The Dolores star., 1920-06-11

Hilary affected not to hear. But after
Baptiste had gone he felt the incident
keenly. He valued the little man, and
he knew he had wronged him by re-
fusing to affirm his faith In him. Bap-
tiste's detection was not very much,
but IL showed that the wind of adver-
sity was still blowing strongly.
Baptiste secured job with Brous-
seau on the following day and shook
the dust OF ST. Boniface from his heels.
Leaving Lafe at the mill, Hilary
made his headquarters in one of the
new camps. about five miles up the
river. At five o'clock on the Saturday
night he was surprised to see his
hands trooping hOmeward along the
road. Many of them did 90 home
over Sunday. and some every night :;
but this was an exodus. Hilary called
his gang foreman, who came up sui
lenly.
whats the meaning of thiS?" he
asked.
I'VE strike. We want two dollar a
day"
why don't the men come to mef'
II don't know. We strike, that's
all. You see Leblanc"
$50 you've chosen this time to strike.
have your cried Hilary furiously. "All
right. Get out! I'll bring men over
from the south shore"
He went back to his shack and sat
down. resting his head on his hands.
1t was clear that BrousSeau had post
pOned his original plan TIL now to Grip
pie him beyond hope. And Leblanc,
who did not work for him, was in
charge of the AFFAIR."! He was thor
oughly disheartened over this new de-
velopment.
However. II the strike did not Cx-
tend TO the mill he could still get his
shipment through.
Presently he heard the sound of
wheels, and, going outside. saw Lafe
driving rapidly along the road. He
stopped the horse. jumped out of the
buggy, and came up with a woeful ex-
preston on his face.
Il met your men going home, so |
guess you know" he said. They've
struck"
THE mill hands, too?'
Lafe nodded. ITS that fellow Le-
blanc. He's telling them they can get
two dollars and their grub. Mac
Pherson tried to hold the mill hands,
but he couldn't. You'll have 10 give
what they're asking"
Suppose l pay the mill hands two
dollars, will they stay in?' asked Hill
ary.
Lafe shook his head. 81 offered it
en- he said. II took the RESPONSE
bility of that. Maybe ! WAS wrong
but anyway, 1t won't GO They say it's
to be two dollars all round, mill hands
and lumbermen."
said Hilary furiously.
Lafe scratched his jaw "It appears
to me that you're going in just the way
he wants you to-" he answered. Make
1t two dollars till we get this shipment
through the mill"
Hilary shook his head. mot n cent"
he answered. I'm not going TO have
Brousseau dictate the price of my
labor"
That's all right, suppose, so far
as you're concerned" said Lafe indip-
nantly. "but what about me? guess
I've got the right to have some word
in the matter, with that eight thousand
OF Clarice-my wife-invested. Seems
to me you're putting up your front on
my money as well as yours" he blurted
out.
I'll write you n check for it."
"Oh. shucks!" said I.afe; and turn
ming upon his heel abruptly. he went
back to the buggy without another
word. He entered it, whisked the
reins, and drove slowly away. But
when he had gone n hundred PAGES he
turned the horse and came back.
You'd better know the worst" he
said. Louis Duval's in st. Bonface.
and he's going to open up tonight.
Now I'm through with it--all of it."
He whipped the horse and drove
away furiously, leaving Hilary alone
in the deserted camp.
Hilary sat there for long time. II
began to grow dark, but, absorbed in
his bitter reflections, he took no note
OF anything. Everything sank into in
Significance beside the fact that LouIs
Duval, in open defiance of him and his
warning, was selling liquor upon the
st. Boniface property. II was n delIb.
crate and direct challenge: and he
must accept 1t or be for ever dscredit.
ed among his men. More: lie must NC