Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1920-01-09
By
VICTOR
ROUSSEAU
Illustrations By
Irwin Myers.

/ 10 some nShlng, MIR. ASkeW1 There
are soma fine trout lakes few miles
to the north. We might make days
trip of it,"
His sentences We're not continuous
There was a considerable pause after
each, long enough to allow Hillary to
reply. If Hilary's silenees 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"
Norris wiped his forehead with a
| handkerchief which he took from his
| desk. "That's-that's a sudden deei-
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 L know moth
ing of your affairs or circumstances,
MFR. Askew," he said, with a tone of
aggrievement. ''but If you intend to
take charge Immediately, in this Inn
puislve way. that means that l must
step out. The concession is not pay
4 ing proposition, as you are probably
aware, but your uncle was satisfied
with my management"
II have not expressed dissatisfac-
ton vet" 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 / 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, II have 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. 81 certainly am" he said,
| but"
another question. How do you
reconcile that with your duties as man.
1 NSIh vi lily NOHteASlVIis
"Now, my dear sir" protested Nor
ris, raising his finger, "if that Is your
grievance it is an unjustiflable one.
There is nothing In my duties here in
compatible with nay having other in
terests. i think you win 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 / can spare II
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 mill?n
AT sum. Mr.. Askew, which makes
quite little showing on the credit side
of our ledgers. We can't afford tC
throw money away, and our cuttings
are not large enough for the one Il
interfere with the other"
"You mean the timber is bad"
Damn bad" said Morris. "Gummy
fir, Mr.. Askew, What little spruc,
there is I've been holding to make (
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 Il
: purchase this gunmy fir of oursT' h,
: asked.
Morris rose up, trembling with angel
: that was only half feigned.
II see you have suspicious Of m!
good faith, Mr.. Askev.," he said indig
nantly. THAT is the only possible In
depreciation / can put upon your CUES
ton"
IF you win answer 1t, we can inter
pref it together later"
Il am not prepared to answer 1t off
hand. Many companies would like Il
get our property. The Ste. Marie
company may or may not have that in
tentlon. should no more think o.
disclosing the Ste. Marie's plans t.
you than r should think OF disclosing
your plans to the Ste. Marie"
the seignIory limits and leased tracts
Mr.. MorrisT' asked Hilary.
IF you think my services are worth
less / have no desire TO retain my po
sitlon here"
Hilary rose, crossed to Morris desk
and tapped the roll top. 81 suppose
you do not refuse to produce themY
he asked.
| Morris took a Eev 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 IL they had
just been under examination. go
through them by all means, If you
think you've been swindled,s he cried.
He flung another key on the desk.
This is the key to the Office" he said.
"The other desk contains lay private
papers"