Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1920-07-23
ZZ7HOR OF CHRDY RICHcS
COPYRIGHT, By PETER BKYNE

AhuScu' AZ Whon hhNe you bOiu
III"
II do not know, Miss Sumner. had
to sell; there was no other way out
OF the jam Bryce and I were in; so
! sacrificed my sentiment for my boy.
However, the new owner has been
wonderfully kind and thoughtful. She
reorganized that old skid-road so even
an old blind duffer like me can find
his way In and out without getting
lost-and she had this easy-chair made
for me. ] have told Judge Moore, who
represents the unknown owner, to ex-
tend my thanks to his client But
words are so empty, Shirley Sumner.
II that new owner could only under
stand how grateful am-how pro-
foundly her courtesy touches me-
"Her courtesy7" Shirley echoed.
did a woman buy the GiantsT
He smiled down at her. "why,
certainly. Who but a woman-and a
dear, kind, thoughtful woman-would
have thought to have this chair made
and brought up here for mer
Fell long silence between them |;
then John Cardigan's trembling hand
went cropping out toward the girls.
"why. how stupid Of me not to have
guessed II immediately" he said.
"You are the new owner. My dear
child. II the silent prayers Of very
unhappy old man will bring Gods
blessing on you--there. there, grill I
didn't intend to make you weep. What
a tender heart II is, to be surei"
She took his great toil-worn hand,
and her hot tears fell on II, for his
gentleness. his benignancy. had touch
cd her deeply. "Oh, you must not tell
anybody You mustn't" she cried.
He put his hand on her shoulder as
she knelt before him. Good land OF
love, girl, what made you do It? Why
should girl like you give hundred
thousand for my Valley Of the Giants?
Were you"-hesitatingly-"your un-
cle's agent?'
mo. I bought II myself-with my
own money. My uncle doesn't know ]
am the new owner. You see. he want.
ed it--for nothing"
"Ah, yes. I suspected az much a
long time ago. Your uncle Is the
modern type OF business man. Not
very much Of an idealist, I'm afraid.
But tell me why you decided to thwart
the plans of your relative"
II knew II hurt you terribly to sell
your Giants; they were dear to you
for sentimental reasons. understood.
Also. why you were forced to sell; 30
I-well, decided the Giants would be
safer In my possession than In my
uncle's. In all probability he would
have logged this valley for the sake
Of the clear seventy-two-inch boards
he could get from these trees"
THAT does not explain satisfa ctor.
lily. to me, why you took sides with O
stranger against your own kim" John
Cardigan persisted. There must be
a deeper and more potent reason.
Misc Shirley sumner." IT r.
"well,' Shirley made answer. glad
he could not see the flush Of confusion
and embarrassment that cripsoned
her check, when came to Sequoia
last May. your son and I met, quite
accidentally. The stage to SeQuoia
had already gone. and he was gracious
enough to invite me to make the jour
ney In his car. Then we recalled hav-
ing met as children. and presently
gathered from his conversation that he
and his John-partner, as he called you,
were very dear to each other. was
witness to your meeting that night
I saw him take you In his big arms
and hold you tight because you'd
gone blind while ne was away having
good time. And you hadn't told
him! thought that was brave of
you; and later. when Bryce and Moira
McTavish told me about you--how
kind you were, how you felt your
responsibility toward your employees
and the communicated, just
couldn't help leaning toward John
partner and John-partners boy, be-
cause the boy was so fine and true TO
his fathers ideals"
"Ah. he's a man. He is indeed" old
John Cardigan murmured proudly. 81
dare say you'll never get TO know him
intimately. but II you should"
II know him Intimately" she cor
rected him. "He saved my life the
day the log-train ran away. And that
was another reason. / owed him
debt, and so did my uncle; but Uncle
wouldn't pay his share, and had to
pay for him."
Wonderful" murmured John Cardi-
gan, wonderful But stlli you haven't
told me why you paid a hundred
thousand dollars for the Giants when
you could have bought them for fifty
thousand. You had a woman's reason,
dare say, and women always reason
rom the heart, never the head. How
ever, IL you do not care TO tell me.
hall not insist. Perhaps l have APP
reared unduly inqulsitive."
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