The Crittenden press., 1919-12-12

BY
ROUSSEAU
IiissfvofjossS By
IVsv|0 MIees


company. the fact that II Is adjacent
makes 1t easy for me to devote little
time to II. so far as l can spare 1t
from my duty here. The two COM
pan!es are not in conflict, Mr.. Askew.
Quite the contrary. What helps one,
helps the other"
quite So" said Hilary. 81 don't dis
pute that you have had right to en-
gage In other interests. But how about
their use Of our mill?"
"At q sum. Mr.. Askew. which makes
quite 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, Mr.. Askew. What little spruce
there Is I've been holding 10 make a
show In case we decide to SELL"
THAT sounds plausible" said Hi.
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 felgned.
II see you have suspicious Of my
good fnlth, Mr.. Askew," he said indig-
nantly. THAT Is the only possible in
depreciation can put upon your ques-
ton"
III you will answer 1t, we can inter-
pret II together later"
II am not prepared to answer II Off
hand. Many companies would like to
get our property. The Ste. Marie
company may or may not have that In
tention. l 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 have the books and map OF
the seigniory limits and leased tracts
Mr.. Morris" asked Hilary.
III you think my services are worth.
less l have no desire to retain my 20.
sition here"
Hilary rose, crossed to Norris desk
and tapped the roll top. "I suppose
you do not refuse to produce them r
he asked.
Norris took key from his waist
coat pocket with fingers that could
hardly f,nd II. He inserted It aftel
two failures, snapped back the lock
and threw the top up, revealing tht
books heaped together, as II they hat
just been under examination. &c
through them by all means. II yor
think you've been swindled." he cried
He flung another key on the desk
This Is the key to the Office" he said
THE other desk contains my privat,
papers"
"The map, Mr.. Morris,"
"The selgniory is bounded on tn
west by the Rocky river It Is
straight concession Of eighty-fve thou
sand, five hundred odd arpents, Will
: three sides approximately equal. |
YOU want map you'll have TO go I,
: the government Mr.. Lamartine ha
the legal documents"
There must be map" said Hilar,
, quietly.
ut isn't drawn to scale. You'll fin,
: rough plan OF the leases among thos
papers" He moved toward the door
laid his hand on the handle, cleare,
his throat and looked back.
II have only to say that my yearl
: contract expires on October first" h
said. "If you wish to renew It
: shall expect adequate notice"
Hilary looked up from the books
"You may regard II ns terminating o,
October first, then" he answered. 81
l wish to renew II shall let 20,
know when have looked into these.
This time Morris anger was quit
unfelgncd. You can accept my resls
nation now" no shouted. "Do 20
think am the man to accept dlsmlssa
at tho hands Of a young American
: yrcenhorn like you? Why. I've throw
away thousands trying to develop thl
rotten proposition OF your uncle's, AL
Of friendship for him! And what d
you think you're going to make out o
the concesslonl You can't speak tn
language, you can't get along with IN