Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1920-01-23


good timber there, Leblanc"
Leblanc snarled and started for
ward, shaking his fist and muttering.
However, he could not get through the
press. and it is not probable that he
tried very hard to do so.
swell, that's about all, Simeon"
Hilary called. II just came in to look
at your place and give your brother
friendly warning, because l 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
intuitively summed him up as the most
dangerous of his opponents. But
guess you amt going like that, Mees-
tair Askew," continued the liquor
seller. Il ask you to have q drink on
me an you say no. Now you going to
buy drinks all round, eh?"
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?' he 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 gentle shove with
the hand; but he could not resist the
strength behind Hilary's shoulders,
and he began to sway and went top
pling 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
reputation, they hesitated a moment
before initiating h0stilities; and that
moment brought an unexpected inter-
ruption.
For a boy ran screaming In at 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 it's 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, wildly flying, panicky mass.
1t was one thing to drink and brawl in
Ste. Marie. but quite another to defy
the tireless officials of the revenue de-
partment, who patroled the river at
uncertain intervals, whose arms we're
very long.
Whether any one except Simeon was
wanted in that particular place was
never known, for it was all the officers
could do to hold on to him, while the
crowd stampeded past them toward
the door, a cursing, struggling mass
carrying Lafe and Hilary along with it
In the street they pulled themselves
out of the crush and took refuge in ar
alley. All Ste. Marie was in turmoil
News of the raid had spread every
where with lightning swiftness. Lights
were being extinguished, liquor hidder
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
Cling helplessly in the crowd, borne
this way and that by the conflictin,
currents. Hilary forced his way toward
her and dragged her into the alley
There she broke down; she fell upor
her knees in the mud, rocking to ant
fro and moaning.
Hilary bent over her. Lafe saw tha
his face was stern. 81 am going to tax,
you home," he said.
She looked up at him piteously. Sh,
appeared to recognize him, but was to,
terrified to understand. He drew he
to her feet and, with Lafe on the othe
side, they began to make their wa,
quickly toward the beach by a marrow
passage among the cottages.
But as they started Lafe looked bacl
and saw, wedged in the crowd behin
them, Jean Baptiste. He had been try
ing to reach the girl, but it was impos
sible to move a foot in that strugglin
human torrent. He saw them, and hi
eyes were dilated with impotent fur,
There was murder in them as they fe
upon Hilary. Lafe shuddered.
His impulse was to wait for the maj
but he recognized that Baptiste wa
beyond all reason and self-control. Fl
had misinterpreted Hilarys action
the only thing now was to elude hil
and get the girl away before Baptist
could follow. He was glad Hilary ha
not seen Baptiste. He meant to sa
nothing of it.
The three set out on their wa,
Marie at first sobbing and holdin
) back. then gradually growing calm III
r der Hilary's assurances, and at la.
' going willingly. Her dress was dra
, gled with mud, her finery awry; 81
: looked pitiful and frightened. Hilal
1 felt great wrath growing in him ,
he looked at her. At last they game
r the shore road and presently reacht
: Marie's cottage.
e She felt in her dress for the k,
q with shaking fingers. Hilary took
from her and opened the door. "Nev
go to that place again." he said ster
d ly. Let this be lesson to your
Z She went inside. Lafe and Hila
;, waited till the lamp was lit an
;, through the torn shade, they saw Mar
n Dupont crouched before the stove, h
face on her arms.
IS II guess we'd better be going, Laft
Il he said.
, "She's had her lesson"
t Il hope so. I've seen enough IL
r evening, Lafe. 1t makes me sick
A. think that there are wretches v
Ie enough 20 encourage this. for money
for influence" He turned on him.
W / can trace Brousseau's hand in IL
| nrIy hr hoIx