The Mena weekly star., 1920-10-14

ara1ne guess, bur That guess /.
the Colonel is In for a razooing at the
hands Of somebody with a small
crouch against him."
ssMay the Lord strengthen tnat
somebody's arm" Bryce breathed fer
yently. IF your client can afford to
hold out long enough, he'll be able to
buy Pennington's Squaw creek timber
at a bargain.
sMy understanding Is that such Is
the program"
Bryce reached for the deed, then
reached for his hat IF you'll be good
enough to wait Here. Judge Moore, ~
run up TO the house and get my father
n 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
IL tossed his certified check for q hun
dred thousand dollars on Bryce's desk
and departed whistiing Turkey In the
Straw" Bryce reached for the tele-
phone and called up Colonel Penning-
ton.
Bryce Cardigan speaking he be-
gan. but the Colonel cut him short.
my dear. impulsive young friend,
he interrupted in oleaginous tones,
show often do you have to be told that
| am not quite ready to buy that quar-
ter-section?"
"Oh." Bryce retorted. Il merely
called up to tell you that every dollar
and every asset you have in the world.
including your hearts blood. isn't suf-
ficient to buy the Valley Of the Giants
from us now"
"Eh? What's thatf Whya"
Because. my dear. overcautious ant
thoroughly unprincipled enemy. It was
sold Eve minutes ago for the tidy sum
of one hundred thousand dollars, and
IL you don't believe me, come over t.
nv Office and I'll let you feast you
eyes on Int ccFtIfltu tfftth-
He could hear distinct gasp. After
an interval of five seconds, however
the Colonel recovered his poise. Il
congratulate you" he purred. Il sup
pose I'll have to wait a little longer
now won't I? Well-patIence IS my
middle name. Au revoir."
The Colonel hung up His hard face
was ashen With rage. and he stared at
calendar on the wall with his cold
phidiaD stare. However. he was NOT
without a generous stock of optimism.
Somebody has learned of the low
state of the Cardigan fortune" he
mused "and taken advantage of 1t 10
induce the old man to sell at last
They're figuring on selling TO me M y
neat profit, and certainly lid 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
Parry. Joy was rampant Bryce Cardi.
gan was doing buck and wing dance
around the room. while MORA McTav-
ish. with her hack TO her tall desk.
watched him. N her eyes a tremendous
Joy and sweet, yearning glow OF
alteration that Bryce was too happy
and excited to notice.
Suddenly he paused before her.
1Moira. you're lucky GIRL he de-
clared. II thought this morning you
were going back to a 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 a brotheriy hug. ITS
aufumn In the woods, MORA. and all
the underbrush Is golden"
She smiled. though It was winter In
her heart.