The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1920-04-17
CHAPTER Ill.
Hilary Talks Business.


side of the telephone box begin to
ring dangerously. Then Monsieur
Tremblay came out and made 1t clear
to Hilary that he was wanted.
1t was LATE Connell calling.
"Sav. Mr.. Askew," he said, I'm
phoning you from my boarding place
They came back yesterday afternoon;
the boat was late; maybe you didn't
know. They've been crosS-Questloning
me and Baptiste all the morning.
Brousseau's just left, and Morris has
ordered the storekeeper's rig to drive
over to you in an hours time"
Thanks, Connell,' said Hilary. I'm
much obliged. I'm coming over"
He reached the office just in time
to see Morris emerge toward buggy
which was drawn up before the door.
Morris looked plainly Disconnected to
see him.
He was an older man than Hilary
had expected to meet. He seemed well
on the shady, side of fifty. He had
elusive gray eyes, prominent but
ill-defined nose, and a heavy, thready
mustache. 1t was a type Hilary knew
intimately: The crooked business 60
| between.
''Mr. Morris, l think" he said, de-
scending and tieing the pony to the
hitching post in front of the building
Morris held out his hand, which Hill
airy took, with no great cordially. u
came back last night and heard you
were here, Mr. Askew," he said. -
was just coming over to see you"
81 heard you were here" said Hill
airy. 81 came to see you and tall
things over"
Morris, recognizing the situation, &C
copied it and turning back, pulled thu
key out of his pocket and opened TIT
office door. Hilary sat down at tn
desk nearest the window, from which
he could see the endless line Of log
ascending the cogged chain that drew
them into the mill flume.
Morris took box of cigars from hi
desk drawer and offered it to Hilary
who declined. Morris chose one anc
biting off the end, lit it. Hilary coul
see that his hand trembled a little.
"Well, sir" he said, seating himself
"thls is the last place in the worl
| where l should have expected to Sc
you. 1 have just heard from Nj
: Lamartine that you intended to pay
visit to Quebec, but that letter wa
} written some days ago. You didn
2 see him."
e Two days before Hilary would hay
Jumped at the bait, would have show
= his resentment of the lie, declared no
= tillty, and given Morris his cue. No
e ne only smiled pleasantly.
I Eyes, saw him." he answered. Il
tried to dissuade me from coming I
t here, but l wanted to see the prope
Y ty."
It 'If you had let me know" said Mo
ris, IT could have made arrangement
|. You have come in the slackest mont
i, of the year. There is very little
e show you. But shall arrange to tai
+: you all over the concession. l su
e pose you'll be staying long enough
!" do some fishing, Mr. Askew? The
d are some fine trout lakes few mil
Ie to the north. We might make a day
d trip of it."
&c His sentences were not continuor
s. There was a considerable pause aft
If each, long enough to allow Hilary
h reply. If Hilary's silences h
aroused respect in the mind of Lamt
If tine, they aroused positive fear
" that of Norris.
i'd Hillary came to the point. st ha
come here to assume charge, Mr.. Nj
ris," he said. "Please let me see t
map and books"
Morris wiped his forehead with
| handkerchief which he took from
desk. "That's-that's a sudden de
sion, Mr.. Askew," he said, trying
smile.
"My decisions are always sudden
Morris laid one finger upon the ed
of the desk. "Of course l know no
ing of your affairs or circumstanc
Mr.. Askew," he said, with tone
Z aggrievement, "but if you intend
take charge Immediately, in this
pulsiye way, that means that nj
step out. The concession is not a p
ing proposition, as you are proba
aware, but your uncle was satiSf
with my management"
81 have not expressed dissatisf
ton vet" answered Hilary. "Ple
let me see"
: my suggestion" interrupted N
ris, sis merely that you hold over y
decision until we can 60 into
books together. Frankly, if | W
you 1 should try to sell. 1t was
advice to your uncle, but he was a
I'm tie obstinate about confessing to
no error in Judgment, Mr.. Askew."
Before / see the books" said
inc airy, 81 have question to ask J
"a Are YOU not associated with the
to Marie company
Morris wiped his forehead ag
ri He hated directness as much as l.
artine. ~ certainly am" he S
hat "but-"
.os another question. How do
civ reconcile that with your duties as n
ned ager of my concession|
mo "Now, my dear sir" protested \
ris. raising his finger, eff that is
no grievance it is an unjustifable