The Pulaskian., 1920-01-16
By VICTOR ROUSSEAU
 Illustrations Hv
 IrWin Myegs

l show you. But l shall arrange to take l you all over the concession. l sup pose you'll be staying long enough to 1 do some fishing, Mr. 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 a considerable pause after each, long enough to allow Hilary tO reply. If Hilary's silences had aroused respect in the mind of Lamar tine, they aroused positive fear in that of Morriss
 Hillary came to the point. q have come here to assume charge, MT. Nor ris," he said. "Please let me see the map and books.'s
 Norris wiped his forehead with handkerchief which he took from his desk. "Thats--tlfat9s a sudden deci- siony, Mr. Askew,'" he said, trying to smile.
 My decisions are always sudden"
 Morris laid one finger upon the edge of the desk. "Of ooupse I know noth-
 
 Mir. Askew," he said. with a tone of aggrieyemef1t, "Butf if you intend to take charge immediately, in this i'm pulsive way that means that I must step out. The concession is not a pay ing proposition, as you are probably aware, but your uncle was satisfied with my management"
 1T have not expressed dissatisfac- ton yet" answered. Hillary. Please let me sec"
 My suggestionj" interrupted Nor ris, lis 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 a lit tie obstinate about eonfessing to an error in judgment, Mir. Askew-7
 Before I see the booksf'' said Hill ary, T have a 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. T 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 Nor ris, raising his finger, eff that is your grievance 1t is an unjustifable one. There is nothing in my duties here in- compatible with my having other in- terests. I 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 it, so far as I cam 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. sT don't dis pute that you have had a right to en- gage in other interests. But how about their use of our mill?"
 At sum, MT. 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, MT. Askew. What little spruce there is I've been holding to make show in case, we. decide to sell.'
 'That sounds. plausible" said Hill ary; and then he4 shot his bolt. 'Why does the Ste. Marie company wish to purchase this gummy fir of ours?" he asked
 Morris rose,up9 trembling with anger that was only half feigned.
 q see you have suspicious of my good faith, MT. Askew," he said indig- nantly. "Thatc is. the only possible in depreciation can put upon your ques- tion."
 If you will answer it, we can inter- pret it together later." ''I am 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. 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. Morris7" asked Hilary. | eff yo@ think my services are worth less have no desire to retain my pc sition here'
 Hilary rose, crossed to Morris desk, and tapped the roll top. T suppose you do not refuse to produce themY' he asked.
 Morris took a 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