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

o'Cppcd away ITOIu HILL NIL uhb'
we are married. Edouard," she said.
Brousseau WINGED now. 1T almost
looks as If you didn't love me-" he
muttered in disgust. And in that
sentence the major part of his charac-
ter might have been epitomized.
Two days after the news reached
Hilary he went into the village for his
mail. Taking IT to his office to read.
he found among 1T a bulky envelope
addressed TO him from Ontario In an
unknown writing. He opened 1t and
found a letter from Morris.
However evasive the eX-manager
had been in conversation. he was d.
rect enough in writing. You didn't
treat me well, and 1 guess you had
reason to act as you did," he wrote.
THAT hound Brousseau swindled me
as he was swindling you. and I'm go
Ing to put you in possession OF the
facts and documents, which / took
from his desk before leaving. You
needn't have any scruples about using
them. because they refer principally to
you"
Hilary thought enough Of the mat
to come in Immediately; and that
afternoon the two men went over the
situation together.
Its a clear case" said Hilary.
''IIe's been swindling the property
right and left. II seems. 1 allowed for
few thousands, but as make ii out
1t amounts to nearly eighty thousand"
Lafe whistled and took up the paper
that Hilary handed him.
This is the contract with Leblanc
to cut on the st. Boniface limits" he
said. $50 there's no mistaking who
owned that lumber In the river"
He took up another document. "A
contract with the Cornwall Paper
company to supply twenty thousand
cords of spruce wood from the st.
Boniface limits" he said. And
here's Morris receipt for seven thou
sand dollars commission on 'gummy
fir as he would call tin other words,
pulpwood sold off the seigniory during
1914. at 10 per cent. What do you
make of it. Lafe?'
"Water-tight." answered LATE.
Here's another document that
Hilary handing it to him.
Laf., studied it. II don't get it." he
said
ITS Lamartine's acknowledgment of
fifty thousand dollars received from
Rosny for fifty shares I'm the North
Empire Development company-one of
Brousseau's interests. Now look at
this one. Lamartine is remitting five
thousand dollars less the brokers'
charges for the sale of North Empire
Development stock, as per order. He
doesn't say how much stock. Lamar
tine isn't fool. But here's Rosny's
acknowledgment of the five thousand
dollars less brokers' charges for the
sale of fifty shares, dated March 8,
1913 Now here's stock market
clipping from n newspaper of March
4, showing the stock at 1878.
That's where we've got him. Lafe.
Lamartine's letter proves nothing, but
Morris got hold of Rosny's acknowled-
ment, probably for matchmaking pur
poses, and it shows Brousseau has
swindled Rosny out of $4,000 on that
deal. Probably there were others.
That's where his money went"
Its a pity Morris couldn't run
straight, being as thorough as he :s."
said Lafe-
Hilary looked at him searchingly
until he compelled him to return his
gaze.
You have been very reticent of late,
Lafe. What's the trouble?"
Il guess it amt much" said Connell
"Well. you see, it's this way" he went
on reluctantly. II knew what lies
that BLACKBOARD was spreading about
VOC And 1 didn't know whether TO
tell you or not. Mr.. Askew. l knew
Baptiste saw us with that girl in Ste.
Marie, and / knew from his face that
he wasn't pleased. And again didn't
know what to do. And decided TO lie
low. It's my way: maybe was wrong.
but I'm against butting in. by nature"
Never mind, Lafe," said. Hilary
IT'S too late to make any difference
now"
NO. 1t amt too late!" shouted Lafe
haven't told him-Mr. Rosny-about
that asbestos mine. have you? You
ought to have gone to him and let him
Know. lou cOutu nave saved MdHl-
zelle Rosny from sacrificing herself
this way. You can save her. and
you're going to-"
II suppose have let things drift"
said Hilary somberly. II lived in a
sort of hope that the mess would clear
up. And / hadn't the heart to do my
thing at ALL"
There's the girl Marie-won't she
say anything?"
"She's afraid of her father. There's
no telling how he would take it. At
present ! don't think he knows any
thing"
II wouldn't let that stand In my
way" said Lafe emphatically.
II don't think you'd really use that
means of clearing yourself. If you were
/, Lafe. And. besides that. she has
my promise to say nothing. and that
settles the matter. No. LATE. you're
talking nonsense"
Maybe am" said Lafe stubbornly
But l amt going to see your happi-
ness wrecked because two women
haven't the sense and the heart to
clear you. And I'm going to do It."
NO. you're not, LATE" said Hilary
b1unfly