The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1920-08-12

young male secretary.
He had been In town less than nm
hour when the editor OF the Seqaoic
Sentinel sent up his card. The an
nouncement of the incorporation of
the California Outrage (for so had Mr..
Ogilvy, In huge enjoyment OF the
misery he was about to create, dubbed
the road) had previously been flashed
to the Sentinel by the United Press
association, as local feature story,
and alrendy speculation was rife In
Sequoia as to the identity of the hare
Drained individuals who dared TO back
an enterprise as nebulous as the mil
ienlum. Mr.. Ogilvy was expecting the
vlsit-in fact, impatiently awaiting II
and since the easiest thing he did
was to speak for publication, natural
ly the editor of the Sentinel got
story which, to that individuals sim
pie soul, seemed to warrant seven
column head-which II received. In
glowing terms he spoke of the billions
Of tons Of tlmber-products TO be haul
ed out of this wonderfully fertile and
little-known country, and confidently
predicted for the county future COM
mercial supremacy that would be sim
ply staggering to contemplate.
When Colonel Seth Pennington read
this outburst he smiled. That's
bright scheme on the part OF that
Trinidad Redwood Timber company
gang to start a railroad excitement and
unload their white elephant" he de-
clared.
When Bryce Cardigan read 1t, he
laughed. The interview was so like
Buck Ogllvyi In the morning the lat
ter's automobile was brought up from
the steamship dock, and accompanied
by his secretary, Mr.. Ogilvy disappear
ed into the north following the bright
new stakes of his surveying gang. and
for three weeks was seen no more.
On n day when Bryces mind hap
pened to be occupied with thoughts Of
Shirley Sumner he bumped into her
on the main street Of Sequola. and to
her great relief but profound surprise,
he paused in his tracks, lifted his hat,
smiled. and opened his mouth to say
something-thought better OF 1t,
changed his mind. and continued on
about his business. As Shirley pass
ed him, she looked him squarely In the
face. and In her glance there was nei-
ther coldness nor malice.
Bryce felt himself afire from heels
| to hair one instant, and cold and clam
my the next, for Shirley spoke TO him.
"Good morning. Mr.. Cardigan"
He paused, turned, and approached
her "Good morning, Shirley" he re-
piled. "How have you been?"
81 might have oeen dead. for all
the interest you took In me-" she re-
piled sharply. "As matters stand. I'm
exceedingly well-thank you. BY the
way. are you still belligerentf"
He nodded. 81 have to be-"
81 think you're great big crouch,
Bryce Cardigan" she fared at him.
"You make me unutterably weary"
I'm sorry" he answered. "but just
at present am forced to subject you
to the strain. Say year from now,
when things are different with me,
I'll strive not to Offend"
"Tll not be here year from now."
she warned him.
He bowed. "Then I'll go wherever
you are-and bring you back" And
with mocking little grin, he lifted
his hat and passed on.
!
Col. Seth Pennington was among
those who, skeptlcal at first and In.
clined to ridicule the project into an
early grave, eventually found himself
swayed by the publicity and gradually
coerced into serious consideration OF
the results attendant upon the build
ing of the road The Colonel was
naturally as suspicious as rattle
snake In August; hence he had no
sooner emerged from the ranks Of the
frank scoffers than his alert mind
framed the question:
"How is this new road--improbable
as know II to BEGGING to affect the
interests Of the Iaguna Grande Lum-
her company. II the unexpected should
happen and those bunco-steerers
should actually build a road from
Sequoia to Grants Pass, Ore, and
thus construct feeder to trans
continental liner
Five minutes of serious reflection
sufiiced TO bring the Colonel to the
verge Of panic, notwithstanding the
fact that he was ashamed of himself
for yielding to fright despite his firm
belief that there was no reason why
he should be frightened. Similar con-
siderations occur to a small boy who
is walking home In the dark past q
cemetery.
The vital aspects OF his predica-
ment dawned on the Colonel one night
at dinner. midway between the soup
and the fish. SO forcibly did they oc-
cur to him. in fact, that for the nonce
he forgot that his niece was seated
opposite him.
"Confound them" the Colonel muir