The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1920-09-30

though | think until very recently
that II was those sixteen townships
of red cedar-that crown grant In
British Columbia In which you induced
me to invest four hundred thousand
dollars. You will remember that you
purchased that timber for me from the
Caribou Timber company. Limited.
You said II was an unparalleled Invest
ment. Quite recently learned--no
matter how-that you were the princi-
pal owner of the Caribou Timber com.
pany. Limited Smart as you are.
somebody swinded you with that red
cedar II was wonderful stand OF
timber--so read the cruisers report
but fifty per cent of II, despite Its
green and nourlshlng appearance, is
hollow-butted And the remaining
Hfty 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 at him steadily but with
out malice; his face crimsoned and
then paled; presently his glance
sought the carpet. While he struggled
20 formulate a verbal defense against
her accusation Shirley continued:
"You had erected huge sawmlll
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 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 TO swindle me-"
IL had my back to the WALL" he
quavered. II was desperate-and II
wasn't at ali the bad investment you
have been told It 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, knew l
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 deal for you.
Shirley. had vision. ] could see in
calculable riches In this redwood EN-
pire, but Il was n tremendous gamble
and required twenty millions to swing
It at the very start dreamed of the
control of California redwood; and II
you will stand by me, Shirley, l 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 Hcdrin which we will buy In with
in a year for half million. is worth
five millions at least. And by that
time, feel certaln--in fact, l know
the Northern Pacific will commence
building in from the south. from VIII
Its"
81 shall" he began. but he paused
abruptly. as II he had suddenly re-
membered that tact and not pugnacity
was the requirement for the handling
of this tlckllsh situation.
She silenced him with dlsdalnful
gesture "You shall not smash the
Cardlgsns," she declared firmly "You
are devoid OF mercy, OF sense of
sportsmanship. Now, then, Uncle
Seth, listen TO me: You have
twenty-four hours in which TO make
up your mind whether 10 accept my
ultimatum or refuse 1t. If you re-
fuse. ] shall prosecute you for fraud
and betrayal OF trust as my fathers
executor on that red cedar timber
deal"
He frightened trlle. I'm afraid
that would be long, hard row TO hoe
my DEAR and OF course, shall have ia
defend myself"
"In addition" the girl went on qul
etly, "the county grand jury shall be
furnished with stenographic report
of your conversation OF Thursday
night with Mayor Poundstone. Thai
VIII not Dt ioue, hhIu roW " hoN
Uncle Seth, for in addition 10 th'
stenographer | have another reliable
witness, Judge Moore. Your casua
disposal of my sedan as bribe TO the
mayor will be hard TO explain ant
rather amusing, in view of the fac
that Bryce Cardigan managed 10 fright
en- Mr.. Poundstone into returning tn,
sedan while you were away. Ant
81 that is not sufficient for my purpose
have the sworn confession Of tn,
Black Minorca that you gave him fiv,
hundred dollars to XIII Bryce Cardigan
Your woods boss, Rondeau, will ais,
swear that you approached him with
proposition TO do away with Bryc
Cardigan. think, therefore. that yol
viii readily see how impossible sit
uation you have managed TO Great
and will not disagree with me when
suggest that II would be better for yo
1t