Charlevoix county herald., 1920-02-13


the Schooner, so as to destroy her equi
librlum, on account of the stacks or
either side. 1t consisted of the last
load of logs which had been dropped
there from the end of the flume. Hi
airy raised two in his arms and car
ried them in front Of the broken door
1t was impossible To make his voice
heard, for the ship was staggering
through the clashing ice foes with q
noise like that of artillery, but Made
leine saw his purpose, and in an in
slant was at work helping him. They
began swiftly building barricade
and as Madeleine deposited her logs
by the side of Hilary's, Hilary wedged
the ends against the chained stacks on
either side, so that the whole would
form an immOvable barrier. He toileC
furiously. for their scanty lime was
precious beyond value. Soon Made
lelne was behind the barricade, ad
justing Il @ logs that Hilary brought
and II stood the h light of his waist.
II was improbable that either Du
popt, Pierre or Leblanc carried "a re
volver; but, even Il they did, the bar
ricade was bullet-prOof. Hilary for
g0t his aching head the retching nau-
sea. The barrier was Shoulder-high.
He clambered behind IL and took his
station there just rs the grinding of
the Hoes ceased, and the schooner
caught the clear water,
A ray of moonlight, struggling
through the fog, disclosed old Dupont
at the wheel above the poop, and the
great mainsail sweeping over it-and
two forms that crept along the pas
sage between the lumber piles. They
started back in sudden CONSERVATION
at the sight Of the unexpected barri-
cade, and Hilary's club, aimed at
Pierre's head, descended upon the out
laws arm, which dropped limp AT his
side.
With yell Pierre started back, but
Leblanc leaped forward, knife in hand
So sudden was the attack that il
drove within an inch Of Hilary's
throat. Madeleine screamed. rushed
Leblanc caught sight Of her he uttered
an exclamation and followed Pierre
back into the darkness Of the lumber
piles.
Silence followed That wait was
tense and nerve-gripping. Hilary tried
to get Madeleine to return into the
cabin, hut she kept her place at his
side. Then, to Hilary's utter surprise
he heard BrOusseaus voice, and dis
cerned him moving out Of the dark
ness of the lumber.
Monsieur Askew, I want "a speak to
you. / can trust you"
Hilary returned no answer, but
Brousseau. apparently confident of
Iiifary's honor, pushed forward and
came up to the barricade.
'Ah, mademOiSelle, you have done a
foolish thing! :" he said quietly To Mad
eleine NO harm was meant to Mon
Sieur Askew. | want those papers
that's all. | heard he was coming
aboard and adopted this ruse 10 get
them. They are lies, written by dis
charged employee, and I'can't afford to
be lied about. | want 10 clear my
honor in your eyes, mademoiselle."
But as neither answered him he
dropped his pose of blandness and ad-
dressed Hilary.
1--WE got more at stake than the
seigniory and the asbestos mine" he
mi N
bucket admit it's been a fair fight
between Us and you've won. | didn't
want the seigniory. wanted the fight.
I'm willing to drop il now and give
you best. But I want those papers.
"They amt yours. Monsieur Askew.
Morris forged them, but you kept
them, and that's why / trapped you
here. 1t was me stopped Dupont from
killing you. because of his daughter"
Madeleine laughed contemptuously
at the lie, and Brousseau snorted like
n dashed horse
II want those papers" he went on
doggedly. "They amt in your clothes,
and they amt in your bag. Give them
TO me and We'll cry quits. and I'll put
you and Madeleine ashore at Ste.
Anne. | can trust you and YOU can
trust me. Are you going to agree?"
"No" shouted Hilary.
He had had the sense that Brous-
seau meditated some treachery, but he
was not prepared for what followed
Madeleine cried tO him and pulled
him back, just as Pierre and Leblanc
leaped down from the forecastle roof,
to- which they had climbed during
Brousseau's fictitious parleying. Each
had his knife ready and they we're
upon Hilary together.
There was no room for maneuverlng.
ana Hilary never knew afterward how
lie escaped. But he thrust his club
into Leblanc's face, and, then, as the
man stumbled back, brought il down
with full force upon Pierre's skull.
All the strength of his arms went
into the blow. Pierre never spoke
again. He went Keeling across the
deck like an inanmate thing, struck
the bulwark, and as the schooner