"
 "Not a cent more.' said Lafe tri- umphantly. "They asked to go back to work, and you ought to see them working! I guess they feel that they haven't given you a square deal. and MT. Rosny's been having a few words with them, I hear. Anyway, they know now it's Morris who tipped off the revenue people. in order to make trouble for you, and the result is this part of the country has grown too not for him. So he's gone away. I hear he had a quarrel with Rrnusse~1 ovei the share of their plunder, and thAF almost came to blows over 1t. Weh that's the first of the gang out. And MacPherson has turned out a trump, working overtime and making the hands work, and it begins to look to me as if we'll win out after all."
 This was good news. It was now September, and in little more than a month the snow should extend con- siderably their cutting area.
 So they discussed their plans, until Madeleine, coming In, drove Connen away. Hilary would not ask him about his assailants, and Lafe was glad to avoid the subject. It was Father Lucien who took 1t up later, when Hilary was convalescent. He hummed and hawed a good deal. | and finally the truth came out. It would be easy enough to get the po- h1r% fhn tette would have to be laid by the heels before the advent of winter made further action impossible for months. Of the four, Pierre had dis appeared. Leblanc was said to have gone into the woods for the winter to trap, having apparently abandoned his pretense of a sub-lease on the Ste. Marie limits. Simeon Duya1 was rum ming his saloon wide open, and swear ing that, Hilary having assaulted him. he had struck with his knife in self defense, while in half-stunned con- dition. Little Louis, his brother, scared out of his wits, had been to see the cure with view to making his peace.
 Hilary had no desire to punish Louis any further, though he meant to deal with Pierre and Leblanc when the opportunity arose. He meant to rid the community of them and Simeon; but he had a strong mans reluctance to call upon the law to avenge a physical assault. In the end the cure went away with the under standing that Louis was forgiven. and with no decision taken as to further action.
 "But what strength! What power, monsieurl" he said admiringly, clench- ing his hand over the muscles of Hilary's arm! "Do you know, mon- sieur," he continued thoughtfully, "I have often thought that a priest in such a district as this needs the mus cularity almost as much as the good nessi An. Monsieur Askew, if I were your age, and of your strength. what would I not dol"
 To Hilary his convaIescence was a foretaste of paradise. Edmond Rosny came in only for formal visits now. twice or three times day; but it was wonderful to see Madeleine. whom he knew that he loved with all his heart,
 
 about his bedside all day long, and then about his chair, waiting on him, anticipating his wishes, until he felt ashamed to be so helpless, her pride gone, her scorn gone, her enmity as well. When Hilary learned of the part that she had played in his rescue. and thanked her gratefully. she could not meet his eyes.
 Then came the first day on which he was permitted to leave his room. Leaning on Madeleines arm, he had gone out to feel the wonder of the sunshine and the crisp autumn air. The garden had originally been laid out, more than century before, in imitation of the formal gardens of France of the period, with terraces and statuary. Everything was in ruin; and yet Hilary had the sudden. inexplicable sense of having come home.
 'Mademoiselle Rosny," he said, i've are going to be good friends in future. aren't we? The goodwill goes with your kindness, even if 1t does not go with the trees"