Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1920-01-06

| Aot ICSOSIlHlllSa TIC oiludeAOhS az
cepted 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
Norris took box of cigars from his
WHO declined. Morris chose one and,
biting off the end, Lit it. Hilary could
see that his hand trembled little.
| "Well, sir" he said, seating himself
"this is the last place in the world
where I should have expected TO see
you. l have just heard from Mr..
Lamartine that you intended to pay
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. HE
tried to dissuade me from coming up
here, but 1 wanted to see the proper
ty."
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 to
show you. But shall arrange to take
you all over the concession / sup
pose you'll be staying hong enough to
do some fishing, Mr.. Askew? There
are some fine trout lakes few miles
to the north. We might make a days
trip of it,
His sentences were not continuous.
There was a 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. Il have
come here TO assume charge, Mr.. Nor
ris," he said. please let me see the
! map and books"
Morris wiped bis forehead with a
handkerchief which he took from his
!
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
pulsive way, that means that l must
step out. The concession is not a 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, lis merely that you hold over your
decision until we can go into the
books together. Frankly, if l 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, 81 have a 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.
ager of my concession"
"Now, my dear sir" protested Nor
ris, raising his finger, eff that is your
grievance it is an unSustifable one.
There is nothing in my duties here in
compatible with my having other in
terests. I 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 it easy for me to devote little
time to it, so far as l can spare it
from my duty here. The two CON-
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 a right to en-
gage in other interests. But how about
their use of our mill?"
AT 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. Dummy
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 las bolt. "Why
does the Ste. Marie company wish to
purchase this gummy fir of ours?" he
asked.
Morris rose up, trembling with anger
that was only half feigned.
81 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-
ton"
IF you will answer it, we can inter-
pref it together later"
Il am not prepared to answer it off
hand. Many companies would like to
get our property. The Ste. Marie
company may or may not have that in
tention. / should no more think of
disclosing the Ste. Marie's plans to
you than 1 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 POI
sition here"
Hilary rose, crossed to Morris desk,
and tapped the roll top. 81 suppose
I you % not refuse to produce themT
/ he asked.
Morris took a key from his waist
coat pocket with fingers that could
I L. Z