The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1920-08-04


Tried to Pull Her From Her Seat.
| pull her from her seat. Hilary saw
Nanette protesting angrily; he could
not hear Baptiste's excited exclama-
tions, but he heard family the scream
that came from Marie's lips. At once
there was a general movement toward
the group. Some of the lumbermen
interfered. Baptiste turned upon them
with menacing fists. The little man
was beside himself with fury. Then
Simeon came waddling down the room
with his ducklike shuttle, and took
Baptiste by both arms. With slow
but memorable force he led him toward
the door. II seemed almost.as If Bap-
tiste, struggling In vain and mounting
incoherently, was In the grip of some
machine, for the momentum of Sine
on's movements was composed much
more of bulk than Of velocity. Amid
the jeers Of the crowd Baptiste was
thrust from the door, and Simeon
turned and waddled back into the
room. where the dancing was in full
swing once more.
Hilary saw Marie flying round in
the arms of gigantic woodsman. Bap-
tiste, seated upon the step before the
dance hall, was weeping pitifully. The
little drama came home TO LATE with
equal poignancy. Hilary saw that his
eyes were blazing.
wen get that girl away from
here" he said.
LATE nodded. and the two went in.
At first they were not recognized
through the clouds of rolling smoke. II
was Nanette who saw Hilary first. She
uttered a sharp exclamation and
pointed toward him. At once the two
found themselves under the fire of all
eyes.
The news reached Simeon Duval as
he was reaching up for bottle in his
closet, and he came putting out ana
waddled toward Hilary, his pale-blue
eyes fixed on him in malevolent
scrutiny.
"Eh. Meestair Askew, you have
drink on me?" asked Simeon. holding
out the bottle under Hilary's nose
The action was at once Challenge
and an overture. to be interpreted in
either fashion. according to the hear.
er's inclination.
Hilary shook his head. ~ don't
drink. Simeon" he answered CURLY.
"You want to dance. then, Ell? You
want lady to dancer"
81 do not"
"Nor to play card, ehf"
~Not tonight. Simeon"
'Then what the h you come to
my place for?"
Simeon's blue eyes glared into Hill
ary's. In his younger days the man
had been the. bully of the lumber !
camps; still of great strength, he could /
have matched himself against any
man. with the doubtful exception of
Black Pierre but Hilary's exploit upon
the latter had restraining effect upon
him.
1--WE come to have look at you.
Simeon" said Hilary genially.
swell. you see me now. Ell, Meestair |
Askew? What you think of me. eh?"
retorted the dance-hall proprietor. |
Maybe you like to look some more.
ehf"
ST think you're just about what ex-
pected," Hilary answered. 81 hear
your brother is thinking of opening
hell like this one at st. Boniface."
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 to see how Hilary would bear
himself against Simeon. and they |
hoped for some fun. Hilary saw among
them the face of Simeon's brother
Louis. who looked like small model
upon 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"
mo. don't. I wish 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 ominous growl
showed that this declaration was ap-
preciated at more or less its correct
value. The mob began moving for
ward. For a few moments the sItua-
ton looked menacing. Hilary. took the
aggressive, as usual.