The Rice belt journal., 1920-05-22
time and the gangs back on the Job"
"YOn paid them two dOllars?'

time and the gangs back on the job"
"YOu paid them two dOllars?"
"Not a cent more" said Lafe tri.
umphantly. "They asked to go back
to work, and you ought to see them
working l guess they feel that they
haven't given you square deal, and
Mr.. Rosny's been having a few words
with them, l hear. Anyway, they
know now it's Morris who tipped off
the revenue people. in order to make
trouble for you, and the result is this
part of the country has grown too hot
for him. SO he's gone away. | hear
he had a quarrel with BrOusseau over
the share of their pIunder, and they
almost came to blows over it. Well,
that's the first Of the gang out. And
MACPHERSON has turned out trump,
working overtime and making the
hands work, and it begins to look to
me as If We'll win out after all"
This was good news. 1t was now
September, and in little more than
month the snow should extend con-
siderably their cutting area.
So they discussed their plans, until
Madeleine. coming in, drove ConnelI
away. Hilary would not ask him
about his assailants, and Lafe was
glad to avoid the subject. 1t was
Father Lucien who took it up later
when Hilary was convalescent.
He hummed and hawed good deal.
and finally the truth came out. 1t
would be easy enough to get the p0-
lice up from Quebec but the quar-
tette would have to be laid by the
heels before the advent Of winter
made further action impossible for
months. OF the four, Pierre had dis
| appeared. Leblanc was said to have
gone into the woods for the winter to
trap, having apparently abandoned his
|
Marie limits. Simeon Duval was run
ming his saloon wide open, and swear
ing that, Hilary having assaulted him,
| he had struck with his knife in self
defense, while in a half-Stunned CON
dition. Little Louis, his brother,
scared out of his wits, had been to
see the cure with a view to making his
peace.
Hilary had no desire to punish
Louis any further, though he meant to
deal with Pierre and Leblanc when
the opportunity arose. He meant to
rid the community of them and
Simeon; but he had q strong mans
reluctance to call upon the law to
avenge a physical assault. In the end
the cure went away with the under
standing that Louis was forgiven, and
with no decision taken as to further
action.
"But what strength! What power
monsieur!" he said admiringly, clench'
ing his hand over the muscles OF
Hilary's arm. "Do you know, mon
sieur," he continued thoughtfully, y
have often thought that priest In
such a district as this needs the mus
cularity almost as much as the good
ness! All, Monsieur Askew, If
were your age, and of your strength
what would I not dol"
To Hilary his convaIescence was Q
foretaste of paradise. Edmond Rosny
came in only for formal visits now
twice or three times day; but 1t was
wonderful to see Madeleine, whom h'
knew that he loved with all his heart
about his bedside all day long, ant
then about his chair, waiting on him
anticipating his wishes, until he fel
ashamed to be so helpless, her prid'
gone, her scorn gone, her enmity al
well. When Hilary learned OF tn
part that she had played in his rescue
and thanked her gratefully. she coult
not meet his eyes.
Then came the first day on whicl
he was permitted to leave his room
Leaning on Madeleine's arm, he hat
gone out to feel the wonder of tn
sunshine and the crisp autumn air
The garden had originally been lat
out. more than a century before, IL
imitation of the formal gardens o
France of the period, with terrace
and statuary. Everything was il
ruin; and yet Hilary had the sudden
} inexplicable sense of having conn
home.
"Mademoiselle Rosny," he said, wv
are going to be good friends in future
, aren't we? The goodwill goes wit
) your kindness, even If it does not g