The Arvada enterprise., 1920-05-13
~
ROUSSEAU
kAAseP0n1RAs -
lrwa1 ~ees

l W tnc war. lucCV - WY u'NS ="
show you. Hut shall arrange to take
YOU all over the concession. I sup
pase you'll be staying long enough to
do some fishing. Mr.. Askewf There
are some fine trout lakes a few miles
to the north. We might make days
trip Ut L."
His sentences were not continuous.
There was II considerable pause after
each. long enough to allow Hilary to
reply. II 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. 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. "Thnt'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 know moth
ing Of your affairs or circumstances.
Mr.. Askew," he said. with tone Of
aggrievement, but II you intend to
take charge Immediately. in this i'm
pulsive way, that means that must
| step out. The concession Is not pay-
ing proposition, as you are probably
aware, but your uncle was satisfied
with my management"
II have not expressed dissatisfac-
tion yet" answered Hilary. "Please
let me see"
my suggestion" interrupted Nor
ris. us merely that you hold over your
decision until We can go into the
books together. Frankly, If I were
you I 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 1 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 us 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. III that Is your
grievance 1t Is an unjustifiable 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 Il
your late uncle. AS for the Ste. Marie
!. company, the fact that 1t Is adjacent
makes 1t easy for me to devote a little
time to 1t, SO far as can spare Il
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. II don't dis
. pute that you have had right to en-
. gage In other interests. But how abOu
, their use of our mill?'
. AT q sum, Mr.. Askew. which make
quite little showing on the credit sid
! OF our ledgers. We can't afford t
throw money away, and our cutting
} are not large enough for the one t
7 interfere with the other"
. "You mean the timber Is bad"
, "Damn bad" said Morris. 'Gumm.
FIR, Mr.. Askew. What little spruce
, 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. "Wh.
? does the Ste. Marie company wish t
' purchase this gummy iir Of ours2" h
= asked.
Morris rose up. trembling with ange
: that was only half feigned.
E II see you have suspicious Of m,
!. good faith. Mr.. Askew." he said indig
: nantly. THAT Is the only possible In
I depreciation can put upon your ques
. tion."
"lf you will answer It. we can inter
pref 1t together later"
: II am not prepared to answer It of
{ hand. Many companies would like t
get our property. The Ste. Mari
: company may or may not have that In
. tention. should no moro think o
. disclosing the Ste. Marie's plans t
3 you than I should think Of disclosin
b your plans to the Ste. Marie"
, "May have the books and map o
' the seigniory limits and leased tracti
Mr.. MorrisT asked Hilary.
: IF you think my services are worth
:. less have no desire to retain my po
!. sition here
! Hilary rose, crossed to Norris desh
and tapped the roll top. II suppos
!. you do not refuse to produce them1
! he asked.
E Morris took . key from his waist
). coat pocket with fingers that coul'
\ hardly nnd II. He inserted 1t afte
; two failures. snapped back the loci
{ and threw the top up. revealing tn
books henped together. a. II they ha'
. Just been under examination. "0
. through them BY all means. II yo'
+ think you've been swindled." he cried
' He flung another key on the desl
This 10 the key to the ONCE" he said