The Pulaskian., 1920-01-09
By VICTOR ROUSSEAU
by Es'sviss Myers

M. I seen some tough towns in the West. but this has got 'eTn all beat, with the smuggling of brandy, and the drinking. and the fights every Saturday night there was 8 man knffed there last week; and not a policeman within if. ty miles, and nobody except Father Lucy, and he can't hold 'em." "What want to know" said Hilary. 'is, what this company is that you speak about, and how they come to use the Rocky river for their Iogs.''
 Lafe hesitated, but only for a mo. ment. Then he mentally east Brous- seau to the winds; for, after alTr if Hilary meant to know, nobody could prevent it, Brousseau's instructions notwithstanding.
 Its this way, Mir. Askew," he said. ''Mr. Morris and MT. Brousseau have a company of their own. Their limifs touch ours on the west, across the river, and run ten miles or so back into the bush, right alongside ours. They got the right to. float their logs down the river"
 And use the mill?''
 "Mr. Morris leases the use of our mill by the year to the company"
 Hilary was staggered for the mo. ment. Morris, as his uncle's manager. leasing the mill to Morris, a partner in Brousseau's company, seemed a queer role.
 "How do they tell our lumber from theirs?" asked Hilary presently.
 "Oh, that ain't hard,' said Lafe. ''You see, the jobbers, who sublease the tracts. know how much their men have cut. And it's sealed in the woods before they shoot it down stream. I guess there aint no diff culty there, Mir. Askew. And you see, Mr. Morris representing both concerns, he naturally does his best by both of 'em'
 Hilary's- suspicious, dormant even after the interview with Lamartine, were now thoroughly aroused.
 "And Mir. Brousseau has no concern with us, except for the lease of the mill and the right-of-way down the river," unused Hilary. "Who is this MT. Brousseau?"
 "Why, I guess he's the big man of the district" said Lafe. He's the nearest thing to q boss they've got up here; tells lem how to vote and gets 'em out of trouble. He ain't good to his father, though. That was old Jacques Brousseau in the store, the trapper."
 q didn't see him."
 He was Mir. Rosny's slave, or whats ever they called them, in the old times, before these people became free"
 He tapped the ashes out of his pipe and pocketed it.
 He's got old Rosny in his pocket" he said, leaning toward Hilary. He's got him bound and mortgaged after leading him to throw your uncles money away in crazy investments. He did it deliberately, Mr.. Askew. When he was kid, growing up among the house servants up at the Chateau, he wanted to be big man, for which I don't blame him. He, got his way, but that wasn't enough. He wanted the Seigneurs place, because he found that the folks up here thought more of old Mir. Rosny, with his broken down house and debts, than they did of him with all his money. So he set to work and got him cinched.
 "The old man hates and despises' him, and he's been fighting against IL for a long. time, but he seen what's coming to him and guess he's made up his mind he'll have to stomach 1t. Brousseau's staked old NIT. Rosnys pride against his love, and I guess he's won his. stake and won MamzeHe Madeleine into the bargain"
 Re rose. ~That'n be all for tonight, lIr. Askew?' he asked.
 Hilary rose, too. 'gThanks, MT. Con nell,' he said. stIn the morning shall ask you to show me around the place.
 He didn't follow Lafe Connell in. side the hotel, but sat upon the porch, musing. Lafe had enlightened him on several points. He doubted whether Lamartine had spoken anything ap- preaching truth concerning the prop. erty, and he was sure that Morris and Brousseau were the company in whose behalf he had offered forty-five thou. sand dollars. There would be need or a good many explanations from MOT. ris. Yet Hilary felt instinctively that it was Brousseau, not Morris, with whom he would have to contend.
 On the face of the soft night rose the face of Madeleine Rosny painteu with surprising clearness. He saw the blue of her eyes. the curve of her flushed cheek, the dignity and gentle ness and pride that blended in her looks. If ever he had any quarrel wllh Brousseau, he would show him
 Then he cursed himself for fool