NORTH PLATTE SEMI-WEEKLY TRIBUNE, IUllllllWI)1lltlllIMMl'llftllllltl)JUllttfBBl)1lUVilllIMTO 6 I I I By VICTOR ROUSSEAU Illustrations by Irwin Myers (Copyright, 1019, by George IT. Dornn Co,) (0 IBA4 jwjimffTiAAA-'Lj''Jiftflmi liftman j'".. CHAPTER XIV Continued. 11 "I'll do It," sold Hrousseau. "I mount to. And now " He rose to einbrncc tier, but she stepped away from him. "Not until we nre mnrrled, ICdounrd," she said. Hroussenu winced now. "It almost looks as If you didn't love me," he muttered In disgust. And In that sentence the major part of his charac ter might have been epitomized. Two days after the news reached Hilary lie went Into the village for his mall. Taking It to his olllce to read, he found among It n bulky envelope addressed to him from Ontario In an unknown writing. He opened It und found a letter from Morris. However evasive the ex-manager had been In conversation, he was di rect enough In writing. "You didn't treat me well, and I guess you had reason to act as you did," he wrote. "That hound Urousseau swindled me as he was swindling you, and I'm go ing to put you In possession of the facts and documents, which I took from his desk before leaving. You needn't huvo any scruples about using them, because they refer principally to you." Hilary thought enough of the mat ter to send n man to Lnfe, asking him to come In Immediately; and that afternoon the two men went over the altuutldn together. "It's n clear case," said Hilary. "He's been swindling the property right and left, It seems. I allowed for n few thousands, but as I make It out It amounts to nearly eighty thousand." Lafo whistled and took up the paper that Hilary handed him. "Tills Is the contract with Loblanc to cut on the St. Boniface limits," he aid. "So there's no mistaking who owned that lumber In tho river." He took up another document. "A contract with tho Cornwall Paper company to supply twenty thousand cords of spruce wood from the St. Boniface limits," he wild. "And hcro'H Morris' receipt for seven thou sand dollurs' commission on 'gummy flr' as he would call it In other words, pulp wood sold off tho seigniory during 1014, ut 10 per cent. What do you incite of It, Lufo?'V "Water-tight," answered Lnfe. "Hero's another document that makes Interesting rending," continued Hilary, handing It to him. Lnfe studied It. "I don't get It," he said. "It's Lumnrtlne's acknowledgment of fifty thousand dollars received from ItOHny for fifty shares in the North Empire Development company one of Hrousseau's Interests. Now look at thli one. Iiamnrtlno Is remitting Ave thousand dollars less tho broker's charges for tho sale of North Empire Development stock, ns per order. He doesn't say how much stock. Liiinur tine Isn't n fool. Hut hero's Hosny's acknowledgment of the five thousand dollnrs less broker's charges for the wile of fifty shares, dated March 0, 1918. Now hero's a stock market clipping from a newspaper of March 4, showing tho stock at $87.1, "Thnt's wherp we've got him, Lnfe. Lamartlne's letter proves nothing, but Morris got hold of Hosny's itcknowled mcnt, probably for blackmailing pur poses, and It shows Hroussenu has swindled Kosny out of $!17,000 on that deal. Probably there were others. That's whoro his money wont." "It's a pity Morris couldn't run straight, being ns thorough as he Is," said Lnfe. Hilary looked at him searchlngly until ho compelled him to return his iruze. "You have boon very reticent of Into, Lnfe. What's the trouble?" "I guess It ain't much," said Connell. "Well, you sec, It's this way," he went on reluctantly. "I knew what lies that blackguard was spreading about you And 1 didn't know whether to toll you or not. Mr. Askew. I knew Haptlsto saw us with that girl In Ste. Marie, and I know from his face that he wasn't pleased. And again I didn't know what to do. And I decided to lie low. It's my way ; mnybo I was wrong, but I'm against butting In, by nature." "Never mind, Lnfe," snld Hilary "It's too late to make any difference now." "No, It ain't too late ." shouted Lnfe. leaping to his feet. ' Ir. Askew, you haven't told him Mr. Rosny about that asbostos initio, lmvo you? You ought to have gono to hint and let him know. You could hnve saved Mam Jiolle Hosny from sncrlllclng horself this way. You can savo her, and you're going to." "I suppose 1 havo lot things drift," snld Hilary