The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1920-09-30

3 AshA- RNAit ffGfAAie tfIFlfl-nN
matter how-ihst you were the princi.
pal owner Of the Caribou Timber com.
I pany. Limited Smart as you are.
somebody swindled you with that red
I cedar. II was wonderful stand OF
timber-so read the cruisers report
but fifty per cent OF Il. despite its
I green and flourishlng appearance. is
hollow -hutted And the remaining
ffty per cent OF sound timber cannot
be logged unless the roltten timber is
logged also and gotten out Of the way.
And am Informed that logging II
spells bankruptcy"
She gazed az him steadily. but with.
out malice; his face erimsoned and
then paled; presently his glance
sought the carpet. While he struggled
20 formulate verbal defense against
her accusation Shirley continued:
"Yon had erected a huge sawmill
and built and equipped a logging road
before you discovered you had been
swindled. SO. in order to save as
much as possible from the wreck. you
decided 10 unload your white elephant
on somebody else. ! was the readiest
victim. You were the executor OF my
fathers estate-you were my guardian
and financial adviser and so you found
II very. very easy 10 swindle me! T"
II had my back 10 the WALL" be
quavered. II was desperate-and II
wasn't at all the bad investment you
have been told II is You had the money
more money than you knew what 10
do with-and with the proceeds OF the
sale OF those cedar lands, knew
could make an investment In California
redwood and more than retrieve my
fortunes-make big money for both
of us"
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. | could see in
calculable riches In this redwood EN-
pire, but II was a tremendous gamble
and required twenty millions 10 swing
II at the very start. | dreamed Of the
control Of California redwood; and II
you VIII stand by me- Shirley, shall yet
make my dream come true-and half
OF II shall be yours. II has always
been my intention to buy back from
you secretly and at nice profit TO you
that Caribou red cedar. and with the
acquisition Of the Cardigan properties
would have been In position to do
so. Why. that Cardigan tract In the
San Hedrin which we will buy In with.
in year for half a million. Is worth
FIVE millions at least. and by that
time, feel certain-in fact, know
the Northern Pacific will commence
building In from the south, from Will
Hts"
II shall" he began but he paused
abruptly. as II he had suddenly re
mcmbered that tact and not pugnacity
was the Requirement, for the handling
OF this tickllsh situation.
She silenced him wi,h a disdalnfu
gesture. "You shall NOT smash the
Cardigans." she declared firmly. You
are devoid of mercy. of sense OF
Nov. then, Uncle
Seth. listen TO me: You have
twenty-four hours In which TO make
up your mind whether TO accept my
or refuse Il. II you re-
fuse. shall prosecute you for fraud
and betrayal Of trust as my fathers
executor on that red cedar timber
deal"
He frightened trihe. SIN afraid
that would be long. hard row to hoe.
my dear. and OF course. | shall have to
defend myself"
'In addition" the girl went on qui. |
etly, "the county grand jury shall be |
furnished with a stenographic report |
OF your conversation OF Thursday |
night with Mayor Poundstone. That
will not be n long, hard row 10 hoe.
Uncle Seth. for in addition TO the |
stenographer. have another reliable |
witness, Judge Moore. Your casual
disposal OF my sedan as a bribe to the |
mayor will be hard TO explain and /
rather amusing. In view Of the fact 1
that Bryce Cardigan managed to fright
en- Mr. Poundstone into returning the 1
sedan while You were away. And |
II that is not sufficient for my purpose, 1
! have the sworn confession Of the 4
Black Minorca that You gave him five
hundred dollars 10 XIII Bryce Cardigan.
Sour woods boss. Rondeau. viii also
swear that you approached him with
proposition 10 DO away with Bryce
Cardigan. think. therefore. that you
will readily see how impossible sit
nation you have managed 70 create
and viii not disagree with me when !
suggest that II would be better for you
10 leaye this county"
His face had gone gray and hag.
yard. Il can't" he murmured. !
ant leave this great business now.
-FOUR own interests in the company
-ender such q course unthinkable. I
Without my hand az the helm. things
viii 70 20 smash
aTu risk that. I want % Get I'd ~
hat worthless red ce,iar timber. s. !
hlnk sou had better buy q back from
ne az the same figures az which you
.old Q, % ne"
sBut I haven't the money and