Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1926-03-26

'lnlS Is your lllle U lOIlJ lhOuSdhu
dollars worth of fur, your title-when
you sign 1t and return it to me-"
Mystified, on the defensive, Lascelles
waited in silence
"Ill read it to you," continued
Steele.
"Mademoiselle Denise st. Onge
81 hereby release you from your
agreement to marry me.
GEORGES LASCELLES,
Inspector, Revlllon Freres, Albany
District"
"You dare to insult me in my own
house !" ragged the furious trader, get
ting to his feet and shaking his fists 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 dogsi You" Lascelles,
choked with anger, was unable to con-
tinue.
"You forget my man David" drawled
Steele, "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 flinched from the threat
In the 'wind-burned features, with the
clamped jaw.
"Now, 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.
will ha cd of
Fort Hope, with the Hudson s Bay.
Understand Forty thousand in fur
to the Hudson's Bayw
"Did she send you with thisT"
sneered the patiently worried inspector.
eve won't discuss Mademoiselle st.
Onge, but she knows nothing Of this
nothing. Furthermore, you may be
glad to learn that this release will
mean nothing to me. We have both
lost, Lascelles-bOth you and l. 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 I refuse?'
"Well, read this" Steele handed
the other man a 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
tence, don't your" taunted Steele.
"'Any attempt on your part to con-
fuse the company's business with your
private affairs will be summarily dealt
with'" he quoted. "How would you
like to have the Montreal office learn
that you had, for private reasons,
turned over forty thousand dollars
worth of pelts to the Hudsons Bay?"
Limp in his chair, the man who had
plotted for Denise st. Onge and be-
held his victory near now stared
hopeleSSly on defeat. To Steele, con
fident of the answer-the answer
which was inevitable from the char
acter Of the man he dealt with-the
face Of Lascelles reflected each stage
of his mental struggle. Deep as had
been his obsession for Denise st.
life. After an interval, he turned to
the American.
II could have you put out Of the
way easily, in spite Of your man-killer
outside; and get both fur and the
girl"
Steele laughed. "You think me a
child? If l don't come back, the fur
goes to Fort Hope I've fixed that.
I've also written to your superiors
telling them of your great fur haul on
the Wailing. However, I'm hungry
for a good fight Say the word and
I'll begin with you. Any more
threats?"
Lascelles was done. There was no
alternative to a refusal to sign the
release but the ruin of his career. He
hurriedly wrote his name and re-
turned the paper to Steele.
you're a clever man, monsieur" he
said In a voice broken with passion,
but in the future keep away from
this end of the Albany. 1t would
please me to look at you over the
sights of q rifle"
"Now, I don't feel that way about
you," flung back Steele as he moved
to the door, followed by the venomous
eyee Of the other. "While l have a
foot, I'll never waste good ammuni-
tion-on a cur" and he slammed the
door behind him.