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

Hilary Talks Business.
Hilary was smoking on the porch
the next morning, formulating his
plans, when he heard the bell on the
side of the telephone box begin to
ring dangerously. Then Monsieur
Tremblay came out and made it clear
to Hilary that he was wanted.
It was LATE COnnell calling.
Say, 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-questioning
me and Baptiste all the morning
Brousseau's just left, and Moris. has
ordered the stOrekeeper's rig to drive
over to you in an hours time"
Thanks, Council" 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
| fIl-defned nose, and a heavy, thready
mustache. 1t was type Hilary knew
intimately: The crooked business 60
| between.
"Mr. Norris, ! 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. 81
came back last night and heard you
were here, Mr.. Askew," he said. Il
was just coming over to see you"
81 heard you were here" said Hill
airy. 81 came to see you and talk
things over"
Norris, recognizing the situation, &C.
copied it and turning back, pulled the
key out of his pocket and opened the
office door. Hilary sat down at the
desk nearest the window, from which
he could see the endless line of logs
ascending the cogged chain that drew
them into the mill tlume.
| Morris took a box of cigars from his
desk drawer and offered it to Hilary,
who declined. Morris chose one and,
biting off the end, lit 1t. Hilary could
see that his hand trembled little.
swell, sir" he said, seating himself,
"this is the last place in the world
where 1 should have expected to see
you. l have just heard from Mr.
Lamartine that you intended to pay q
visit to Quebec, but that letter was
, written some days ago. You didn't
! see him?"
! Two days before Hilary would have
jumped at the bait, would have shown
his resentment of the lie, declared hos
tillty, and given Morris his cue. Now
J he only smiled pleasantly.
t Eyes, saw him." he answered. "He
tried to dissuade me from coming VI
t here, but l wanted to see the proper
7 ty."
t 'If you had let me know" said Nor
ris, II could have made arrangements
You have come In the slackest month
of the year. There is very little tt
3 show you. But l shall arrange to take
: you all over the concession. | sup
e pose you'll be staying long enough tt
. do some fishing, Mr.. Askew? There
l are some fine trout lakes few miles
e to the north. We might make day.
] trip of it."
C His sentences were not continuous
: There was considerable pause afte
f each, long enough to allow Hilary t.
h reply. If Hilary's silences hat
aroused respect in the mind of Lamar
r tine, they aroused positive fear il
y that of Morris.
d Hilary came to the point. 81 hav
come here to assume charge, Mr.. Nor
ris," he said. please let me see tn
map and books"
Morris wiped his forehead with
handkerchief which he took from hi
desk. "That's-that's a sudden deci
sion, Mr.. Askew," he said, trying t
smile.
'My decisions are always sudden
Morris laid one finger upon the edg
of the desk. "Of course know notf
ing of your affairs or circumstances
Mr.. Askew," he said, with tone Q
aggrievement, "but if you intend t
take charge Immediately, in this in
pulsive way, that means that l mus
o step out. The concession is not pay
ing proposition, as you are probabl
aware, but your uncle was satisie
with my management"
st have not expressed dissatisfat
ton yet" answered Hilary. "Pleas
let me see"
"My suggestion" interrupted Mo-
ris, sis merely that you hold over you
decision until we can go into tn
books together. Frankly, if | wei
YOU / should try to sell. 1t was m
advice to your uncle, but he was Ii
N tie obstinate about confessing to a
70 error in judgment, Mr.. Askew."
Before / see the books" said Hi
10 airy, 81 have a question to ask yo
# Are you not associated with the st
% Marie company?"
Morris wiped his forehead agai
4 He hated directness as much as Lar
A artine. 81 certainly am" he sal
At "but-"
: another question. How do "
Il reconcile that with your duties as ma
ID ager of my concession|