The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1920-09-24

anu Uuliu uOck out INTO the deep
water. ss
THUS Gregory will have that which
he hasn't got now-an outlet to his
market by water; and when the rail
road to Secuoia builds in from the
south, it, will connect with the road
which we have built from Sequoia up
into Township nine to the north
hence Gregory will also have an out
let to his market by rail. He can
easily get good manager to run his
lumber business until he finds GUS
toner for it. and in the meantime we
will be charging his account with our
freight bills against him and gradual
ly pay off the loan without pinching
ourselves"
John Cardigan's old hand came crop
ingly forth and rested affectionately
upon his boys. you forget, my son.
that we cannot last in business long
enough to get that road built, even
though Gregory should agree to
finance the building of it. The inter-
est on our bonded Indebtedness is
payable on the first"
"We can meet it, SIR 50 ~
AYE, but we can't meet the fifty
thousand dollars which, under the
terms of our deed Ofytrust, we are re-
quired to pay in on July first of each
year as Striking fund toward the re-
tirement of our bonds. Bryce, 1t just
can't be done. We'd have our road
about half completed when we'd bust
up in business; indeed, the minute
Pennington suspected we were ,paral-
telling his line, he'd choke off our wind.
tell you 1t can't be done"
But Bryce contradicted him earn
estly. at can be done." he said. "If
we can start building our road and
have it half completed before Pen
nington jumps on us, Gregory will
IMPLY have to come to our aid in self
defense. Once he ties up with us, he's
committed to the task of seeing us
through. can do it, I tell you"
John Cardigan raised his hand.
"No," he said firmly, 81 will not allow
you to do this. That way-that is the
Pennington method. If we fall, my
son, we pass or like gentlemen, not
blackguards. We ill not take advan-
tage of this man Gregory's faith. If
he joins forces with us, we lay our
hand on the table and let him look"
"Then he'll never join hands with
us, partner. We're DONE"
"We're not done, my son. We have
one alternative, and I'm going to take
it. I've got to-for your sake. More
over, your mother would have wished
it So"
"You don't mean"
'Yes, do. I'm going to sell Pen
nington my Valley of the Giants. 1t
is my personal property. and it is not
mortgaged. Pennington can never
foreclose on it-and until he gets 1t,
twenty-five hundred acres of virgin
timber on Squaw creek are valueless-
nay, source CT expense to him.
Bryce, he has to have it; and he'll pay
the price, when he knows I mean
business"
With sweeping gesture he waved
aside the arguments that rose to his
sons lips. lead me to the telephone"
he commanded; and Bryce, recogniz-
ing his sires unalterable determine
ton, obeyed.
"Find Pennington's number in the
telephone book" John Cardigan COM
manded next.
Bryce found 1t. and his father pro-
ceeded to get the Colonel on the wire.
Pennington" he said hoarsely, "this
is John Cardigan speaking. I've de-
cided to sell you that quarter-section
that blocks your timber on Squaw
creek"
Indeed" the Colonel purred 81
had an idea you We're going to pre-
sent it to the city for natural park"
"I've changed my mind. I've decid-
ed to sell at your last Offer"
"Ive changed my mind, too. I've
decided not to buy-at my last offer.
Slowly John Cardigan hung the re-
ceiver on the hook, turned and CROPPED
for his son. When he found him, the
old man held him for a moment in his
arms. LEAD me upstairs, son." he
presently. I'm tired. I'm
going}to bed"
When Colonel Seth Pennington
turned from the telephone and faced |
his niece, Shirley read his triumph In
his face. "Old Cardigan has capitu-
lated Nat last" he cried exultinglys 'He |
just telephoned to say he'd accept my |
last offer for his valley'of the Giants"
"But you're not going to buy 1t.
You told him so, Uncle Seth"
"Oftcourse I'm not going to buy 1t.
/: : my last offer. It's worth FIVE thou
sand dollars in the open market. and |
once I offered him fifty thousand for
it. Now PR give him FIVE"
81 wonder why he wants to SELL"
Shirley unused. From what Bryce |
Cardigan told me once. his father at
taches a sentimental value to that /
strip of woods; his wife is buried
there"
S"He's selling 1t because he's desper-
ate. If he wasn't lettering on the
verge of bankruptcy. he'd never let
me outgame him." Pennington replied I
gayiy. "Pll wait until he has gone
husband save twenty-five or thirty
thousand dollars"
81 think you're biting off your nose
to spite your face, Uncle Seth. The
Laguna Grande Lumber company
needs that outlet. In dollars and
cents, what Is It worth to the COM
panyT
''If / thought / couldn't get 1t from
Cardigan a few months from now, I'd |
20 as high ms q hundred thousand for.