American Fork citizen. [volume] (American Fork, Utah) 1912-1979, 1920-02-14
BY
NctorRo ssseou

ager of my concessionf"
Now, my dear sir" protested Nor.
ris, raising his finger, "if that is your
grievance 1t is an unjustifiable one.
There Is nothing in my duties here in
compatible with my having other In
terests. / 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 II easy for me to devote a little
time to 1t, so far as / can spare 1t
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 millp
AT a 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 oursf" 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 can put upon your ques-
lion.-
III, you will answer 1t, we can inter.
pref II together later"
~ am not prepared to answer II OFF,
hand. Many companies would like to
get our property. The Ste. Marie
company may or may not have that In
tention. I 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 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-
stion here"
Hilary rose, crossed to Morris desk,
and tapped the roll top. II suppose
YOU do not refuse to produce themT
he asked.
Morris took key from his waist.
coat pocket with fingers that could
hardly lind 1t. He inserted 1t after
two failures, snapped back the lock.
md threw the top up, revealing the
books heaped together, as II they had
lust been under examination. "GO
through them by all means. II you
think you've been swindled," he cried.
lie flung another key on the desk.
This Is the key to the Office" he said.
The other desk contains my private
papers,"
THE map, Mr.. Morris?"
"The seigniory Is bounded on the
west by the Rocky river. 1t is a
straight concession of elghty-five thou
sand. five hundred odd arpents, with
three sides approximately equal. II
YOU want map you'll have to go to
the government. Mr.. Lamartine has
the legal documents"
There must be a map" said Hilary
quietly.
ut isn't drawn to scale. You'll find
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 1t I
shall expect adequate notice"
Hilary looked up from the books.
You may regard II as terminating on
October first, then" he answered. "If
! wish to renew IL l shall let you
know when have looked into these"
This time Morris anger was quite