somberly. "I lived In a sort of hope that tho mess would clear up. And I hadn't the heart to do any thing nt nil." "There's tho girl Marie won't sho ay nnythlng?" "Sho's afraid of her father. There's ti telllnc how he would take It. At present I don't think ho knows any' ttane." t wotfmnx tet that stand In my -ay." Bald Lnfe emphatically. "t don't think you'd really use that means of cloarlng yourself, If you were I, Lafo. And, besides that, she linn My ?romlM to cay uothlug, and that settles the mntter. No, Lafo, you're talking nonsense." "Maybe I am," said Lafo stubbornly. "Hut I ain't going to ir.ee your happi ness wrecked becnuso two women haven't the sense and the heart to clear you. And I'm going to do It." "No, you're not, Lafe," said Hilary bluntly. "Why not? (Jood Lord, why not?" "Because I'm leaving St. Bmilfucc," answered Hilary. "Mr. Askew I" "I'm going," repented Hilary, with a swift gesture of hopelessness. "You'll call me n quitter, I suppose." . "I certainly should." answered Lafe coolly. "The same as you did me." "Maybe. Hut I came up here to jilny a certain game. I came to put the seigniory lumber business on Its legs. And I've done It. I stayed to fight Hroussenu after he nearly got me down, and I've beaten him. I've won Hint game on every point. I'm going to make Hroussenu refund his steal ings, und I'm going to leave you here In charge for the present, to wind up. I shall go to Quebec to start proceed ings and try to find a purchaser. Your contract will hold ns long as you want It to. And I'm not coming back. I've done what I came for, haven't I?" he ended defiantly. "Thnt's the way all quitters talk," said Lafe. Hilary's nerves were gone, of course. Lafe knew that the last lap of the race was the grueling one. Hilary need ed hell), that was ull. Lafe grew crafty with his Ideu. "Well, you're boss, of course," he said reluctantly. "If you've mado up your mind, It ain't for me to Interfere. When are you leaving, sir?" "I shall go out with Dupont when he takes his last load," answered Hilary. "That'll be Friday. We can't have tho logs through the mill before then. Dupont doesn't know yet?" "No." Lnfe reflected. The weather had changed suddenly during the preceding night. Already the shores of the St. Lawrence were thick with grinding Hoes. The middle passage was clear, but In a few days navigation would bo Impossible; a dog team would have to he procured and trained to run to gether. Already It was a dllllcult Jour ney with a horse-slolgh between tho camp and the mill. If the weather held, Hilary could be held until he, Lafe, had accomplished his purpose. Hilary put on hfs hat and overcoat, picked up ills snowshoes and went to- ward the stables. In a few minutes the horse had been harnessed to the sleigh and stood breathing great clouds of smoke Into the frosty air. It started, and from the ofllco door way Lafe. watched tho man whom he loved best In the world of men driving away. Ho waited till the sleigh had dlsap peared among the trees behind tho bridge. He allowed ten minutes more, to make sure that Hilary would not change his Intentions and return. Then he coolly opened Hllary'8 desk with a duplicate key that had been tnndo nfter tho burglnry und took out tho en velope Hint contained the papers from Morris. lie removed these und thrust them Into his pocket. In tho empty envelope ho plnced some discarded let ters from the waste-basket. Then he put buck the envelope, closed the desk, strapped on his snowshoes and left the olllce. Flvo minutes nfter he left Hilary was bnclf. Ills decision bud suddenly come to lihn. He had resolved to leave St Honlface, and there was nothing to be gained by procrastination. Ho wanted to leave St. Honlface forever, and to put the memory of the past months out of his mind, so far as It could be possible. He huted the lit tie vlllugo; even Lafe's presence hud become intolerable to him. He went to Dupont on board his schooner and arranged for him to sail for Quebec the following evening with the little lond ono schooner full which he had. He Instructed him to suy nothing to anybody about the ar rnngeinont. Ho saw nothing strange In Dupont's manner or aspect and. had he done so, he would not huvo thought anything about It. Having Issued his Instructions, he drove back toward the camp. I Hut. seeing that tho olllce was durli and