The Crittenden press., 1920-01-16

face next day with only one thing ac-
compliShcd. lie had seen the land map
and aSccriaincd that The upper reaches
of Rocky river had been surveyed and
that the creek was wholly on his own
land. He found, too. with some sur
prise, that a large island out in the
Gulf was part Of the RoSny domain.
II had not appeared on Morris rough
map.
Lafe, who met him at the wharf,
looked worried.
I'm glad you've come" he said, ms
they drove to the min together
Things We're pretty bad on Saturday
night"
They're striking?"
NO, Mr.. ASkew. That's the bright
est point In the situation. MACPHERSON,
the foreman, tells me that it's called
OFF. Brousseau's dropped that maneu-
yer, for some reason of his own"
whats the trouble. then?"
81 guess Brousscnu's off on another
tack, Mr.. Askew. All the hands was
over 70 Ste. Marie on Saturday night
by special invitation FROM Simeon Du-
val who owns the biggest dance hall
there. There was free drinks Tor every
body, and the whole place was in nn
upronr TIL Sunday morning. Not n
stroke Of work has been done here till
yesterday. which means four-day
week. The men are only just SOLDERING
up now.
However, that amt the worst. by
long sight. It's a sort of open secret
that they're going TO open up st. BOni-
face wide and Simeons-"
you mean Simeon has dared to
start one Of his hells here while was
away?" cried Hilary angrily.
Not yet" said Lafe. There amt
no more liquor being sold here than
usual--yet. But they're going TO open
up If they can. Simeon's brother Louis
has rented that house by the old sta
blcs that Jean Baptiste used to occupy
last year before It began to go to
pieces, and he's going to have u dance
hall there and sell brandy"
Hilary raped out an oath. mot If
| have anything to say" he answered.
"Nor me- said Lafe. THE trouble
is, where do we start in? We can't
fight the whole town slngle-handed. l
was wondering whether we couldn't
wire the revenue people"
mo" said Hilary sharply. "Well
fight our own battles. Lafe."
Lafe subsidized In n hurt sort OF way.
The evidences of decentralization were
obvious in st. Boniface. The men were
slow and surly, the women sullen.
slatuernly and hopelesslooking, 1t was
clear that they had little hope Hilary
could counter this new project. Hill
AIRY was aware of feeling in the air,
ms II he was being tested. He saw
furtive glances as he went by, he rec
Ognized reluctance in the sullen touch
of the cap and the unsmling faces.
while not hostile, watched him with
| something like resentment. as II his
attitude toward the Duval proposal
was discounted beforehand.
Hilary had kept in his mind n plan
Of cutting along the bank of the river,
without waiting for the snow. II seem
ed 10 him feasible plan TO fell right
beside the water, and float the logs
down. this requirlnSno teams to haul,
process impossible until the snow
was deep on the Saturday he went
ont afoot To survey the timber in the
/ upper reaches. In order 10 get II clear.
or view, Hilary took the public road
that ran along the eastern bank, with
In the Ste. Marie limits. and aScended
to nm elevation opposite the low.lying
/ tract on the west side.
lie had nearly reached the branch
/ road which ran In toward Ste. Marie.
along which l.afc and he had driven on
/ that first morning, when he perceived
Madeleine RoSny and BrouSScau ahead
Of him. Mt the top OF the rise. They
seemed To be talking earnestly, and
I IlllGyy held back, unwilling 10 surprise
them Presently he saw BrOuSSeau
/ spur his horse and gullop away in the
/ direction of Ste. Marie, while Made
lcinc came slowly toward him.
She saw him and turned her horse
aside "a let him pass. She had been
crying. and there were traces Of tears
/ St,ll on her cheeks. She would have
waited for him to 20 by, her face
avertcd, hut Hilary placed his hand
| upon the horses bride.
"MadcmolSclle Rosny-" he began.
"I.et me 90 on" she said In Il low
tone.
81 want to speak to YOU. And II
you are In trouble | want to help
YOU"
She smiled wcnrlly. 81 am not In
trouble, and II were should hardly
.ask your aid, Monsieur Askew." she
/ answered. Then with sudden We.
hcmcnce, "Why did YOU come hercg'
she cried why could YOU not have
left 81. BonIfacc alone. instead Of stir.
ring M hatred? Is II not enough that
my father should have been compelled
/ to sell your uncle our trees, without
your coming here to cXult over our
shnmeg'
81 have not cNulted, Madcmolscllc
RoSny; am sorry"
Take back your pity We don,
want Il. What has Monsieur BrouS.
scnu done 10 you-or Mr.. Murrisy"
Morris, since you Inquire, has swim.
died me out Of several thousand dol.
lars worth of umhcr Mndpmolsrllp