The Dolores star., 1921-03-18


tons feet, the latter turned to Jules
Rondeau. II can no longer take
charge. here. Rondeau." he explained.
~ am forbidden to interfere
Jules Rondcau can do re job" the
woods-boss replied easily. "Ze law.
she have not restrain me. I guess,
mebbeso. you don take dose theengs
away, eh. Msieur Cardigan. Myself.
I lax see'
The deputy marshal handed Ron
deau paper. Mt the same time show
ing his badge. You're out, too, my
friend" he laughed Don't be fool
ish to try to buck the law. II you do.
! shall have to place nice little pair
OF handouts on you and throw you in
jail-and II you resist arrest. shall
have to shoot you. have one OF
these little restraining orders for
every able-bodied man In the Laguna
Grande Lumber company's employ
thanks TO Mr.. Ogilvy's foresight; so
1t Is useless to try to beat this game
on technicalIty."
Sexton. who still fingered. made
gesture Of surrender DISMISS your
crew, Rondeau." he ordered. Were
whipped to frazzle."
gleam OF pleasure, not unmI1ed
with triumph. lighted the dark eyes OF
the F'rench-CanadIan. ~ toll M'sieur
Sexton she cannot fight M'sieur Cnrdi-
gan and win." he said simply "Now
mebbe he believe that Jules Rondeau
know something"
"Shut up" Sexton roared petulant-
ly. Rondeau shrugged contemptuous-
ly. turned, and with sweep of his
srent arm indicated to his men that
they were to go; then, without back
ward glance to see that they followed,
the woods boss strobe away in the
direction OF the Laguna Grande mill.
Arrived at the mill Office, he entered.
took down the telephone. and called
up Shirley Sumner.
"MademoiSelle." he said. Jules
Rondeau speaks to you. have for
you zee good news. Bryce Cardigan.
she puts in the crossing today. One
Francisco with papers, and Msieur
Sexton say to me: 'Rondeau we are
whip. Deesmess your men, SO have
deesmess doze men, and now l dees-
mess myself. Mebbeso bimeby | 20
to work for M'sieur Cardigan. For
Mademoiselle have no weesh to make
trouble to fire me. l queet. l will
not fight dose dirty fight some more.
Au revoir, mademoiselle. l GO"
And without further ado he hung
up.
whats this. what's this?" Sexton
demanded. you're going to quit!
Nonsense, Rondeau, nonsense!"
~ will have my time, M'sieur," said
Jules Rondeau. 81 go to work for
man. Mebbeso 1 am not woods boss
for heem, butt work."
you'll have to waitsuntil the Col
onel returns. Rondeau."
II Will have my time." said Jules
Rondeau patiently.
Then you'll wait till pay day for
1t, Rondeau. You know our rules.
Any man who quits without notice
waits until the regular pay day for
his money"
Jules advanced until he lowered d.
rectly over the manager. 81 tor
Msieur 1 would have my time" he
repeated once more. SIS M'Sieur
deaf in ze ears?" He raised his right
his blunt fingers worked little and
there was smoldering fire In his
dark eyes.
Without further protest Sexton
opened the safe, counted out the
wages due. and took Rondeau's re-
ceipt.
THANK you, Msieur." the woods
boss growled as he swept the coin
into his pocket. "Now l work for
Msieur Cardigan; so, Msieur l will
have zee switch engine weeth two
fiat cars and zee wrecking car. Doze
dam trash on zee crossing-M'sieur
Cardigan does not like, and by gar.
take heem away. You understand,
Msieur? ! am Jules Rondeau, and |
work for Msieur Cardigan. La la,
Msieur." The great hand closed
over Sections collar. Not zee pistol
no, not for Jules Rondeau."
Quite as easily as woman dresses
baby, he gagged Sexton with Sex
tons own handkerchief, laid him gent
ly on the floor and departed, locking
the door behind him and taking the
key. At the corner of the building.
where the telephone line entered the
office, he paused. jerked once at the
wire. and passed on, leaving the brok-
en- ends on the ground.
In the roundhouse he found the
switch engine crew on duty, waiting
for steam in the boiler. The with
drawal Of both locomotives, brief as
had been their absence, had caused
a glut of logs at the Laguna Grande
landings, and Sexton was catching up
with the traffic by sending the switch
engine crew out for one trainload
even though 1t was Sunday. The crew
had been used to receiving orders
from ROndeau, and moreover thew