The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1920-07-01


And I am informed that logging it
spells bankruptcy"
out malice; his face crimsoned and
then paled; presently his glance
sought the carpet. While he struggled
to formulate verbal defense against
her accusation Shirley continued
"You had erected a huge sawmil1
and built and equipped logging road
before you discovered you had been
swindled So, in order to save as
much as possible from the wreck, you
decided to unload your white elephant
on somebody else. / was the readiest
victim. You were the executor of my
fathers estlte-you were my guardian
and financial adviser, and so you found
1t very, very easy to swindle me!'
Il had my back to the WALL" he
quavered. 81 was desperate-and it
wasn't at all the bad investment you
have been told 1t is. You had the money
more money than you knew what to
do with-and with the proceeds of the
sale of those cedar lands, l knew
could make an investment in California
redwood and more than retrieve my
fortunes-make big money for both
of u.s."
you might have borrowed the money
from me. You know have never hes
itated to join in your enterprises"
This was too big a deal for you,
Shirley. had vision. l could see in
calculable riches in this redwood en-
pire. but 1t was a tremendous gamble
and required twenty millions to swing
it at the very start. | dreamed of the
control of California redwood; and if
you will stand by me, Shirley, shall yet
make my dream come true-and half
Of it shall be yours. 1t has always
Deen my intention to buy back from
you secretly and at a nice profit to you
that Caribou red cedar, and with the
acquisition of the Cardigan properties
l would have been in position to do
so. Why, that Cardigan tract in the
San Hedrin which we will buy in with
in a year for half million, is worth
five millions at least. And by that
time, l feel certain-in fact, l know
the Northern Pacific will commence
building in from the south, from Will
Its"
81 shall" he began. but he paused
abruptly, as if he had suddenly re-
! membered that tact and not pugnacity
vas the requirement for the handling
of this tickliSl, situation
She slenced him with a disdanful
gesture. "You shall not smash the
Cardigans." she declared firmly. You
are devoid of mercy. of sense of
craftsmanship. Now. then Uncle
Seth, listen to me: You have
twenty-four hours in which to make
up your mind whether to accept my
ultimatum or refuse it. If you re-
fuse, l shall prosecute you for fraud
and betrayal of trust as my fathers
executor on that red cedar timber
deal"
He frightened trifle. 'I'm afraid
that would be long. hard row to hoe.
my dear, and of course, l shall have to
defend myself"
"In addition" the girl went on qui-
city, "the county grand jury shall be
furnished with stenographic report
of your conversation of Thursday
night with Mayor Poundstone. That
will not be a long, hard row to hoe,
Uncle Seth, for in addition to the
stenographer. l have another reliable
witness, Judge Moore. Your casual
disposal of my sedan as bride to the
mayor will be hard to explain and
rather amusing, in view of the fact
that Bryce Cardigan managed to fright
en- Mr.. POundstOne into returning the
sedan while you were away. And
if that is not sufficient for my purpose
I have the sworn confession of the
Black Minorca that you gave him five
hundred dollars to kill Bryce Cardigan
Your woods boss. Rondeau. will also
swear that you approached him with a
proposition to do away with Bryce
Cardigan. I think, therefore. that you
will readily see how impossible sit
uation you have managed to create
and will not disagree with me when
suggest that 1t would be better for you
to leave this county,"
His face had gone gray and bag
gard. 81 can't" he murmured, 81
can't leave this great business now.
Your own interests in the company
render such course unthinkable.
Without my hand at the helm. things
will go to smash"
"Fll risk that. l want to get rid of
that worthless red cedar timber; so I
think you had better buy it back from
me at the same figures at which you
sold it to me-"
"But l haven't the money and !
can't borrow it. IL"
II will have the equivalent in stock
of the Laguna Grande Lumber COM
pany. You will call on Judge Moore
to complete the transaction and leave
with him your resignation as president
of the Laguna Grande Lumber COM
pany."
The Colonel raised his glance and
bent it upon her in cold appraisal.
She met it with firmness, and the
thought came to him: "She is a Pen
| ningtOn !" And hone died ont in his