Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1920-03-09

lenge. She was arming to oppose him
In his fight for Hilary, she was prepar-
ing to fight against all that she held
dearest, for the sake of the swindler
across the room. Lafe admired her
courage, but this he had expected.
My business is with Mr.. Rosny,"
he said.
Don't let that trouble you. speak
for Monsieur Rosny," answered Brous-
seau.
You'll hear for him, too, then,' re-
torted Lafe. "Mr Rosny, that man is
a liar, thief and a swindling rogue.
That's what I've come to prove"
Brouseau started forward, his face
pale with rage. AS he placed himself
in a fighting attitude Lafe calmly as
sumed that of defense, the left fist
ready, the right arm across his chest,
turned outward and slightly upward.
Brousseau was no coward, but he hest
tated. and his moment passed.
The Seigneur's face grew dark with
anger. mo man can say such things
of q guest Of mine," he cried, and
gripped the arms of his chair as if try
ing to rise. Madeleine bent over him
and restrained him. Her face was
flushed with resentment.
Il told you my business was with
you, Mr.. Rosny," said LATE, upper
turbed. 81 amt speaking to him. God
knows l don't want to speak to him.
He says he's speaking for you, so let
him speak to this He's swindled the
ST. Bonifaee lumber company out of
eighty thousand dollars, so far as
we've learned yet, and maybe more.
But guess he's heard enough. / got
the proofs, but maybe it's painful lis
tening."
Leave the Chateau Immediately,
Monsieur y Numbered the Seigneur.
"Not till I've finished speaking" an
swered LATE. Unless he asks me to
go, and then I'll think about it. He's
speaking for you. You amt in on this
deal, Mr.. Rosny. And now I've ante'd,"
he ended defantly.
Madeleine came forward quietly.
"You can go, Mr.. Conneli," she said in
a voice vibrant with restrained anger.
I'VE do not permit Monsieur Brous-
seau to be insulted, here or anywhere.
Your conduct is intolerable. Leave in
stantly, and If you have anything to
say to him In accusation say 1t when
he has not woman and q sick man
present to restrain his resentment"
LATE flushed. Sand you amt in ii
neither, Mamzelle," he answered.
What got to say say to Mr.. Rosny.
1 come here to say it and I'll go when
l said it,"
"Oh, let him speak" snarled Brous-
Seau. Monsieur Askew is afraid to
come here with his lies, so he has sent
his man."
Medicines eyes flashed "This is
no place for personalities, Edouard,"
cried the girl. Perhaps you will &C.
company Mr. Cornell to the door and
let him say what he wishes to say out
side"
81 say it here" cried Lafe in furi-
Gus voice that surprised himself
Hes cheated us out of eighty thou
sand dollars. and he's cheated you, Mr.
Rosny, out Of about as much, and prob
ably more, and you can put it in any
words you like. And I've got the pa
perS to prove it-aH of EN-"
Brousseau WINGED and staggered
back dumf0unded; there was no mis-
taking now that the man was afraid.
Though Madeleine would not deign TO
acknowledge that she had listened to
Lafe's words, Lafe caught the flicker
of her eyelids as she glanced quickly
toward Brousseau, and he knew that
at the same instant she had seen the
look on BrousSeau's face. The Seig-
neur, mouthing impotently, had kept
trying TO rise; but now he sat open
mouthed In his chair, and thereafter
they listened.
'Tll tell you why he wants the
selgniory," continued LATE. 81 guess
it's part plain greed, but there's an
other reason. and that explains why
he wants to get Mr.. Askew off. There's
an asbestos mine on the island-Look
at him Look at him !"
Brousseau was glaring at him, the
picture of impOtent rage. LATE, hav-
ing indicated him with his hand, re-
sumed:
''He kept it off the map In our Office,
pretending the island Isn't on ouS linz
its, and he spread that story, rat you
know better, Mr.. Rosny. Tbe island
has the best asbestos mine this side of
Thetford. and I've seen ths mines at
Thetford. And it's worth good quar-
ter million dollars, l reckon. Maybe
more. Maybe a millinn-I amt no
judge. And he's KEEP. 1t secret from
you"
"He's drunk or dreaming" NUT
tered Brousseau. trembling. "A few
strands of rock fax, commercially
worthless"
"But that amt roguery. That's just
a business trick" said Cornell. "How
did he get you into his power, Mr.. Ros-
ny. asking your pardon? TIL tell YOU
He's cheated you as he's cheated us,
except that it was worse, because you
trusted him, which we never did.
That's what ! come to tell you, Mr..
Rosny. He's swindled you out of
nearly forty thousand dollars on one
deal, in North Empire Development
company stock, and maybe in other"
Brousseau feaped Mt Lafe like
tiger. LATE, who had anticipated the
move, stepped dexterously aside, at
the same time twirling the chair on
which his hand was resting. Brous-
seau, in his plunge forward, tripped
over it, stumbled and fell prone to the
floor.
And I got the papers to prove that
-here!" said LATE triumphantIy.
Brousseau rose. rubbing his sIIlns
and muttering- curses, and glared saw
agely about him. Madeleine was
breathing quickly. her eyes fixed in
tpnflr on Iafp'S faaa