The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1920-07-29

"WhntW
81 said IT. One hundred thousand
dollars OF the present standard
weight and fineness."
Judge Moore's last statement swept
away Bryce's suspicious. He required
now no further evidence that. regard
less of the identity Of the Judges
client. that client could not possibly be
Col. Seth Pennington or anyone acting
for him. since only the night before
Pennington had curtly refused to buy
the property for fifty thousand dollars.
For moment Bryce stared stupidity
AT his visitor. Then he recovered his
wits.
"Sold !" he almost shouted, and after
the fashion of the West extended his
hand to clinch the bargain. The judge
shook It solemnly. "The Lord loveth
quick trader" he declared. "Here's
the deed already made out in favor Of
myself, as trustee" He winked know
ingly.
"Cllent's bit modest, / tako It,"
Bryce suggested.
, "Oh, very. OF course I'm only haz-
nrdlng a guess, but that guess Is that
the Colonel Is in for n fazooing at the
hands OF somebody with small
crouch against him."
"Alay the Lord strengthen that
somebody's arm" Bryce breathed fer
vently. "If your client can afford to
hold out long enough. he'll be able to
buy Pennington's Squaw creek timber
at bargain"
"My understanding is that such is
the program"
Bryce reached for the deed, then
enough TO wait here, Judge Moore I'll
run up to the house and get my father
to sign this deed. The Valley of the
Giants is his personal property, you
know. He didn't include II In his as
sets when Incorporating the Cardigan
Redwood Lumber company"
A quarter of an hour later he re-
turned with the deed duly signed by
John Cardigan and witnessed by
Bryce; whereupon the judge careless
ly tossed his certified check for n hum
dred thousand dollars on Bryce's desk
and departed whistling turkey in the
Straw" Bryce reached for the tele-
phone and called up Colonel Penning-
ton.
"Bryce Cardigan speaking" he be-
gam but the Colonel cut him short.
"My dear, impulsive young friend"
he interrupted in oleaginous tones.
'how often do you have to be told that
am not quite ready to buy that quar-
ter-sectionT
"Oh," Bryce retorted. T merely
called up to tell you that every dollar
and every asset you have in the world,
including your hearts blood, isn't suf-
ficlent 20 buy the Valley of the Giants
from us now"
"Eh? What's that? Why?"
Because, my dear. overcautious and
thoroughly unprincipled enemy, 1t was
sold five minutes ago for the tidy sum
Of one hundred thousand dollars. and
If you don't believe me. come over to
my office and I'll let you feast your
eyes on the certified check"
lie could hear q distinct gasp. After
an interval of five seconds. however,
the Colonel recovered his poise. T
congratulate you," he purred. 81 sup
pose I'll have to wait little longer
now, won't 1? Well-patience is my
middle name. Au revoir."
The Colonel hung up. His hard face
xpft ha Sta NJ
a calendar on the wall with his cold,
phidian stare. However, he was not
without generous stock of optimism.
Somebody has learned of the low
state of the Cardigan fortune" he
mused, land taken advantage of 1t to
induce the old man to sell at last.
They're figuring on selling to me at
neat profit. And l certainly did over
play my hand last night. However,
there's nothing to do now except sit
tight and wait for the new owners
next move"
Meanwhile, In the general Office Of
the Cardigan Redwood Lumber COM
pany, JOY was rampant. Bryce Cardi-
gan was doing buck and wing dance
around the room, while MORA McTav-
ish, with her back to her tall desk,
watched him. In her eyes tremendous
Joy and a sweet, yearning glow OF
alteration that Bryce was too happy
and excited to notice.
Suddenly he paused before her.
"Moira, you're a lucky GIRL" he de-
clared. "I thought this morning YOU
were going back to kitchen in log.
ging camp. 1t almost broke my heart
to think OF fate's swindling you like
that" He put his arm around her and
gave her brotherly hug. "It's
autumn in the woods, MORA, and all
the underbrush is golden"
She smiled, though 1t was winter In
her heart.