Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-03-31
CHAPTER XIV.

The success of Bryce Cardlgan's
plan for getting his rails down from
Laurel creek depended entirely upon
the whimsy which might seize the
crew Of the big moEul that hauled the
last load Of logs out Of Cardigan's red
woods on Thursday afternoon. Should
the engineer and fireman decide to
| leave the locomotive at the logging
camp for the night. BryCe's task
would be as simple as turning a hose
down squirrel hole. on the other
hand. should they run back TO So
Iquoia with the engine, he and Oglivy
faced the alternative OF borrowing
it" from the Laguna Grande Lumber
Company's roundhouse; and that op-
Grafton. in view Of the fact that Pen
ningtuns night Waterman would be
certain to hear the engine leaving.
offered difficulties.
Thruout the afternoon after
having sent his orders in writing to
the woods boss, via George Sea OF
ter Cfor he dared not trust to the
teIephone). he waited in his office FOR
a telephone call from the logging
camp as to what action the engine
crew had taken. Finally, at a qIar-
ter Of six. Curtis his woods boss rang
in.
They're staying here all nigA-. sir"
he deportnd
House them as far from the log
landing as possible. and organize a
poker game to keep them busy in
case they don't 90 to he'd before eight
o'clock" Bryce ordered. ON the mean
time send a man YOU can trust-Jim
Harding. who runs the big bull dom
key. will do-down 10 the locomotive
to keep steam up until I arrive"
He had scarcely hung up. when
Buck Ogilvy came into the office.
Well" he queried casually.
"Safe-o. Buck" replied Bryce.
"Nothny 20 DO but get a bite OF din
uer and proceed TO business"
Buck insisted on keeping an en-
fragment to dine with MORA, and
Bryce agreed to call for him at the
Bon Gusto restaurant. Then Bryce
went home to dine with his father.
Old Cardigan was happier than his
son had seen him since the return of
the latter to Sequoia.
We'll. sonny. I've had a mighty
pleasant afternoon he declared as
Bryce led him to the dinner table
| I've been up to the Valley of the
! Giants"
Bryce was amused. why. how
could you?" he demanded. The old
skid road is impossible. and after you
! leave the end of the skin road. the
| grown with buckthorn and wild lilac
doubt if a rabbit could get thru
it comfortably"
! Not a bit of it," the old man re-
/ piled. Somebody has gone to work
and planked that old skid road and
put up hand rail on each side,
| while the trail thru the Giants has
! teen grubbed out and smoothed over.
| All that old logging cable I abandon
ed in those choppings has been
strung from tree to tre alongside
| the path on both sides. ! can go up
there alone now. once George se,s
me on the old skid road; l can't get
/ lost"
How did you discover this ?"
Bryce demanded.
| Judge Mode, representing the
| new owner. called round this morn
! ing and took me in tow. He said his
| client knew the property held for me
! q certain sentimental value which
wasn't transferred in the deed and
Sc the Judge had been instructed TO
have the skid road planked and the
! forest trail grubbed out-fOr me. It
appears that the valley is going to
be a public park. after all, but for
the present and while l live, it is
my private park"
This is perfectly amazing, part
ner''
It's mighty comforting" his ia
| Their admitted. Guess the new own
er must be one of my old friends
perhaps somebody I did a favor for
| Once-and this is his way Of repay
ing. I'd like to know the name Of
| the owner I'd like mighty well to
say thank you to him. 1t isn't usual
for people nowadays to have as
much respect for sentiment in an
old duffer like me as the fellow has.
| He sort of makes me feel as if
| hadn't sold at ALL
Buck OglIvy came out of the Bon
| Gusto restaurant with Mora, just as
| Bryce, with George Sea Otter at the
-