Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1920-01-02

Morris, recognizing the situation, ac-
cepted 1t and turning back, pulled the
Key out of his pocket and opened the
ONCE 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 f1ume.
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 a 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 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. "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, 81 could have made arrangements.
You have come in the slackest month
of the year. There is very little to
show you. But 1 shall arrange to take
you all over the concession. 1 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. 'I 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 a 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 I know moth
ing of your affairs or circumstances
Mr.. Askew," he said, with tone OF
aggrievement, 'but if you intend to
take charge Immediately, in this i'm.
pulsive way, that means that 1 must
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
tion yet" answered Hilary. "Please
let me see
my suggestion" interrupted Nor
ris, sis merely that you hold over YOU
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 al
, error in judgment, Mr.. Askew."
!, Before 1 see the books" said Hill
ary, 81 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 yol
reconcile that with your duties as man
7 ager of my concession?"
''Now, my dear SIR" protested Nor
: ris, raising his finger. eff that is you
grievance it is an unjustifable one
There Is nothing in my duties here ir
compatible with my having other iI
terests. 1 think you will find that
, have not neglected my obligations t
your late uncle. As for the Ste. Mari
. company, the fact that it is adjacen
, makes it easy for me to devote littl
;, time to it, so far as I can spare
;. 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 ST don't dis
!. pute that you have had a right to er
. gage in other interests. But how abou
their use of our mill?"
"At sum, Mr.. Askew, which make
quite little showing on the credit sid
OF our ledgers. We can't afford
throw money away, and our cutting
are not large enough for the one t
interfere with the other"
hn ie
Damn bad," said Morris. "Gumm
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 Hi
! ary; and then he shot his bolt. ''Wh
does the Ste. Marie company wish t
, purchase this gummy fir of ours?" b
asked.
Morris rose up, trembling with ange
, that was only half feigned.
Il see you have suspicious of m
good faith, Mr. Askew," he said indi,
nantly. "That is the only possible il
depreciation 1 can put upon your que
tion."
"If you will answer it, we can inte
pret it together later"
81 am not prepared to answer it of
hand. Many companies would like I
get our property. The Ste. Mar
:, company may or may not have that il
= tention. 1 should no more think {
disclosing the Ste. Marie's plans [
you than 1 should think of disclosir
G your plans to the Ste. Marie"
e MAY 1 have the books and map
Is the seigniory limits and leased tract
re Mr.. Morris?" asked Hilary.
"If you think my services are wort
% less 1 have no desire to retain my p
sition here"
le Hilary rose, crossed to Morris des
y and tapped the roll top. 81 suppos
r. you do not refuse to produce them
20 he asked.
Morris took a key from his wais
y coat pocket with fingers that cou
IL hardly find it. He inserted it aft,
d two failures, snapped back the loc
1t and threw the top up, revealing Il