The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1920-01-09
BY
VICTOR
ROUSSEAU
Illustrations By
Irwin My ers


company, the fact that it is adjacent
makes 1t easy for me to devote little
time to it, so far as I can spare it
from my duty here. The two COM
panies 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 Inill?"
SAT 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 to make a
show in case we decide to SELL"
'That sounds plausible" said Hill
airy; 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.
II see you have suspicious of my
good faith, Mr.. Askew," he said indig-
nantly. THAT is the only possible In
depreciation 1 can put upon your ques-
ton"
EFF you will answer it, we can inter-
pref it together later"
II am not prepared to answer it Off
hand. Many companies would like to
company may or may not have that in
tention. l should no more think of
disclosing the Ste. Marie's plans to
you than 1 should think of disclosing
your plans to the Ste. Marie"
'May 1 have the books and map of
the seigniory limits and leased tracts,
Mr.. Morris?" asked Hilary.
IF you think my services are worth
less / 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 key from his waist
coat pocket with fingers that could
hardly find it. He inserted it 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.
He flung another key on the desk.
''This is the key to the Office" he said.
'aThe other desk contains my private
papers,"
"The map, Mr.. Morris?"
"The seigniory Is bounded on the
west by the Rocky river. 1t is
straight concession of eighty-five thou
sand, five hundred odd arpents, with
three sides approximately equal. If
you want a map you'll have to go to
the government. Mr.. Lamartine has
the legal documents"
There must be map said Hilary
quietly
"It isn't drawn to scale. You'll find
a rough plan of the leases among those
papers," He moved toward the door,
laid his hand on the handle, cleared
his throat and looked back.
Il have only to say that my yearly
contract expires on October first" he
said. IF you wish to renew it 1
shall expect adequate notice"
Hilary looked up from the books.
''You may regard it as terminating on
October first, then" he answered. eff
wish to renew it 1 shall let you
know when have looked into these"
This time Morris anger was quite
unfeigned. You can accept my resig-
nation now" he shouted. "Do you
think am the man to accept dismissal
at the hands of young American
greenhorn like you? Why, I've thrown
away thousands trying to develop this
rotten proposition of your uncle's, out
of friendship for him! And what do
you think you're going to make out of
the concession? You can't speak the
language, you can't get along with the
people, you know nothing of the Cana