unoccupied, ho stopped there on his way, opened his desk and took out the envelope which he supposed to contain the letter and paper from Mo rls. In Quebec he meant to go througl them again, mailing to Hosny those papers that had reference to his af fairs and placing Iho others In a law yer's hands for a civil suit. lie "picked a few of his personal ef fects In a bag and left the olllce, as ho supposed for the lost time. CHAPTER XV. Lafe Takes a Hand. Lafo was surprised to feel the hitter tang of the air when be left the mill ofllco. It was going to be winter now, ho reflected, and, If Hilary could be held only three days, there could bo no question of an Immediate Journey to Quebec. RenchluK tho waste of open ground before the Chateau, he saw that a lelgb had been there that day; pos sibly It was in the stables now. He rang the boll, nodded to Itobltallle. ho opened tho door,, disregarded his noomprehenslblo address, which seemed to negative Lafe's wish to on er, and went by Instinct Info the liv ing room at the end of the hall for the rst time In Ills life. He tapped at the door, but there came no answer. He knocked more loudly, and went In without waiting for any. He discovered the Seigneur n a big leather ehnlr before the huge, glowing lire, Madeleine standing be side him and Kdouurd Hroussenu a short distance away. There was an tmosphero of Immediate constraint, ns If Lafe's appearance had Interrupt- d n tense Interview. Lafe sensed It, nit Ik- did not care. He could hardly believe his luck. He had wanted Hroussenu 'there badly, but he had not oped to meet him. Hroussenu was tho first to spenk. Ie niuy hnve guessed the nature of .ofe's errand from Lafe's attitude, though not Its fullness. He scowled. "It's the man from the mill," he sold In a sneering tone to Monsieur Hosny. Madeleine raised her eyes and Lafe rend In them the sumo Intuition that was In Hrousseau's. und also her chal lenge. She was arming to oppose him n his fight for Hilary, she was prepar ing to fight against nil that she held earest, for the sake of the swindler across the room. Lafe admired her courage, but this he had expected. "My business Is with Mr. Hosny," he said. "Don't let tbnt trouble you. I speak for Monsieur Hosny," answered Hrous senu. "You'll hear for him, too, then," re torted Lafe. "Mr. Hosny, tbnt man Is a liar, a thief and a swindling rogue. That's what I've come to prove." Hrousonu started forward, his face pale with rage. As he placed himself n u fighting attitude Lnfe calmly as sumed that of defense, (ho left fist ready, the right arm across his chest, turned outward and slightly upward. Hroussenu was no coward, but lie hesi tated, and his moment passed. The Seigneur's face grew dark with anger. "No man can say such tilings of a guest of mine," he cried, und gripped the nrms of his chair as If try ing to rise. Madeleine bent over him nnd restrained him. Her fuce wns Hushed with resentment. "I told you my business wns with you, Mr. Hosny," said Lafe, unper- urbed. "I ain't speaking to him. God knows I don't want to spenk to him. He says lie's speaking for you, so let ilm speak to this. He's swindled the St. Honlface lumber company out of eighty thousand dollars, so far as we've learned yet, and maybe more. Hut I guess he's heard enough. I got the proofs, but mnybe It's painful lis tening." "Leave the Chateau Immediately, Monsieur I" thundered the Seigneur. "wot till t'vo tuusiieu speaitiug, an swered Lafe. "Unless he asks me to "Leave tho Chateau Immediately, Monsieur!" go, and then I'll think about It. lie's speaking for you. You ain't In on this deal, Mr. Hosny. And now I've ante'd," he ended defiantly. Madeleine came forward quietly. "You can go, Mr. Connell," she said in a voice vibrant with retrained' anger. "We do not permit Monsieur Hrous senu to be Insulted, here or anywhere. Your conduct Is Intolerable. Leave In stantly, nnd if you have anything to say to lilm In accusation sny It when he has not a woman and a sick man present to restrain his resentment." Lnfe Hushed. "And you ain't In it neither. Munizolle," he answered. "What I got to say I say to Mr. Hosny. I come here to say It and I'll go when I said It." "Oh. let lilm spenlf," snarled Hrous scan. "Monsieur Askew Is afraid to come here with his lies, so ho has sent his man." Madeleine's eyes Hashed. "This Is no place for