The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1920-10-01

present was the distribution of ray
of sunshine to broken-hearted MORA.
"Silly," she chided, "how needlessly
you are grieving! You say my uncle
has declined to buy the Valley Of the
Giants?"
MORA nodded.
'My uncle doesn't know what he's
talking about, MORA. I'll see that he
does buy it. What price are the Cardi-
gans asking for it now?"
swell, Colonel Pennington has Of
fered them a hundred thousand dol
lars for it time and again, but last
night he withdrew that offer. Then
they named price of fifty thousand,
and he said he didn't want it at ALL"
HE needs it. and it's worth every
4 cent of a hundred thousand to him,
MORA. Don't worry, dear. He'll buy
it, because I'll make him, and he'll
buy it Immediately; only you must
promise me not to mention single
word of what I'm telling you to Bryce
Cardigan, or in fact, to anybody. Do
you promise?'
MORA seized Shirley's hand and
kissed it impulsively. Every well,
then," Shirley continued. ''That mat
ter is adjusted, and now We'll all be
happy. Cheer up, dear, and remem-
Der that some time this afternoon
you're going to see Mr.. Bryce smile
again, and perhaps there won't be so
much of cloud over his smile this
1 time"
: When MORA returned to the office
of the Cardigan Redwood Lumber
company, Shirley rang for her maid.
Bring me my motorcoat and hat,
Thelma," she ordered, "and telephone
for the limousine" She seated her.
self before the mirror at her dressing
table and busted her adorable nose
with powder-puff. "Mr. Spaarty
Cardigan" she alurmured happily,
"you walked rough-shod over my
pride, didn't you? Placed me under an
obligation l could never hope to meet
and then ignored me-didn't. you?
Very well, old boy. We all have our
innings sooner or. later, you know, and
I'm going to make a substantial pay
ment on that huge obligation as sure
as my name is Shirley Sumner Then,
some day when the sun is shining for
you again, you'll come to me and be
very, very humble. You're entirely
too independent, Mr.. Cardigan, but,
oh, my dear, l do hope you will not
c n
my wits end to get it to you without
letting you know, because if your af-
fairs go to smash, you'll be perfectly
intolerable."
She paused suddenly. mo, I'll not
do that, either" she soliloquized. "Ill
keep it myself-for an investment. I'll
show Uncle Seth I'm business wom-
an, after all. He has had his fair
chance at the Valley of the Giants,
after waiting years for it, and now he
has deliberately sacrificed that chance
to be mean and vindictive. I'll buy
the valley hut keep my identity secret
from everybody; then, when Uncle
Seth finds stranger in possession,
he'll have fit, and perhaps, before
he RECEIVERS, he'll sell me all his
Squaw creek timber-only he'll never
know I'm the buyer. Shirley, my dear,
I'm pleased with you. Really, never
knew until now why men could be so
devoted to business. Won't it be jolly
to step in between Uncle Seth and
Bryce Cardigan, hold up my hand like
policeman, and say: Stop it, boys.
No fighting, if you please. And if
anybody wants to know who's boss
around here, start something"
When her uncle came home that
night, Shirley observed that he was
preoccupied and disinclined to con-.
versation.
81 noticed in this evenings paper"
she remarked presently, that Mr..
Cardigan has sold his Valley of the
Giants. So you bought it, after all?"
"No such luck p he almost barked.
'I'm an idiot. l should be placed in
charge of a keeper. Now, for heavens
sake, Shirley, don't discuss that tim
Der with me, for if you do, I'll go
plain, lunatic crazy"
'Poor Uncle Seth" she purred
sweetly. Her apparent sympathy
soothed his rasped soul. He contin-
ued:
"Oh, I'll get the internal property,
and it will be worth what l have to
pay for it, only it certainly does gravel
me to realize that ] am about to be
held up, with no help in sight. I'll
see Judge Moore tomorrow and offer |
him quick profit for his client
That's the game. you know"
ST do hope the new owner exhibits |
some common sense, uncle dear" she |
replied, and turned back to the piano. |
"But I greatly fear" she added to her
self, "that the new owner is going to |
prove a most obstinate creature and |
frightfully hard to discover"
True to his promise, the Colonel
called on Judge Moore bright and
early the following morning. "Act
Three Of that little business drama
entitled The Valley of the Giants |
my dear judge" he announced pleas
antly. 81 play the lead in this act. |
You remember me. ] hope. / played
a bit in Act Two"
''In so far as my information goes,
sir, you've been cut out of the cast in
Act Three. don't seem to find any
lines for you to speak"
Zone line, Judge; one little line,
What profit does your client want On
that quarter-section"
THAT quarter-section is not in the
market, Colonel. When it is, I'll send
for you, since you're the only logical
prospect should my client decide to