The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1920-04-10

worthless"
But that amt roguery. That's just
a business trick" said Council "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.
RoSny. He's swindIed You out of
nearly forty thousand dollars on one
deal, in North Empire Development
company stock, and maybe in other
Brousseau feaped at LATE like a
tiger Lafe. who had anticipated the
move. stepped dexterously aside, at
the same time tWirlin@ the chair ON
which his hand was resting. Brous-
seau, in his plunge forward tripprd
over it, stumbled and fell prone to the
floor
And I get the papers To prove that
here" said Late triumphantly.
Brousseau rose, rubbing his shins
and muttering curses. and glared saw
agcly about him. Madeleine was
breathing quickly, her eyes fixed in
tently on Lafes face.
IT'S a Id lie." cried Brousseau
They've forged those papers. Where
are they? Eth? Show mer
He said he was speaking for YOU,
Mr. Rosny," said LATE, $50 here they
are. l guess you know your sigma
ture?"
He drew the envelope from his peck
eft 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 breatheSsly.
81 guess these letters don't tell YOU
much, Mr.. Rosny," continued LATE. IF
you'll put them together you'll see that
those fifty thousand-dollar shares were
sold for you in Quebec at a 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 its
shares five days before at $3.50, that's
ALL" said LATE. 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 If 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 say! Is 1t true
or false, mOnsieur?' he cried. Where
are my other stocks? You had hun
dred thousand of my money. Where
is tt?"
"Find it!' yelled Brousseau. go to
the devil with your money! I tried to
help you out of friendship. l haven't
time to work out your stock exchange
accounts for you. If anybody's cheat
ed you it's the stockbroker. Go to him
fer it ~ He 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'll pay him."
at is true, then? 1t is true?"
yep. it's true" interposed LATE. ut
can't be anything else. Everybody
knows what rotten, swindling thief
the fellow is. All, keep your hand
down, Mr. Rosny. Pm telling you what
l 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
will sue him criminally as well as civ
lily for what he's done to US, because
we've got the confession of the man
Brousseau swung on his heel sud
denly and strobe toward the door He
turned and shook his fist at LATE. I'll
pay you for this, you and that other
blackmailerl" he swore. I'll smash
your rotten concern. I'll
He broke off with a derisive snort
and made toward the entrance. But
LATE strobe past him and blocked his
way.
"Just a moment" he said. MIR.
Rosny's got something to say to you.
Brousseau tried to fling himself
past, but LATE. standing like an iron
sentinel, completely filled the open
ing.
"Monsieur Brousseau," said the
Seigneur, there are JUS q few words
to say before you 90. wnen Monsieur
Co?acrf came here he did not meet
with encouragement He proved his
case, and you have proved it by your
actions. When you were 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
sought to dishonor US through my
daughter. who was wiser than | in her
recognition of what you We're. l
thought that you were only ill-bred,
but you have proved yourself a scoun-
drel as well. You will repay me
everything you have stolen or go to