personalities, Edov.nrd," cried the girl. "Perhaps ymi will ac company Mr. Connell to tho door and let him suy what he wishes to say outside." "I sny It here!" cried Lafe In a furl-' ous voice that surprised himself. "He's cheated us out of eighty thou sand dollars, and he's cheated you, Mr. Rnxtiy, out of about as much, and prob ably more, nnd you can put It In any word you like. And I've got the pa pers to prove It all of 'em." Hiiuisseati winced and staggered ;ack diimfounded ; there was no mis taking now that the man was afraid. Though Madeleine would not deign to acknowledge tbnt she had listened td Lafe's words, Lnfe caught the flicker of her eyelids as she glanced quickly toward Hrousseau. and he knew that at the same Instant she hnd seen the look on Hrousseau's face. The Seig neur, mouthing lmpotently. had kept trying to rise; but now he sat open mouthed In his chair, and thereafter they listened. "I'll tell you why he wants the seigniory," continued Lafe. "I guess It's part plain greed, but there's an otber reason, nnd that explains why he wants to get Mr. Askew off. There's on asbestos mine on the Island Look at him ! Look at him!" Hrousseau was glaring nt him. the picture of Impotent rage. Lafe, hnv Ing Indicated lilm with his hand, re sumed: "He kept It off the map In our ofllco, protending the Island Isn't on our lim its, nnd ho sprend that story, but you know better, Mr. Hosny. The Island has the best asbestos mine this side of Thetford, and I've seen the mines nt Thetford. And It's worth a good quar ter million dollars, I reckon. Maybe more. Maybe a million I ain't no Judge. And he's kept It secret from you." "He's drunk or dreaming," mut tered Hroussenu, trembling. "A few strands of rock llax, commercially worthless " "Hut that ain't roguery. That's Just a business trick," said Connell. "How did he get you Into his power, Mr. Ros ny. asking your pardon? I'll tell you. He's cheated you as he's cheated us, except that it was worse, because you trusted lilm, which we never did. That's what 1 come to tell you, Mr. Hosny. He's swindled you out of nearly forty thousand dollars on one deal, In North Empire Development company stock, nnd maybe in other " Hrousseau reaped at Lafe like a tiger. Lafe. who had anticipated the move, stepped dexterously aside, at the same time twirling the ehnlr on which his hand was resting. Hrous seau, In his plunge forward, tripped over It, stumbled and fell prone to the floor. 1 "And I got the papers to prove that here!" said Lnfe triumphantly. Hrousseau rose, rubbing his shins and muttering curses, and glared sav agely about lilm. Madeleine wns breathing quickly, her eyes Used In tently on Lafe's face. "It's a d d lie!" cried Hrousseau. "They've forged those papers. Where nre they? Eh? Show me!" . "He said ho was speaking for you, Mr. Hosny," said Lafe, "so here they nre, I guess you know your signa ture?" lie drew the envelope from his pock et and placed the three documents on the Seigneur's knee, standing between him and Hrousseau, who looked ready to leap again. Hut he did not leap; ho muttered to Madeleine, who still watched Lafe breathlessly. "I guess these letters don't tell you much, Mr. Hosny," continued Lnfe. "If you'll put tboni together you'll see that those fifty thousand-dollar shares were sold for you in Quebec ut a hundred dollnrs nplece." "Yes. Monsieur Hroussenu hnd ill fortune with tbnt company. He ex plulned It to me," said tho Seigneur, trembling. "What of It?" "Why, hero's the mnrkct price of Its shares live days bcfQro at 375, that's all." said Lafe. "It didn't tumble that fast. All the country would have been ringing with It if It had done that. guess Hroussenu has that money of yours tucked away safely somewhere." "You gave me your power of attor ney-" Hroussenu began. Hut his guilt was written on his face. The swiftness of the blow had utterly disconcerted lilm und made lilm Incapable of defense. Lafe saw the Seigneur's expression change us If a mask has been torn from his fea tures, lie staggered to his feet, his left side helpless, and, grasping the chair with his right hand, confronted Hroussenu. "What have you to say? Is It true or false, monsieur?" he cried. "Where aro my other stocks? You had a bun dred thousand of my money. Where Is It?" "Find It!" yelled Hroussenu. "Go to the devil with your money! I tried to Jiolp