The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1920-03-27

| Hilary affected not to hear. But after
| Baptiste had gone he felt the incident
keenly. He valued the little man, and
he knew he had wronged him by re-
fusing to affirm his faith in him. Bap-
tistes detection was not very much,
| but it showed that the wind of adver-
sity was still blowing strongly.
Baptiste secured job with BrOus-
seau on the following day and shook
the dust of st. Boniface from his heels.
Leaving Lafe at the mill, Hilary
made his headquarters In one of the
new camps, about five miles up the
river. At five o'clock on the Saturday
night he was surprised to see his
hands trooping homeward along the
road. Many of them did go home
over Sunday, and some every night !;
but this was an exodus. Hilary called
his gang foreman, who came up sui
lenly.
whats the meaning Of this?" he
asked
1--WE strike. We want two dollar a
day."
"Why don't the men come to me?'
II don't know. We strike, that's
all. You see Leblanc"
$50 you've chosen this time to strike,
have you?" cried Hilary furiously. "All
right. Get out! I'll bring men over
from the south shore"
He went back to his shack and sat
down, resting his head on his hands.
It was clear that Brousseau had post
poned his original plan till now to Grip
pie him beyond hope. And Leblanc,
who did not work for him, was in
charge of the affair! He was thor
oughly disheartened over this new de-
velopment.
However, If the strike did not ex-
tend to the mill he could still get his
shipment through.
Presently he heard the sound OF
wheels, and, going outside, saw LATE
driving rapidly along the road. He
stopped the horse, jumped out OF the
buggy, and came up with a woeful ex'
preston on his face.
Il met your men going home, SO
guess you know" he said. They've
struck"
"The mill hands, too?"
Lafe nodded. "It's that fellow LIE
blanc. He's telling them they can get
two dollars and their grub. Mac
Pherson tried to hold the mill hands
but he couldn't. You'll have to give
what they're asking
Suppose I pay the mill hands two
dollars, will they stay in?" asked Hill
airy.
LATE shook his head. II offered Il
EN-" he said. II took the RESPONSE
bility of that. Maybe l was wrong
but anyway, it won't go. They say it:
to be two dollars all round, mill hand:
and lumbermen."
"I'll not be beaten by Brousseau,
said Hilary furiously.
LATE scratched his jaw. 1T appears
to me that you're going in just the wa.
he wants you to-" he answered. MAKE
it two dollars till we get this shipmen
through the MILL"
Hilary shook his head. "Not cent,
he answered. "rm not going to hav'
Brousseau dictate the price Of m!
labor"
THAT'S all right, I suppose. so IA
as you're concerned" said LATE indig
nantly, ''but what about me? I gnes
I've got the right to have some wor'
in the matter. with that eight THOUSAND
Of Clarice-my wife-invested. Seem
to me you're putting up your front OF
my money as well as yours" he blurte'
out.
"Trl write you q check for It."
"Oh, shucks!" said LATE; and, turn
ming upon his heel abruptly, he wen
back to the buggy without anothe
word. He entered it, whisked tn
reins, and drove slowly away. Blu
when he had gone hundred PAGES h
turned the horse and came back.
you'd better know the worst" h
said. Louis DuvaPs in st. Bonifact
and he's going to open up tonight
Now I'm through with it-all of it."
He whipped the horse and droy
away furiously, leaving Hilary alon
iE the deserted camy.
Hilary sat there for long time.
began to grow dark, but, absorbed |
n his bitter reflections. he took no not
e of anything. Everything sank into II
significance beside the fact that LOU
d Duval, in open defiance Of him and hi
d warning, was selling liquor upon tn
+ st. Boniface property. 1t was dell
crate and direct challenge; and b
al must accept 1t or be for ever discredi
q ed among his men. More: He must u