The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1920-04-22
BY
VICTOR
Wusfr0fionS BY
Irwin Myers

~O' 1880
you all over the concession. 1 sup
pose you'll be staying long enough to
do some fishing, MI. Askew? There
are some fine trout lakes h few miles
to the north. We might make a days
trip Of It,"
His sentences were not continuous.
There was IA considerable pause after
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 polst. 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 q 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 1 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
step out. The concession is not a pay
ing proposition, as you are probably
aware, but your uncle was satisfied
with my management"
II 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 car go into the
books together. Frankly, If l were
you / should try to sell. 1t vas my
advice to your uncle, but he was a lit
tie obstinate about confesslng to an
error in judgment, Mr.. Askew."
Before / see the books" said Hill
airy, 81 have a 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"
snow, my dear sir" protested Nor
ris, raising his finger. eff that is your
grievance it is al unjustifiable one.
There is nothing in my duties here in
compatible with my having other in
terests. / think you will find that l
have not neglected my obligations to
your late uncle. AS for the Ste. Marie
company, the fact that it is adjacent
makes il easy for me to devote q little
time to IT, 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"
sQuite So" said Hilary. II 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 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. "yVhy
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.
II see you have suspicious Of my
| good faith. Mr.. Askew," he said indig-
nantly. "That is the only possible In
depreciation I al put upon your ques-
tion."
IF you will answer it, we can inter-
| pref 1t together later"
II am not prepared to answer 1t Off
hand. Many companies would like to
| get our property. The Ste. Marie
company may OF may not have that in
~tention. / 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 / have the books and map of
! the ~seigniory limits and leased tracts,
| Mr.. Morris?" asked Hilary.
"If you think my services are worth
less l have no desire to retain my po-
sltion here"
Hilary rose, crossed to Morris desk.
and tapped the roll top. II suppose
you do not refuse to produce them7"
he asked.
Morris took a key from his waist
! coat pocket with fingers that could
hardly find 1t. He inserted IT after
two failures. snapped back the lock.
and threw the top up, revealing the
books heaped together. as IL they had
| just been under examination. go
through them by all means, II you
think you've Ieen swindled." he cried.
He flung another key oi the desk.
This Is b key 20 the oface." hs said.
The other desk contains my private
papers"
-The map, Mr.. Morrisf~