you out of friendship. I haven't time to work out your stock exchange accounts for you. If anybody's chent- ed you It's the stockbroker. Go to him for It!" He started toward Madeleine. "You don't believe these lies against me?" ho cried. "You hare Insulted my father, but you have not answered him." "I'll pay him." "It Is true, then? It Is true?" "Yep, It's true," Interposed Lnfe. "It can't be anything else. Everybody knows what a rotten, swindling thief the fellow Is. Ah, keep your hand down, Mr. Hosny. I'm telling you what I think of him. That's what I came hero for. And If you'll excuse me for referring to your mortgage, which everybody knows. If he doesn't turn that In to you by tomorrow Mr. Askew will sue him criminally as well as civ illy for what he's done to us, because we've got the confession of the man that sawed the boom for him." Hrousseau swung on his heel sud denly and strode toward the door. He turned and shook his fist at Lnfe. "I'll pay you for this, you and that other blackmailer I" he swore. "I'll smash yourrotten concern. I'll " He broke off with n derisive snort and made toward the entrance. But Lafe strode past him and blocked his way. "Just a moment," he said. "Mr. Hosny's got something to suy to you." Hrousseau tried to fling himself past, but Lafe. standing like nn Iron sentinel, completely filled the open ing. "Monsieur Hrousseau," said the Seigneur, "there are Just a few words to suy before you go. When Monsieur Connell .came here he did not meet Brouaseau Leaped at Tiger. Lafe Like a with encouragement. He proved his case, and you have proved It by your actions. When you were a boy I ad vanced you. I Interested myself In you. You climbed high, and you tried to re pay me by ousting me from my lands and stepping Into my shoes. You sought to' dishonor us through my daughter, who was wiser than I In her recognition of what you were. I thought that you were only Ill-bred, but you have proved yourself a Scoun drel ns well. You will repay me everything you have stolen or go to jail. Good-dny, monsieur." "That's air, I guess," snld Lnfe, nnd opened the door. Hroussenu dashed through and along the corridor. Lafe followed him nt nn Intervnl ; but Hroussenu did not vnt for him. He pulled the front door open and slammed It behind him. When Lafe reached It Hrousseau was already dragging ills horse, already harnessed to his sleigh, out of the sta bles. Lafe watched him drive away atid turned back Into the hall. He hesitat ed to return Into the room, but as he stopped uncertainly In tho corridor be hind the entrance Madeleine came to ward him. "My father thanks you, Mr. Con nell," she said, and though the tears rained down her face she smiled. "It Is like the lifting of a nightmare," she whlspernal. "Yes, mademoiselle," said Lafo. "Hut It was you I wanted chiefly to see." "You saw me. What else Is there to say? Mr. Connell, If you have come here on any other mission It is hope less. Why did you let him send you for for tbnt?" she continued, reading his face. "Heenuse he's my friend," said Lafe. "Hut he didn't send me here. He's talking of going awny. Thnt's why I CKine." He saw her start, then control her self. "I'm forty years old," said Lafe, and conscious of the Ineptnoss of tho be ginning, hesitated. "I'm forty years old," he continued. "Not old enough to be your father, nindeniolslle. but old enough to bo a sort of uncle, though I ain't got your education. That don't matter. It's experience that counts, und knowledge of the world. And I seenn good bit more of life than you, mademoiselle. "I seen enough to leurn one thing, nnd that Is that misunderstandings are the cause of nearly all the trouble In the world. When Mr. Askew come here I wasn't altogether too much pleased. I'd been meshed Into the crooked work that Morris and Mon sieur Hrousseau was doing with the seigniory lumber. Then when I got to know Hilary Askew I saw that ho was clean straight through." He let his hand fall lightly on the girl's shoulder. The gesture, which might have been an offense In some, wns Instinctive, nnd, like most In stlnctlva actions, fitting. Lafe, un couth, unlettered, standing . befoh Madeleine Hosny. seemed like a b ncvolent guardian. "When he came to like you I win glad," continued Lafe. "Hut when yoi came to like him I was just about ai happy as when I was leading Clarice