The Arvada enterprise. (Arvada, Colo.) 1908-1970, 1920-06-10
BY
VICTOR
ROUSSEAU
M1wssv9atosss b
Jrsvia AveSs


80 x * * 3St52132f31t5210
I like q madman. sent them smashing TO
the floor, cleared his way again, anu
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 q part OF
q 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 10
the course of his preparations for Hill
ary's advent.
Al Hilary entered the stable the
door closed behind him. and he heard
the bolt shot. The yells Of the lumber
men grew faint. 1t was only then Hill
airy realized that he had run into .
trap.
The stable contained Louis, who has
posted himself within the stall i1nme
diately opposite the entrance. .ane
grinned at Hilary denantly. Between
the two stood Simeon Duval. a gro
tesque grin upon his schOiarlike fea-
lures. The man who had bolted the
door wns Leblanc. and Black Pierre
stood beside him.
The four. executing 4 thanking move
ment simultaneously, advanced and
took up their position between Hilary
and the door. Nobody spoke, but
Simeon Duval took of his spectacles
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 Id which the revolver lay
II might be useful for intimidation, or
even for self-defense.
swell, We got you. Aeestair Askew."
sneered Simeon. "Now you listen here.
We're peaceful men an We hate tr0u-
BILE. We don't want to hurt you II you
go away from St. Bonlface. Go back
where you come from. Else we kill
you tonight. What you sayl You are
alo6e here. no police. and EVERY one
hate you. II we kill you every one
swear you try to kill Black Pierre, an
my brudder, an me. Now what you
sayf'
II haven't come here to say. but to
give your brother . thrashing." an.
swered Hilary scornfully. 1.-THE thrash.
ing that I promised him that night al
Ste. Marie"
"You. spy on me in Ste. Marie an
bring revenue officers. It cost me Z
hundred dollar. you damn police spy
You 20 now, ehf What you sayr'
Hilary wheeled upon Leblanc and
Pierre. "And these men-what arr
they doing heref You want three mer
to help you kill me. Ell, SimeonT
He did not want to pariey. hut Ia
spite OF his eaGerness his judgment
told him that he was 10 perilous sit
uation.. He must taunt them TIL they
lost their heads; that would give hin
an advantage.
you. Leblanc. want your leasl
again. I suppose. you thief" he said
you, Pierre. didn't get enough Of {
hiding that day I caught you cuttinl
down my trees. There's another com
Ing to you In q minute or two. Simeon
II I'd been you I'd have picked some
men who could help me nsht II wal
afraid. Instead"
He got no further. for at that mo
meot. taking the Initiative. he sprans
His Asts dashed full into Simeon
face, right and left, almost together
Simeon toppled backward: his heat
struck the edge Of the stall behins
him. and he dropped moaning to tn
1ooe and lay there.
Passing him. Hilary leaped for Louis
but the agile little man eiuded hin
and darted down the middle OF th,
stable. Before he could quite recover
himself Leblanc and Pierre spranI
from behind. A 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 hi
sleeve open. Leblanc. also with
knife. was springinG from the othe
aide. Hilary sized up the situation witt
Judgment for which he could nsvc
aftefward account. DaShing his nst
upward, be caught Pierre under tn
chin. forcing his head back: at th
same time he Grnsped the wrist whIc
held the knife and swung 30 ~ to Ia
terpOse the outlaws body betwee
himself and Leblanc's blow. A. Ia
blanc struck again Hilary turned. shel
tering himself behind Pierre. one han
under his chin. the other holding bac
the wrist. ~ that Leblanc's short. stall
hing strokes always fell short. bein
- .