Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1920-03-04
By
VICTOR
OUSSEAU
Illustrations b.
Irwin Myers

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 Morris.
Hilary came to the point. II have
come here to assume charge, Mr.. Nor
ris," he said. 'Please let me see the
map and books"
Morris wiped his forehead with a
handkerchief which he took from his
desk. "That's-that's a sudden deci-
sion, Mr.. Askew," he said, trying to
smile.
my decisions are always sudden"
Morris laid finger upon the edge
of the desk. "Of course I know moth
ing of your affairs or circumstances.
Mr.. Askew," he said, with a tone of
-aggrievement, "but If you intend to
take charge Immediately, in this i'm
pulsive way, that means that I must
step out. The concession is pot a pay
ing proposition, as you are probably
aware, but your uncle was satisfied
with my management"
q" have not expressed dissatisfac-
ton yet" answered Hilary. "Please
let me see-" .
my suggestion" interrupted Nor
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. 1t was my
advice to your uncle, but he was a lit
tie obstinate about confessing to an
error in judgment. Mr.. Askew."
Before 1 see the books" said Hill.
airy, II 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. g" certainly am" he said,
"but-"
another question. How do you
reconcile that with your duties as man.
ager of my concession?"
snow. my dear sir" protested Nor
ris, raising his finger, eff that is your
grievance it is an unjustifable one.
There is nothing in my duties here in
compatible with my having other in
t%erests. I think you will find that
have not neglected my obligations to
your late uncle. AS for the Ste. Marie
company. the fact that it is adjacent
makes 1t easy for me to devote a 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. g" don't dis
pute that you have had a right to en-.
gage in other interests. But how about
their S Of mill?"
SAT a sum, Mr.. 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, 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 ros up, trembling with anger
that was only half feigned.
Il see you have suspicious of my
good faith, Mr. Askew," he said indig-
nantly. "That is the only possible In
depreciation I can put upon your ques-
tion."
IF you will answer it, we can inter-
pref it together later"
9" 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
tenti0n. I should no more think of
disclosing the Ste. Marie's plans to
you than I should think of disclosing
your plans to the Ste. Marie"
"May I have the books and map of
the seigniory limits and leased tracts,
Mr.. Morris?" asked Hilary. i
"Tf 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 a 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.
He flung another key on the desk.
@This is the key to the Office" he said,
"The other desk contains my private
papers"
1.-THE map, Mr.. Morris?"