my wife, I mean out of the Flnr Methodist church nt Shoeburyport Mass., on August 17, lOOli, with hei white veil hiding her, nnd them orangi flowers she was carrying scenting u the place . . not quite so glad, mny be, but nfit fur shy of It. And yoi think he wnsn't true to you? Whai niun In his senses wouldn't be?" "I won't hear you!" cried the girl summoning her defiance to her aid "He should have spoken for himself What right have you to speak for him sent or unsent?" "Why, I thought I'd explain tbnt mamzelle. Just because I'm hll friend." said Lafe. "It ain't true. No' a word of that story's true. I'm golni to tell you the truth. Hut first I'm go Ing to say what I got to say, beoausi It's true. You haven't noted rlghtlj toward him no, you hnven't, mum zolle!" The pnsslonnte gesture, the slncerltj of his tone dominated her. She trlei to find her voice and could not; shi tried to find Indignation nnd could not "We went to Ste. Mario together ti see conditions there, to see whai sort of place Simeon Duval was run nlng. The girl was there. It was tin night of the raid, and we helped hoi away. She got home, nnd her fnthel never knew. Little Baptlste knew, an others who'd seen her with us. Thej told Hroussenu, nnd he started thosi lies about Mr. Askew, who never knevi ubout It never knew anything. "That fellow Pierre, Brousseau'i man, had his eye on the girl. You knov the sort of work he's done along thh coast. Maybe you don't, but It's devll'i work, maiiizelle, nnd he nnd Leblnnt lured Marie Into a boat by means ol their decoy, Nanette Bonnat, nnd tool her to the Islnnd. We found then there, and saved her, and brought tin girls back. That's nil. Now yoi know. Now you understand how you've done Hilary d wrong. If yoi dpn't believe me," Lnfe continued dog godly, "just tell me how much yoi don't believe, and I'll prove It. I'll prove every word ; you don't have V take me on trust." "Do you think I am capable of socio lng evidence that a man Is true U me?" cried Madeleine.' "Do you thin! I am going Into St. Boniface to prj Into your friend's actions?" "You love him, mamzelle," snld Lafq with patience that would not .bf thwarted. "I can rend that in you; face. You lovo him, and you've donl him n wrong. Well, mumzclle, yo can't lie down under that. You can't bear It. You've got to right It." She burst Into helpless tears. ") hoped that he would come to me," shi whispered. "Hilary Askew ain't thnt kind of I man," snld Lafe. "He refused to defend himself." "He'd promised Marie to say noth ing." "Let me pass. I havo heard you." But Lafe stood In the way. "You'n going to tell him It's all right," he said "I'll arrange It so It won't hurt youi pride, If that's worth keeping " "How dare you Insult me? Let hire come to me! Let him come and plead !" "Mamzelle 1" "I shall never go to him 1" And Lnfe hnd reached the end; IIli outraged justice hnd led him to tin gonl ; but It wns the wrong goal. Hi was helpless, he was bcaton. Hi stepped aside, and she ran past hliu hurrying up the stairs, whoso faded enrpet wns held by tnrnlshed rodi that gleamed between her moving feet Lafe looked along the gloomy hall at the portraits In their gilt frame and he felt the unreasoning, stubborn Rosny spirit that looked out of th eyes of each, ns It had looked out ol Madeleine's and spoken by her. And It had met such another spirit In Hll ary. "I guess you're wrong, all of you,' Lafe muttered. "I guess you mamr factured your code and thought It wai bleeding and. pride, and you can't help It. You got your foundations crooked You can't help It; that's all." And with the same dogged patience, but with an added air of hopelessness, he put on his snowshoes and plodded from the Chateau. (TO UK CONTINUED.) An Eye for a Tooth. In n certain part of our African do minions Is a doctor who acts as un dersfudy to the magistrate. Recently e-ch was conscious of having trims grossed by riding u bicycle without a light. They decided thnt the majesty of the law would best be vindicated by each appearing before the other. Tim magistrate, taking precedence, first tried the doctor and fined him five rupees. Then tho doctor tried tb magistrate and lined him 100. Tim reason he gave for hia severity was that the offense was becoming far ho common. London Morning Pent, A wise mother and good books en abled me to succeed In Ufa. Henrr Clay.