The Connecticut labor press., 1920-03-06
CHAPTER XII.
Marie AWakes.

Hilary heard from Madeleine almos daily, but they seldom met. Once ol twice they made an appointment, bu both hated the thought of clandestin ity, and Hilary realized the need o1 concentrating all his thoughts upon his work Dupont had made three more voyages, and Baptiste, who kept out of sight. had given complete satisfac tion. The lumber had brought unex pectedly good prices, and there was now a probability that before navfga tion closed Hilary would be in posi- tion to carry on till spring. When the winter cutting began, and there was more leisure, Hilary meant to fight out the issue with Rosny. The old man was still partly paralyzed. and he had made no reference of any kind to what had occurred, but his mind was quite clear, and, Madeleine thought, his memory.
 Toward the middle of the month the newly discovered spruce supply had all been numbered. Success seemed now almost assured. Dupont was get ting ready to make his last voyage The snow was not yet deep enough for the teams to be sent into the woods, and Hilary turned his thoughts once more to the island, more from eagerness to explore that part of his domain than from any thought of cut ting there that winter.
 Hilary was in his office one day when there came a tap at the door,
 V.f- in lr rnfI Louis Duval.
 The little Iiquor-sel1er approached him In an ingratiating manner. "Mon- isieur Askew," he said. "T am very sorry for that night. I have been away. Now I come back, and Mon- sieur Tessier tells me that you for give. Now come to thank you."
 That's all right, Louis" said Hillary "You are forgiven, as long as you keep out of that trade of yours. It's a bad business when it's run in the Ste. Marie way"
 Louis Duval sniffed contemptuous- ly. ''Pm out" he announced. And Simeon's out. And he say he hope you don't. bear ill-feeling. Them fel- lows never pay us cent. An I got my head busted open too." he added irefectively.
 Hilary sprang to his feet and took ithe little man by the arms. Do you mean to tell me Brousseau offered you money to open a saloon in St. Boni- iface?" he asked.
 Sure he did. He said if open he set me up, an he pay me two hundred dollars more if those fellows kill you" !"
 Good Lord Is that all I'm worth p asked Hilary.
 "Oh it ain't that" answered Louis. i'T guess you're worth more than that much But Pierre an Leblanc, they crazy to kill you, because you thrash Pierre an you take away Leblanc's business an his family starve. May !be he pay them too; maybe they pay Ihim to let them. I don know. But Pierre an Leblanc swear they get you lyet. An Simeon's out of the game. An want to tell you something, Mon ,sieur Askew, if you won bust my head lopen again."
 "Your. heads quite safe, Louis. What is it?"
 
 two hundred for the other job an only pay me fifty"
 "What other job?' n
 "For to get them fellows to saw your boom, monsieur"
 ESQ it was sawed, was it?' demand ed Hilary furiously.
 "Yes, monsieur. get three fellows from the south shore, an fell into the water an got rheumatiz, an pay ten dollars for medicines, an that damn Brousseau-"
 Louis, will you sign your name to that?"
 70 sure, if you get them fellows an Brousseau first" replied the little man, edging toward the door. Finding that he was not pursued, he halted. Monsieur Askew, gone back to my fishing job," he said.
 Hilary thought this was a character fstfc occupation for Louis to take up, since it afforded him several months of idlen.ssss before the fishing season orefed.
 You have boat?' he asked, re- SEembering his plan to revisit the is- land.
 70 sure," said Louis. ."New sails an rudder-all new except the boat. A yer fine boat, monsieur"
 Could you take Mr. Cornell and myself over to the island and back tomorrow"
 "I think so. monsieur, if the sea ain't running too high"
 Be ready with your boat at one," said Hilary.
 It was practically his last chance For six months of visiting the island. He sent messenger with a note to Lafe at the camp, asking him to be in St. Boniface at noon. Then he wrote his daily letter. to Madeleine. He mentioned his projected journey, but nothing else. except his love and his hopes which were weighty enough.
 As he entered the store to mail it tn the letter-box there he thought the ioafers seated about the place looked at him curfously. He had several times noticed a certain furtiveness in their regard, but had each time ascribed it to imagination and dismissed the mat ter. He did so again. He was walk Ing back when he saw boy outside the office.
 Captain Dupont says he is ready to sail. monsieur" he said.
 "Tell him Pm coming down to speak A0 hiTn caid Hilary