Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1920-04-13

named me II frcight-rate for Il renewal
of the contract for five years of three
dollars per thousand feet. That rate
Is prnhibilivr and puts lis out of h:ai
ness"
"Thcn." >nin Bryce calmly. well
shut ilie mill down when the log
hauling contract expires. hold our tin
Der ~ IN Investment and live tie
simple life until we can sell it or a
transcontinental road builds into Hum
boldt county and enables us TO start
up the mill again"
John Cardigan shook his head. I'm
mortgaged to the last penny" he con
feSScd, "and Pennington has been buy
ing Cardigan Redwood Lumber com
pany frSt-mortgage bonds until he is
in control of the issue. He'll buy in
the San Hedrin timber ut the fore
closure sale, and in order to get it
back and save something for you out
of the wreckage TT have to make an
Improbable trade with him. IN have
to give him my timber adjoining his
north of SequOia. together with my
( Valley Of the Giants. in return for the
San Hedrin timber, to which he'll have
sheriff'S deed. But the mill, all my
old employees. with their numerous
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. with you left land
poor and without dollar to pay your
taxes. SmuShed-like that" And he
drove his fist into the palm of his
hand
"Perhaps-but not without fight"
Bryce answered, although he knew
their plight was well-nigh hopeless.
"l'll give that man Pennington run
for his money, or I'll know the reason"
The telephone on the table beside
him tinkled. and he took down the
receiver and said "HellO!'
Mercy" came the sweet voice of
Shirley Sumner over the wire. DO
you feel as savage as all that Mr..
Cardigan"
For the second time in his life the
thrill that was akin to pain came to
Bryce Cardigan. He laughed. IF l
had known YOU were calling, Miss
Sumner" he said II shouldn't have
grOwled So
well you're forgiven-for several
reasons. but principally for sending
me that delicious blackberry pie.
Thank you so much.''
''Glad yOu liked it. Miss Sumner.
dare to hope that l may have the
privilege Of seeing you soon again"
"Of course. one good pie deserves
another. Some evening next week,
when that dear old daddy of yours
can spare his hoy, you might be in
terested to see our burl-redwOOd-
: paneled dining room Uncle Seth Is 50
proud Of. Would Thursday night be
cOnvenient!"
SPerfectly. Thank you thousand
times"
She babe him goodnight As ne
turned from the telephone, his father
Looked up. what are you going to do
tomorrow, lad?" he queried.
Il have to do some thinking to-
morrow" Bryce answered. so I'm
going up into Cardigan's redwoods to
TO it,"
''The dogwoOds and rhododendrOns are
blooming now" the old man murmured
wistfuly. Bryce knew what he was
thinking Of. I'll attend to the flow
ers for Mother" he assured Cardga
and he added fiercely: And I'll at
tend to the battle for Father. We
may lose, but that man Pennington
will know he's been In fight before
We fiji"
He broke off abruptly, for he had
just remembered that he was to dine
at the Pennington house the following
Thursday--and he was not the sort Of
man who smilingly breaks bread with
his enemy.
All about Bryce We're scenes Of
activity. Of human endeavor, and to
him in that moment came the thought :;
MY father brought all this to pass
and now the task Of continuing it Is
mine, All those men who earn
living In Cardigan's mill and on Cardi
gan's dock---those sailors who sail the
ships that carry Cardigan's lumber
| into the distant Inarts of men--ure de-
pendent upon me and my father used
TO tell me not to fail them. Must my
father have wrought all this IN vain?
And must l stand by and see all this
20 to satisfy the 0yerw belmlng ambition