The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1920-07-07

/ An hours drive Drought tnem WituIn
sight OF the village. Ste. Marie was
almost q replica Of st. Boniface ex-
ternally. with the same shacks. clus-
tered about the brick Offices Of the
company.
mot much to see now" said Lafe.
'But on pay night it's fierce, Mr.. As
kew. guess this place is real hell"
"Rowdy Connell. you meant"
II didn't mean that. Mr.. Askew. It's
that. God knows; but what meant by
hell was place where everybody's
a law to himself with nothing TO re-
strain him. A place where everybody
does what he wants to do. That's my
idea of hell. sir"
The road wound along the shore.
Presently st. Boniface came into
sight. II think I'll go into the Office,
Connell," said Hilary.
II guess you'll have to break 1t
open, then" said Lafe. "Mr. Morris
took the keys with him."
"When's he coming back?"
"We were expecting him on the boat
this afternoon"
Hilary considered for moment. "I'll
| wait till tomorrow them" he said.
"Hello, Monsieur Baptistew
The little scaler and timekeeper was
hurrying toward the buggy. "Mon-
sieur ~ he gasped. Monsieur Askew,
yesterday I did not know who you
were. Excuse"
That's all right, Baptiste," an
swered Hilary. "Just remember that
I'm running things here now, that's
all. And, by the way. that order about
trespassers and visitors is at an end
There's going to be nothing done here
that Wen be afraid of people finding
out. Got it?"
Jean-Marie Baptiste evidently had
got it, for he looked almost terrified.
He touched his hat and withdrew with
a sort of shutting bow.
"You certainly do have the knack of
putting. things across, Mr.. Askew," said
LATE admiringly. 81 guess you're ready
TO go back to the hotel. Wait. There's
old Dupont, the captain of the lumber
schooner. / guess you'll want to meet
him?"
Il suppose So" said Hilary.
Dupont came toward the rig, ac-
companied by the timekeeper. The
captain was a tall old man of about
sixty years, with gray beard, a
weather-beaten face, and pale gray
eyes that seemed to burn with some
consuming fire. His look, as he turned
ii on Hilary, was so searching, and so
inscrutable, and so momentarily hos
tile, that Hilary felt uncomfortable.
There was a history behind that pene-
trating stare-a history and hate.
But after a moments examination
of Hilary's face film seemed to come
over the old mans eyes. Whatever
the reason for his strange gaze, Du-
pont was satisfied. He stood by LATE,
and Jean-Baptiste translated.
"The captain says the schooner's
full" he said. "He want to start for
Quebec on tonight's tide"
Tell him to speak to Mr.. Askew
here" answered LATE. "Say that Mr..
Askew's in charge"
I The timekeeper translated back into
| the French. A smile flickered upon
Dupont's face He shook his head and
answered.
''He says he's got to have Mr.. Nor.
! ris' ORDERS" said Baptiste.
1 LATE turned TO Hilary, who took up
Tie conversation. ASK him If he
doesn't understand what / am here
! for" he suggested.
Dupont was impregnable in his po-
! 81 on. He had lumber from both con-
cessions, and Mr.. Morris was in charge
of both. What orders had been left
with reference to his freight?
Lgfe was pleased and surprised at
the way Hilary took 1t. But Hilary
had learned good deal during that
morning.
"That sounds reasonable" he said.
"Give him Mr.. Morris orders, Cornell,
whatever they are" And, when the
matter had been settled, he added /:
"You were dead right, Connell. We've
got to settle with the big fellows first"
He dropped LATE at the mill and
drove slowly homeward across the
bridge, thinking hard. There would
probably be no trouble with Leblanc
after he had shown that ne was mas
ter. And Lafe would be a pillar of
strength. Hilary had instructive faith
In the slow-speaking Yankee.
II must get little Baptiste on our
side, too" he said aloud, as the buggy
topped the hill beyond the bridge; and
then he became aware of Madeleine
Rosny upon her horse, at the end of
the branch road, waiting for him to
pass.
Hilary felt uncertain and awkward.
Ought he to raise his hat to her? A
glance at her face showed him that
she was perfectly aware who he was.
1t showed him firm chin, resolutely
set. two angry blue eyes. and flushed
cheeks whose redness did not come
from hard riding.
He decided to bow. But before he
/ dfH 60 thn h,v0v ha1 x,occod loo vim a