The spectator., 1919-12-09
By VICTOR ROUSSEAU
 Illustrations 6y
 Irwin MyeSs

pose you'll be staying long enough to do some fishing, Mir. Askew? There are some fine trout lakes few miles to the north. We might make a days trip of it."
 His sentences were not continuous. There was Il considerable pause after each, long enough to allow Hilary to reply. If Hilarys silences had aroused respect in the mind of Lamar tine, they aroused positive fear in that of Morris.
 Hilary came to the point. q have come here to assume charge, Mir. Nor ris," he said. "Please let me see the map and books"
 Norris wiped his forehead with handkerchief which he took from his desk. "That's-that's a sudden deci- sion, Mir. Askew," he said, trying to smile.
 "My decisions are always sudden"
 Morris laid one finger upon the edge of the desk. "Of course I know noth- Mir. Askew," he said. with a tone of aggrievement, but if you intend to take charge immediately, in this Inn pulSive way, that means that l must step out. The concession is not a pay ing proposition, as you are probably aware, but your uncle was satisfied with my management"
 "I have not expressed dissatisfac ton yet" answered Hilary. "Please let me see"
 "My suggestion" interrupted Mor ris, 'is merely that you hold over your decision until We can go into the books together. Frankly, if I were you I should try to sell. It was my advice to your uncle but he was q lit tie obstinate about confessing to an error in judgment. Mir. Askew."
 Before I see the books" said Hill ary. 'I have question to ask you. Are you not associated with the Ste. Marie company"
 Morris wiped his forehead again. He hated directness as much as Lam artine. "I certainly am," he said, but"
 Another question. How do you reconcile that with your duties as man. ager of my concession?'
 "Now. my dear sir" protested Mor- ris raising his finger. If that is your grievance it is an unjustifiable one. There is nothing in my duties here in- compatible with my having other in- terests. l think you will find that I have not neglected my obligations to your late uncle As for the Ste. Marie company, the fact that it is adjacent makes It easy for me to devote little time to 1t, so far as l can spare it from my duty here. The two com panies are not in conflict, Mir. Askew. Quite the contrary. What helps one, helps the other."
 Quite so," said Hilary. 'I don't dis pute that you have had right to en- gage in other interests. But how about their use of our mill?"
 At sum, Mir. Askew, which makes quite a little showing on the credit side of our ledgers. We can't afford to throw money away, and our cuttings are not large enough for the one to interfere with the other."
 You mean the timber is bad"
 'Damn bad" said Morris. "Gummy fir, Mir. Askew. What little spruce there is I've been holding to make n show in case We decide to sell"
 That sounds plausible" said Hil- ary; and then he shot his bolt. "Why does the Ste. Marie company wish to purchase this gummy fir of ours?" he asked.
 Morris rose up, trembling with anger that was only half feigned.
 'I see you have suspicious of my good faith, Mir. Askew," he said indg- nantly. "That is the only possible in- depreciation l can put upon your ques- tion."
 If you will answer 1t. we can inter- pret 1t together later"
 'l nm not prepared to answer it off hand. Many companies would like to get our property. The Ste. Marie company may or may not have that in- tention. 1 should no more think of disclosing the Ste. Marie's plans to you than should think of disclosing your plans to the Ste. Marie."
 May I have the books and map of the seigniory limits and leased tracts, Mir Morris?" asked Hilary.
 If you think my services are worth less I have no desire to retain my po- sition here"
 Hilary rose, crossed to Morris desk. and tapped the roll top. II suppose you do not refuse to produce them?" he asked.
 Morris took n key from his waist. coat pocket with fingers that could hardly find it. He inserted 1t after two failures, snapped back the lock, and threw the top up. revealing the books heaped together, as if they had just been under examination. "Go through them by all means. if you think you've been swindled," he cried.