The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1920-04-16

strands of rock flax. commercially
worthless
But that amt roguery. That's just
business trick" said ConneIl. 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 II was worse. because you
trusted him, which we never did.
That's what l come to tell you Mr..
Rosny. He's swindled 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
tiger. Lafe. who had anticipated the
move. stepped dexterously aside. at
the same time twirling the chair on
which his hand was resting. Brous-
seau. in his plunge forward. tripped
over it. stumbled and fell prone to the
floor.
And I got the papers to prove that
-here!" said Lafe triumphantly.
Brousseau rose. rubbing his shins
and muttering curses. and glared saw
agely about him. Madeleine was
breathing quickly, her eyes fixed in
tently on Lafe's face.
Its ID lie ~ cried Brousseau.
They've forged those papers. Where
are theyf Eth? Show me-"
HE said he was speaking for you.
Mr.. Rosny," said Lafe. 80 here they
are. I guess you know your sigma
ture?"
He drew the envelope from his pock-
ct 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 breathlessly.
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 tbousand-dollar shares were
sold for you in Quebec at hundred
dollars apiece"
Yes. Monsieur Brousseau had Ill
fortune with that company. He ex-
planned it to me-" said the Seigneur.
trembling. What of it?''
.Why, here's the market price of It's
shares five days before at $S75, that's
ALL" said Lafe ut didn't tumble that
fast. All the country would have been
ringing with it if 1t had done that.
guess Brousseau has that money of
yours tucked away safely somewhere"
you gave me your power ofsattor-
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. LATE 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 it true
or false, monsieur" he cried. Where
are my other stocks? You had a hun
dred thousand of my money. Where
is it,"
Find :" yelled Brousseau. go TO
the devil with your money! 1 tried TO
help you out of friendship. I haven't
time to work out your stock exchange
accounts for you. If anybody's cheat
ed you it's the stockbrol1er. Go to him
for it - He started toward Madeleine.
'sYou don't believe these lies against
me?" he cried
"You have insulted my father, but
you have not answered him."
'Tll pay him."
at is true, then? It is true?''
yep. it's true" interposed LATE. "It
can't be anything else. Everybody
knows what rotten. swindlng thief
the fellow is. All. keep your hand
down. Mr.. Rosny. I'm telling you what
/ 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
that sawed the boom for him."
Brousseau swung on his heel sud-
denly and strobe toward the door He
turned and shook his fist at Lafe. I'll
pay you for this. you and that other
blackmailer he swore. "Ill smash
your rotten concern. III"
He broke off with der.sive snort
and made toward the entrance. But
Lafe strobe past him and blocked his
way.
".Just n moment" he said. "Afr.
Rosny's got something to say TO you"
Brousseau tried to fling himself
past. but Lafe. standing like an iron
sentinel, completely filed the open
ing.
Monsieur BrOusseau." said the
Seigneur, ''there are just a few words
to say before you go. When Monsieur
Connell came here he did not meet
with fragment He proved his
case, and you have proved it by your
actions. When you were boy / ad-
vanced you. I 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 were. /
thought that you were only ill-bred.
but you have proved yourself scoun-
drel as we'll. You will repay me
everything you have stolen or go to
Jail. Good-tiay. monsieur"
That's all. l guess" said Lafe, and
opened the door.
Brousseau dashed through and along
the corridor. Lafe followed him at an