Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-04-07

the San Hedrin which we Will buy
In within a year for half a million, Is
worth Ave millions at least. And by
that time. feel certain--in fact, l
know--the Northern Pacific VIII
commence building in from the south
from Willis
II shall" he began, but he
paused abruptly, as II he had sud-
denly remembered that tact and not
pugnacity was the requirement for
the handling Of this ticklish sltua-
ton.
She silenced him with a disdainful
gesture. "You shall not smash the
Cardigans," she declared firmly. You
arc devoid of mercy, of sense OF
sportmanship. Now, then. Uncle
Seth. listen to me: You have TWEEN
ty-four hours in which to make up
your mind whether to accept my
ultimatum or refuse it, If you re-
fuse l shall prosecute you for fraud
and a betrayal of trust as my
fathers executor on that red cedar
timber deal"
He frightened a trifie. I'm afraid
that would be long, hard row to
hoe, my dear, and of course, l shall
have TO defend myself"
In addition, the girl went on quiz
city, the county grand jury shall be
furnished with a stenographic report
of your conversation Of Thursday
night with Mayor Poundstone. That
vii not be a long, hard row to hoe
Uncle Seth. for in addition to the
stenographer. | have another reliable
witness. Judge Moore. Your casual
disposal of my sedan as bribe TO
the mayor will be hard to explain
and rather amusing. in view of the
fact that Bryce Cardigan managed TO
frighten Mr.. Poundstone into return
ing the sedan while you were away
And If that is not sufficient Tor my
purpose. have the sworn confession
of the Black Minorca that you gave
him five hundred dollars to XIII
Bryce Cardigan. Your woods BOSS
Rondeau. will also swear that you
approached him with a proposition
to do away with Bryce Cardigan. 1
think. therefore. that you Will
readily see how impossible a situa-
ton YOU have managed to create ana
will not disagree with me when l
suggest that II would be better Tor
Won to leave this county"
His face had gone gray and nag
gard. II can't" he murmured,
can't leave this great business now
Your own interests in the company
render such course unthlnkapIe
Without my hand at the helm, things
will go to smash"
"Tu risk that. l want to get rid OF
that worthless red cedar timber: so l
think you had better buy it back from
me at the same figures at which yol
sold it to me"
But I haven't the money and
can't borrow it. II
II will have the equivalent in stoct
of the Laguna Grande Lumber com
pany. You will call on Judge Moore
to complete the transaction and leave
with him your resignation as presi
dent Of the Laguna Grande LumbeI
company"
The Colonel raised his glance ant
bent il upon her IN cold appraisal
She met 1t with flrmness, and tn
thought came to him: She is Pen
nington," And hope died out In hi
heart. He began pleading in mauoil'
fashion for mercy, for compromise
But the girl was obdurate.
II am showing you more mere!
than you deserve-you to whom mer-
cy was ever sign of weakness. OF
vaciIlation. There Is a gulf between
us. Uncle Seth-a gulf which for
long time have dimly sense'
and which. because of my recent dis
coveres, has widened until it can N
longer be bridged."
He wrung his hands in desperation
| and slid to his knees before her: wit!
| hypocritical endearments he strove t
| take her hand, but she drew away
| from him. Don't touch me-" sh
cried sharply and with a breakin;
note in her voice. You planned tt
| kill Bryce Cardigan. And for that
and that alone-I shall never forgive
| you"
She fed from the office leaving hin
cringing and grovelling on the floor
There will be no directors meetin'
Mr.. Sexton" she informed the mana
ger as she passed thru the genera
office. ut is postponed"
That trying interview had wrenche'
Shirley's soul to a degree that left he
faint and weak. She at once set GU
on q long drive, in the hope that be
fore she turned homeward again sh
might regain something of her Gus
tomary composure.
Presently the asphaltum paved
street gave way to dirt road and
terminated abruptly at the bound
aries OF a field that sloped gently up
yard-a field studded with huge
black redwood stumps showing dis
maIiy thru coronets of young ret
| woods that grew riotously around the
base of the departed parent trees
From the fringe of the thicKet thus
formed, the terminus of an old skid
| road showed and signboard, fresh,
ly painted, pointed the way to the
| Valley OF the Giants.
Shirley had not intended to come
here, but now that she had arrived
| it occurred to her that IT was mere
she wanted to come. Parking her cal
by the side of the road, she alightec
and proceeded up the old skid, no"
newly planked and with the en-
| croaching forestration cut away Sc
that the daylight might enter from
above. On over the gentle divide
she went and down toward the am
phitheater where the primeval giants
grew. And as she approached 1t, thu
sound that is silence in the redwoods
tine thunderour diapason Of the
centuries-wove it's spell upon her;
quickly, imperceptibly there faded
from her mind the memory Of thai
! al, LOTT hahn