Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-04-09
CHAPTER XVIII.

He drew her head down on MS
bronst. his great hand patted her
hot cheek: his honest brown eyes
pazed earnestly, wistfully into hers
II love YOU" he whispered, All thal
haye--all that ANAL that l hope
for--I offer to you, Shirley Sumner;
and In the shrine of my heart shan
hold YOU sacred while life shall last
You are not Indifferent TO me. dear
I know you're not: but tell mean
swer me"
Her violet eyes were uplifted 10
his. and in them he read the answer
to his cry. "Ah, may r. he muir
INJURED, and kissel her.
"Oh, my dear impulsire, gentle big
sweetheart" she whispered-an
then her arms went around, his
neck. and the fullness of her happi-
ness found vent in tears he did hot
seek to have her repress. In the sale
haven OF his arms she rested; ana
there, quite without effort of dis
tress. she managed to convey to him
something more than an mixing OF
the thoughts that were wont TO come
to her whenever they met.
"Oh. NV love!" he cried happily.
hadn't dared dream Of such happi-
ness until today. You We're so I'M
attainable-the obstacles between US
were so many and so great
why today, Bryce" she inter
rupted him.
He took her adorable little nose IN
his great thumb and forefinger ana
tweaked il gently. Tile tf6hS Oesah
10 dawn yesterday, my dear little en-
envy, following an interesting hait-
hour which / put in with his honoF
the mayor. Acting upon suspicion
only, I told Poundstone 1 was pre-
pared to send him to the rock pile II
he didn't behave himself IN the mat
ter of my permanent franchise 1or
the n. c. O.--and the oily old lnVert-
citrate wept and promised me any
thing II l wouldn't disgrace hlm. 80
promised | wouldn't do anything
until the franchise matter should De
definitely settled-after which l re-
turned to nv Office, to find awaiting
me there no less a person than the
right of-way man for the Northwest
ern Pacific. He was perfectly de-
liyhtful young fellow. and he had a
PROPOSITION to unfold. It seems the
Northwestern Pacific has decided to
build up from Willis, and all that
powwow and publicity OF Buck Osil-
WIS about the ". G. O. was In All
probability the very thing that
spurred them TO action. They figured
the c. NJ. & st. p. was back of the
n. C. O.-tilat it was 20 be the hrSI
link in a chain of coast roads 10 De
connected ultimately with the terml-
rus of the c. NJ. & st. p. on Gray
Harbor. Washington. And II the y
c. 0. should be built II meant that
q rival road would get the edge on
then, in the matter of every stick OF
I Humboldt and Del Norte REDWOOD
land they'd be left holding the sack
"Why did they think that, dear
.That amazing rascal, Buck OglI-
Wy, used TO be a G. NJ & st. Z. man
trey thought they traced an analogy
dare say. Perhaps Buck hbbed &c
them. At any rate this rlght-o1-W way
man was mighty anxious TO Know
" hether or not the y. c. o. had
purchased from the Cardigan Red
terminus on tidewater 1--WE contro
all the deep-water frontage on the
hay), and when I told him the dea
had not yet been closed he started tc
close one with me-"
did you closer"
my dear girl, will a duck swim
OF course I closed. l sold three
quarters of all we had, for three
quarters of a million dollars, and ar
hour ago l received wire from my
attorney in San Francisco informinE
me that the money had been deposit
ed In escrow there awaiting forma
deed. That money puts the CARDIGAN
Redwood Lumber company in tn
clear-no receivership for us now
my dear one. And I'm going riSh
ahead with the building Of the y. c
o. while our holdings down OF
the San Hedrin double in value, 70
the reason that within three year
they will be accessible and can n
logged over the rails Of the North
western Paci6c."
Bryce" Shirley declared. haven
/ always told you I'd never permi
you 70 build the y. c. or
"Of course he replied, 'but sure
ly you're going to withdraw you
nhiectinns now"
Il am not You must choose be
tween the n. C. O. and me-" And sh'
met his surprised gaze unflinchingly
Shirley! You don't mean it?'
Il do mean it, / have always mean
it. love you, dear but for all tina
you must not build that road"
He stood up and lowered abov,
her sternly. II must build it, Shirley
I've contracted to do it, and I mus
Keep faith with Gregory of the Trim
idad Timber company. He's putin:
up the money, and I'm TO do the worl
and operate the line. L can't go bacl
on him now