The Crittenden press., 1920-02-13
CHAPTER XII.


F '''h lhl'u lllt lHbuhHt VI VluHUtstlH-
!ty, ndd Hilary realized the need OF
concentrating all his thoughts upon his
work Dupont had made three more
voyages. md Baptlste, who kept ont
OF si,h', had given complete sutlsfnc-
ton. The lumber had brought uncx-
pectedy good prices, and there was
now Il probability that before navlga-
tlon clio ocd Hilary would be In posi-
tlon to carry on TIL spring when the
winter LnttinF began, and there was
more lel'Are. Hilary meant to fight out
the Issue with Rosny. The old man
was stlll partly paralyzcd. and he had
made no reference Of any kind to what
had occtrred but his mind was quite
clear, and. Madeleine thought. his
memory.
Townsd the middle Of the month the
newly discovered spruce supply had
all beed 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 10 be sent into the
woods, and Hilary turned his thoughts
once mo-, To the island. more from
engcrnrss 70 explore that part of his
domain than from any thought Of cut
ting there that winter
Hilary vas In his office one day
when thcr.' came tap nj the door
and. 10 h'r nstonlshmcnt, In walked
Louis Duval.
The little llquor.seller approached
him In nn ingrntlatlng manner. Mon.
sleur Asstw." he said. 81 am very
sorry 10, that night. have been
away .;ow come hnck. and Mon.
sicur T.SSlcr tells me that you for.
give Now ! come To thank YOU"
"rhnta nll right, Louis" said
Hilary. "lou are forgiven, ns long ns
rou kc,p out Of that trade of yours.
IT, mad business when It's run In
he Ste Marie way"
Louis Duval shifted Con,cmptuous.
ly. I'm out" he announced. "And
Slmc,ns out And he say he hope
you iont bear ill-fecling. Them fcl.
Iowa never pay us cent. An got
my head busted open too" he added
rcnectiycly.
Hilary sprnng 10 his feet and took
the little man by the arms. "Do you
mean 10 tell me Broussenu offered
YOU money 10 open saloon In st. BonI.
fncef' he asked
"surc he did. Vie said II open he
set me up Rn' hr pay me two hundred
dollars more n those fellows kill you"
Good Lordl Is that all I'm WORTH"
asked Hilary.
"Oh Il nln't that" answered Louis.
81 guess you're worth more than that
much But Pierre an Leblanc, they
crazy 10 Nil you. because you thrash
Pierre an you take awny Lchlanc's
business an his family stnrve. May
be he pay them too; Eayhe they pay
him Ia let them. | don know. Hut
Pierre an Leblanc swear they get you
yet. An Slmcon's ont of the game.
An wan, 10 tell you something, Mon.
fIeur Askew, II you won bust my head
open again"
"Your heads quite safe, Louis.
Whnt is ~"
That damn HrouSscnu promise me
two hundred FOR the other Job an only
pay me hfty."
"What other Johi"
"For to get them fellows to saw
your boom. monsieur"
$50 II was sawed. was ~" demand.
ed Hilary furiously.
"les, monsieur. get three fellows
from the south shore. an | fell into
the water an got rheumatic, an pay
ten dollars for medicines, an that
damn Brousscnu--"
Louis, Will you sign your name TO
thatY"
20 sure, II you get them fellows
an BrouSscnu first" replied the little
man. edglng toward the door. Finding
'h0t he was not pursued, he halted,
Monsieur Askew, gone back 10 my
fishing Job" he said.
Hilary thought this was n character.
istlc occupation for Louis To take M.
since II afforded him several months
of ldlcness before the fishing season