The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1920-04-15

The lumbermen had begun to edge
In about them. Sentiment. while run
ming strongly against the intruder,
was not angrily hostile. The men were
eager 10 see how Hilary would bear
himself against Simeon, and they
hoped for some fun. Hilary saw among
them the face OF Simeons brother
Louis. who looked like small model
upon a lighter scale.
MY brother here. He speak for
himself, Meestair Askew. He not
afraid. You think. p'r'aps. because
you thrash Black Pierre. you boss In
Ste. Marie7"
"No. don't. ] wish l were" said
Hilary. "If ! were, Simeon. should
run you down to Quebec Jail right of
the reel But I'm boss In ST. Boniface.
and II Louis opens liquor den there.
I'll break his head open and run him
In afterward."
Few OF those present understood his
exact meaning. but an OmlnOus growl
showed that this declaration was ap-
preciated at more or less its correct
value. The mob began moving for
ward. For n few moments the situa-
tion looked menacing. Hilary took the
aggressive, as usual.
"Ah. LeblancI' he called out. "How
do you like your new job? I'm start
ing in TO cut out that limit you
handed back TO me. There's some
good timber there, Leblanc"
Leblanc snarled and started for
ward. shaking his fist and mutterlng.
However, he could not get through the
press, and II Is not probable that be
tried very hard to do so.
"Well, that's about all, Simeon"
Hilary called. II just came In to look
at your place and give your brother
friendly warning. because / never
warn when I'm ready to strike"
"My brother take care Of himself.
He amt afraid OF you" said Simeon.
who kept as cool as Hilary. Hilary
lntuitively summed him up as the most
dangerous of his opponents. "But |
guess you amt going like that, Mees-
taIr Askew." continued the liquor
seller 81 ask you to have a drink on
me an you say no. Now you going TO
buy drinks all round, eh1"
Hilary laughed out loud. "Not for
your crowd. Simeon" he answered.
Simeon planted his fat body heavily
before him. "What you say? You buy
drinks, eh?" be demanded truculently.
Hilary put his hands on Simeon's
shoulders and pushed him bodily back
ward. Simeon. who was planted
rather than stood, at first resisted as
tree might resist a gentle shove with
the hand; but he could not resist the
strength behind liilary's shoulders.
and he began TO sway and went top
pllng backward. landing, still rigid,
upon the floor.
Some of the girls shrIeked, and the
lumbermen came surging forward
toward Hilary and Lafe and began TO
hustle them. Yet, knowing Hilary's
before initiating hostilitles; and that
moment brought an unexpected inter
ruption.
For n boy ran screaming in nj the
door. and what he cried startled the
entire assemblage. Simeon, who had
been struggling To his feet. was upon
them In an instant But before the
crowd had recovered from its confu-
sion two officers in the uniform Of the
revenue department came running In.
They carried revolvers in their hands,
and they pounced upon Simeon and
had him at their mercy In an instant.
At once the whole scene was dis
solved. Men and girls ran this way
and that, a wildly flying, panicky mass.
IL was one thing TO drink and brawl In
Ste. Marie. but quite another TO defy
the tlreless officials of the revenue de-
paitmsnt. who patroled the river at
uncertain intervals, whose arms were
very long.
Whether any one except Simeon was
wanted in that particular place was
never known, for II was all the officers
could do TO hold on TO him, while the
crowd stampeded past them toward
the door, a curslng, struggling mass,
carrying Lafe and Hilary along with It.
In the street they pulled themselves
out Of the crush and took refuge in an
alley. All Ste. Marie was in a turmoil
News OF the raid had spread every
where with lightning swiftness. Lights
were being extingulshed, liquor hidden
away. lumbermen and girls were run
ming In wild panic through the streets.
Suddenly they perceived Marie Du-
pont among the crowd. Her eyes were
wide With fright. and she was strug