The Pulaskian., 1920-02-13
By VICTOR ROUSSEAU
 Illustrations hv
 Irwiss Mp CTS


like a madman, sent them smashing to the floor, cleared his way again, and made for Louis, who was just open ing the back door. He grasped at him, but Louis was just a second too quick. He darted through, and the door, thrown back violently, struck Hilary upon the forehead. The next instant Hilary passed through the doorway in pursuit.
 The shanty which Baptiste had once occupied had formerly been part of large structure used by the mill for storing machinery. At the back, and contiguous with it, had been the old mill stables The door connecting the two places had been nailed up, but Duval had opened it that morning in the course of his preparations for Hil- ary's advent.
 As Hilary entered the stable the door closed behind him, and he heard the bolt shot. The yells of the lumber men grew faint. It was only then Hil. ary realized that he had run into a trap.
 The stable contained Louis, who hac posted himself within the stall imme diately opposite the entrance, ane grinned at Hilary defiantly. Between the two stood Simeon Duval, a gro tesque grin upon his scholarlike fea- lures. The man who had bolted the door was Leblanc, and Black Pierre stood beside him.
 The four. executing a flanking move ment simultaneously, advanced and took up their position between Hilary and the door. Nobody spoke, but Simeon Duval took off his spectaeles quite methodically, folded them in their case, and placed it back in his pocket. Standing with his back close enough to the wall of one of the horse boxes to be able to prevent an attack from behind, Hilary watched the four contemptuously. They had got him there to fight and there was nothing he wanted more, even against the lot of them. He half regretted having drawn his cartridges, but he was con- scious of no sense of fear whatever. He kept his right hand lightly against the pocket in which the revolver lay; it might be useful for intimidation, or even for self-defense.
 sWell, we got you, Messiah Askew," sneered Simeon. "Now you listen here. We're peaceful men an we hate trou- ble. We don't want to hurt you if you go away from St. Boniface Go back where you come from. Else we kill you tonight. What you say? You are alone here, no police, and every one hate you. If we kill you every one swear you try to kill Black Pierre, an my brudder, an me- Now what you say?"
 ''I haven't come here to say, but to give your brother thrashing," an- swered Hilary scornfully. "The thrash ing that I promised him that night at Ste. Marie"
 'You spy on me in Ste. Marie an bring revenue officers. It cost me hundred dollar. you damn police spy. You go now, eh? What you say?"
 Hilary wheeled upon Leblanc and Pierre. And these men-what are they doing here? You want three men to help you kill me. eh, Simeon?o
 He did not want to barley, but in spite of his eagerness his judgment told him that he was in perilous sit uation. He must taunt them till they lost their heads; that would give him an advantage.
 You, Leblanc, want your lease again, I suppose, you thief" he said. You, Pierre, didn't get enough of a hiding that day I caught you cutting down my trees. There's another com ing to you in minute or two. Simeon, if I'd been you I'd have picked some men who could help me fight if I was afraid, instead"
 He got no further, for at that mo- ment, taking the initiative, he sprang. His fists dashed full into Simeon's face, right and left, almost together. Simeon toppled backward; his head struck the edge of the stall behind him, and he dropped moaning to the floor and lay there.
 uoSAis5 Aiiill, A1lldl icdDcu lOE t1OulS, but the agile little man eluded him and darted down the middle of the stable. Before he could quite recover himself Leblanc and Pierre sprang from behind. AS Hilary swung side wise he saw the knife in Pierre's hand. He thrust his arm up, and the blow, diverted, glanced, the knife ripping his sleeve open. Leblanc, also with a knife, was springing from the other side. Hilary sized up the situation With Judgment for which he could never afterward account. Dashing his fists upward, he caught Pierre under the chin, forcing his head back; at the same time he grasped the wrist which held the knife and swung so as to in- terpose the outlaws body between himself and Leblanc's blow. AS Le-