Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1926-05-06

Ia the valley for st. Onge.
"Tt's unbelievable-Lafia dead
And his furf II win come. Of course,
to waIlIng River added the trader,
with satisfaction.
The moment Of the American had
arrived He deliberately knocked out
his pipe as he countered: THAT de-
ponds on whether you sign this" The
speaker fumbled In an inner pocket
and produced an oii=skin envelope with
an enclosure.
LasceIIes scowied as Steele drew out
the paper.
'what is thisY he demanded, his
small eyes shining suspiciousiy from
the paper to the cold gaze Of the
American.
This is your title TO forty thousand
dollars worth OF fur. your title-when
you sign It and return 1t to me"
Mystlhed. on the defensive. Lascelles
waited In silence
I'm read IT to you" continued
Steele.
'AIademoiselle Denise St onge:
Il hereby release you from your
agreement to marry me.
GEORGES LASCELLES.
Inspector, RevilIon Freres. Albany
District"
You dare 10 insult me In my own
house =" ragged the furious trader get
ting to his feet and shaking his dsts In
the face OF the man who sat coolly
In his chair, looking up at him.
"Why-you impudent scoundrel-I'll
have you thrown out Of the place-you
and your dogs! You" L.ascelies,
choked with anger. was unable to con-
tinue.
"You forget my man David" drawled
Steele, 1.-THE Indian who laughed at
you on the shore. You haven't got
enough Swampy Crees at your post
here TO throw that Ojlbway out"
The trader finched from the threat
In the wind-burned features with the |
clamped jaw.
snow, sit down. snapped Steele.
"At the STOPPING River there Is forty
thousand dollars In fur under guard OF
my men. Sign this. and It goes to st.
Onge; refuse, and It will be traded at
Fort Hope. with the Hudson's Bay.
Understand Forty thousand In fur
to the Hudson's Bay 7"
"Did she send you with thIsT
sneered the patiently worried Inspector.
ave won't discuss MademOiselle st.
Onge, but she knows nothing OF this
Furthermore. you may be
glad to learn that this release will
mean nothing to me. We have both
lost, Lascelles-both you and /. Let's
take our medicine like men,"
"You expect me to believe your"
believe ME or not. one thing you're
going to do; that is. sign this release.
Suppose refuse7'
well. read this" Steele handed
the other man paper bearing the
letterhead of RevIllon Freres and
dated at Montreal.
Lascelles' hand visibly trembled as
he took the paper. While he read, his
high color slowly died.
"You understand that second SEN
.ence, don't your tainted Steele.
Amy attempt on your part to con-
use the cOmpany's business with your
private affairs will be summaEily dealt
WITH" he quoted. How would you
Ike to have the Montreal Office learn
hat you had, for private reasons,
urned over forty thousand dollars
worth OF pelts to the Hudson's Bay?" /
Limp in his chair the man who had Z
dotted for Denise St Onge and be- {
leld his victory near, now stared
lopelessly on defeat To Steele. con- 6
ldent OF the answer-the answer 1
which was inevitable from the char q
lcter OF the man he dealt with--the g
ace OF BasceIles reflected each stage
4 his mental struggle Deep as had r
'een his obsession for Denise st. 9
)nge. his commercial future was his r
fe- After an Interval, he turned TO q
be American.
Il could have you put out Of the Z
ray easily, in spite OF your man-killer
inside; and get both fur and the Z
fri" l
Steele laughed. "You think me
hild7 II l don't come back, the fur =
oes to Fort Hope. I've fxed that. :
We also written 70 your superi0rs z
cling them Of your great fur haul on 3
he Wailing. However, I'm hungry q
,r good fight Say the word and 9
II begin with you. ANY more :
1reats7"
LascelIes was done. There was no e
lternative to a refusal to sign the y
slease but the ruin OF his career. lie =
urriedly wrote his name and re- 3
lrned the paper to Steele
You're a clever man. monsieur" he :.
I'D In a voice broken with passion, =
tut in the future keep away from =
IFS end Of the Albany II would =
ease me to look at you over the - -
gifts Of a rife"
''Now. / don't feel that way about =
,u." flung back Steele as he moved =
the door. followed by the yenomous =
res Of the other. "WhiIe ! have :,
OF, I'll never waste good ammunl- y
a cur" and he slammed the ..
'or behind him. n,
(To BE coNTTNUED.1