The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1920-01-09
CHAPTER iIi.
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 vase LATE COnucll calling.
"Say, Mr.. Askew," he said, "Tm
| 'phoning you from my boarding place
They came back yesterday afternoon
know. They've been cross-questionine
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. 'Tm
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, a prominent but
ill-defined nose, and heavy, thready
mustache. 1t was type Hilary knew
intimately: The crooked business go
between.
"Mr. Morris, 1 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 nc great cordially. 81
came back last night and heard you
were here, Mr.. Askew," he said. 81
was just coming over to see you"
81 heard you were here" said Hill
airy. II came to see you and talk
things over"
Morris, 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 fiume.
Morris took box of cigars from his
desk drawer and offered it to Hilary,
who declined. Morris chose one and,
biting off the end, Lit it. Hilary could
see that his hand trembled little.
swell, sir" he said, seating himself,
"this is the last place in the world
where I should have expected to see
you. I have just heard from Mr..
Lamartine that you intended to pay a
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
tility, and given Morris his cue. Now
he only smiled pleasantly.
eyes, saw him." he answered. she
tried to dissuade me from coming up
here, but / wanted to see the proper
ty."
eff you had let me know" said Nor
ris, 81 could have made arrangements.
You have come in the slackest month
of the year. There is very little to
show you. But shall arrange to take
you all over the concession / sup
pose you'll be staying long enough to
do some fishing, Mr.. Askew? There
are some fine trout lakes few miles
to the north. We might make days
trip of it."
His sentences were not continuous.
There was 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. 81 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 sudden deci-
sion, Mr., Askew," he said, trying to
smile.
"My decisions are always sudden"
Morris laid one finger upon the edge
of the desk. "Of course 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
DulSlfC way, ludL IIdl l. luuSI
step out. The concession is not pay
ing proposition, as you are probably
aware, but your uncle was satisfied
with my management
81 have not expressed dissatisfac-
ton yet" answered Hilary. please
let me see"
"My suggestion" interrupted Nor
ris, sis merely that you hold over your
decision until we can go into the
books together. Frankly, If 1 were
you / should try to sell. 1t was my
| advice to your uncle, but he was lit
tie obstinate about confessing to an
error in judgment, Mr.. Askew."
Before see the books" said Hill
airy, Il have question to ask you.
Are you not associated with the Ste
Marie company"
Norris wiped his forehead again.
| He hated directness as much as Lam
artine. II 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, "if that is your
grievance it is an unjustiiable 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