The Crittenden press., 1920-01-30
time and the gangs bLck on the ich.s

time and the gangs bIcl! on the jck.s
"You paid them two dOIlars?"
mot a cent more" said Lafe til.
umphantly. "They asked to 90 back
to work, and you ought to see them
working! | guess they feel that they
haven't given you square deal. and
Mr.. Rosny's been having few words
with them, hear. Anyway. :hcy
know now It's Morris who tipped of
the revenue people. in order to make
trouble for you. and the result II this
part Of the country has grown too hot
for him. So he's gone away. ] hear
he had quarrel with Brousseau over
the share Of their plunder, and they
almost came 10 blows over II. Well,
that's the first Of the gang out. And
MACPHERSON has turned out 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 wa1 now
September, and in little more than a
month the snow should extend con-
slderably their cutting area.
So they discussed their plans. until
Madeleine, coming in. drove Connell
away. Hilary would not ask him
about his assalants. and Lafe was
glad to avoid the subject. It was
Father Lucien who took it up later,
when Hilary was convalescent
He hummed and hawed Il &c Vi deal,
and finally the truth came out. II
would be easy enough to get the po-
lice up from Quebec. hut the quar-
'ette would have to he laid bT the
heels before the advent of winter
made further action Impossible for
months. OF the four, Pierre hnd dis
appeared. Leblanc was said tn have
gone into the woods for the winter &c
trap, having apparently abandoned lis
pretense of suitcase on the Ste
Marie limits. Simeon Duval was run.
ming his saloon wide open, and swerT-
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 becu to
see the cure with view to making mis-
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; hut he had 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.
monsieur" he said admiringly, clench-
ing his hand over the muscles Ot
Hilary's arm. "Do you know, mon
sieur," he continued thoughtfuly. II
have often thought that priest 10
such a district a, this needs the muy-
cularity almost q, much as the good.
ness! All. Monsieur Askew, L ]
were your age, bnd Of your siren 9Th.
what would not dol"
To Hilary his eonvalescence IVES
foretaste OF paradise. Edmond Re- sny
came In only for formal visits row.
twice or three tines day; but II was
wonderful to see Madeleine. whoU he
knew that he loved with all his h.art,
about his bedside all day long, and
then about his chair, waiting on MIN,
anticipating his wishes, until he felt
ashamed to be so helpless. Der pside
gone, her scorn gone, her enmlty rs
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 ais room.
Leaning on Madelelne's 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 sardens OF
France of the period. wrl terruces
and statuary. Everything WIS In
ruin; and yet Hilary had ,he sudden.
Inexplicable sense Of having come
home.
"Mademoiselle Rosny." ne said. I'VE
are going TO he good friends In future.
aren't we? The goodwill goes with
your kindness, even II u does not 20
with tha trees"