Cleveland County herald., 1920-08-05


 present rather tragic and helpless figure. He wanted sympathy, Moira- woman's sympathy, and it was dear of you to give it 10 him."
 .'Pd gladly die for him." Moira an- swered simply. "Oh, Miss Shirley, you don't kEow him the way we who work for him do. If you did, you'd love him. too. You couldn't help it. Miss Shirley"
 "Tell me about his trouble, Moira."
 T think it's money. He's been ter ribly worried for a long time, and Pm afraid things aren't going right with the business. It hurts them terribly to have to sell the Valley of the Giants, but they have to; Colonel Pen nington is the only one who would consider buying it; they don't want him to have it-and still they have to sell to him. Mr. Bryce says his father has lost his courage at last; and oh, dear, things are in such mess. MT. Bryce started to tell me all about it-and then he stopped sud denly and wouldn't say another word"
 Shirley smiled. She thought she understood the reason for that. How ever she did not pause to speculate on it, since the crying need of the present was the distribution of a ray of sunshine to broken-hearted Moira.
 silly" she chided "how needlessly you are grieving! You say my uncle has declined to buy the Valley of the Giants?"
 Moira nodded.
 My uncle doesn't know what he's talking about Moira. I'll see that he does buy it. What price are the Cardi- gans asking for it now?"
 Well, Colonel Pennington has of fered them hundred thousand dol lars for it time and again. but last night he withdrew that offer. Then they named price of fifty thousand. and he said he didn't want it at all"
 "He needs it, and it's worth every cent of a hundred thousand to him, Moira. Don't worry, dear. He'll buy it. because I'll make him, and he'll buy it immediately; only you must promise me not to mention a single word of what I'm telling you to Bryce Cardigan, or in fact, to anybody Do you promise?"
 Moira seized Shirley's hand and kissed it impulsively. "Very well, then" Shirley continued That mat ter is adjusted, and now we'll all be happy. Cheer up, dear, and remem- Der that some time this afternoon you're going to see MT. Bryce smile again, and perhaps there won't be so much of a cloud over his smile this time"
 When Moira returned to the office of the Cardigan Redwood Lumber company, Shirley rang for her maid. Bring me my motorcoat and hat, Thelma," she ordered, "and telephone for the limousine" She seated her self before the mirror at her dressing table and dusted her adorable nose with a powder-puff. MT Smarty Cardigan" she murmured happily, "you walked rough-shod over my pride, didn't you? Placed me under an obligation 1 could never hope to meet and then ignored me-didn't you? Very well, old boy. We all have our innings sooner or later, you know, and I'm going to make a substantial pay ment on that huge obligation as sure as my name is Shirley Sumner. Then, some day when the sun is shining for you again, you'll come to me and be very, very humble. You're entirely too independent, MT. Cardigan, but, oh, my dear. l do hope you will not need so much money. I'll be put to my wits end to get 1t to you without letting you know, because if your af- fairs go to smash, you'll be perfectly intolerable."
 She paused suddenly. "No, I'll not do that, either" she solloquized 'I'll keep it myself-for an investment. I'll show Uncle Seth I'm q business WOm- an, after all. He has had his fair chance at the Valley of the Giants. after waiting years for it, and now he has deliberately sacrificed that chance to be mean and vindictive I'll buy the valley hut keep my identity secret from everybody; then, when Uncle Seth finds a stranger in possession, he'll have fit, and perhaps, before he recovers. he'll sell me all his Squaw creek timber-only he'll never know I'm the buyer. Shirley, my dear. I'm pleased with you. Really, I never knew until now why men could be so devoted to business. Won't it be jolly to step in between Uncle Seth and Bryce Cardigan, hold up my hand like a policeman. and say: Stop it, boys. No fighting, if you please. And if anybody wants to know who's boss around here, start something.'"
 When her uncle came home that night, Shirley observed that he was preoccupied and disinclined to con- versation.
 "I noticed in this evenings paper" she remarked presently, that Mir. Cardigan has sold his Valley of the Giants. So you bought it. after all?"
 "No such luck!' he almost parked.