The Rice belt journal., 1920-06-19
ss 81 81 8 e IS IS s. s. 4ESs ss4

~ ~ ~ ~ vi " VI sSx ~ ~ sGl
tered BrOusseau, trembling. "a few
strands of rock fax, commercially
worthless"
"But that amt roguery. That's Just
business trick" said COnnell "How
did he get you into his power, Mr.. Ros-
ny, asking your pardon? I'll tell you.
He's cheated you as he's cheated us,
except that it was worse, because you
trusted him, which we never did
That's what l come to tell you. Mr..
Rosny. He's swindled you out of
nearly forty thousand dollars on one
deal, in North Empire Development
company stock, and maybe in other"
Brousseau ieaped at Lafe like q
tiger. Lafe, who had anticipated the
move, stepped dexterously aside, at
the same time twlrling the chair on
which his hand was resting. Brous-
seau, in his plunge forward, tripped
over it, stumbled and fell prone to the
floor.
"And / got the papers to prove that
-here!" said Lafe triumphantly.
Brousseau rose, rubbing his shins
and muttering curses, and glared saw
agely about him. Madeleine was
breathing quickly, her seyes fixed in
tently on Lafe's face.
IT'S a ID lie!" cried Brousseau.
They've forged those papers. Where
are they? Eh? Show mel"
"He said he was speaking for you,
Mr.. Rosny," said Lafe, 80 here they
are. l guess you know your sigma
tureT'
He drew the envelope from his pock.
ct and placed the three documents on
the Seigneur's knee, standing between
him and Brousseau, who looked ready
to leap again. But he did not leap {;
he muttered to Madeleine, who still
watched Lafe breathlessly.
II guess these letters don't tell you
much, Mr.. ROsny." continued Lafe. If
youIl put them together you'll see that
those fifty thousand dollar shares were
sold for you in Quebec at hundred
dollars apiece"
'"Yes. Monsieur Brousseau had i'll
fortune with that company. He ex.
planned it to me-" said the Seigneur,
trembling. "What Of it?"
"Why, here's the market price Of It's
shares 1--WE days before at $875, that's
,all,' said Lafe. ut didn't tumble that
fast. All the country would have been
ringing with It If It had done that.
guess Brousseau has that money Of
yours tucked away safely somewhere" !"
''YOu gave me your power Of attor-
ney-" Brousseau began.
But his guilt was written on his
face. The swiftness Of the blow had
utterly disconnected him and made him
incapable Of defense. Lafe saw the
Seigneur's expression change as II a
mask has been torn from his fea-
lures. He staggered to his feet, his
left side helpless, and, grasping the
chair with his right hand, confronted
BrousSeau.
"What have you to sayf Is it true
or false, monsieur?" he cried. where
are my other stocks3 You had a hun
dred thousand Of my money. Where
is TT"
"Find Ill" yelled Brousseau. "Go to
the devil with your money! I tried to
help you out Of friendship. I haven't
time to work out your stock exchange
accounts for you. II anybody's cheat
ed you It's the stockbroker. Go to him
for 1t" BE started toward Madeleine.
'YOu don't believe these lies against
me?" he cried.
"YOu have insulted my father, but
you have not answered him."
'I'n pay him."
''It is true, then? It is true?"
"Yep, it's true" interposed Lafe. "It
can't be anything else. Everybody
knows what a rotten, swindling thief
the fellow is. All, keep your hand
down, Mr.. Rosny. I'm telling you what
think of him. That's what / came
here for. And if you'll excuse me for
referring to your mortgage, which
everybody knows, If he doesn't turn
that In to you by tomorrow Mr.. Askew
win sue him criminally as we'll as civ
lily for what he's done to us, because
we've got the confession Of the man
that sawed the boom for him."
Brousseau swung on his heel sud-
denly and strobe toward the door. He
turned and shook his fist at Lafe, "Pll
pay you for this, you and that other
blackmailer" he swore. "I'll smash
your rotten concern. I'll"
BE broke off with a derisive snort
and made toward the entrance. But
Lafe strobe past him and blocked his
way.
"Just a moment" he said. "Mr.
Rosny's got something to say to you. !"
Brousseau tried to fling himself
past, but Lafe, standing like an iron
sentinel, completely filed the open
ing.
Monsieur BrOusseau," said the
Seigneur, there are jus' few words
to say before you go. Wnen Monsieur
GoEnelf came here he did not meet
with encouragement. He proved his
case. and you have proved it by your
actions. When you were a boy / adj
vanced you. interested myself in you.
You climbed high, and you tried to re-
pay me by ousting me from my lands
and stepping into my shoes. You
| - III.