Cleveland County herald., 1920-07-29

ceiver on the hook, turnSs, and si.ped for his son. When he found him, the old man held him for moment in his arms. Lead me upstairs. son." he murmured presently. Pm tired. I'm going to bed"
 When Colonel Seth Pennington turned from the telephone and faced his niece, Shirley read his triumph in his face. "Old Cardigan has capitu- lated at last" he cried exultingly. "He just telephoned to say he'd accept my last offer for his Valley of the Giants"
 But you're not going to buy it. You told him so, Uncle Seth"
 "Of course Pm not going to buy 1t. at my last offer. It's worth five thou sand dollars in the open market, and once I offered him fifty thousand for it. Now I'll give him five"
 ''I wonder why he wants to sell" Shirley unused. Prom what Bryce Cardigan told me once, his father at taches a sentimental value to that strip of woods; his wife is buried there"
 He's selling it because he's desper- ate. If he wasn't teetering on the verge of bankruptcy, he'd never let me outgame him." Pennington replied gayly. "I'll wait until he has gone bust-and save twenty-five or thirty thousand dollars"
 'I think you're biting off your nose to spite your face, Uncle Seth. The Laguna Grande Lumber company needs that outlet. In dollars and cents. what is it worth to the com pany?"
 'If I thought I couldn't get it from Cardigan a few months from now, I'd go as high as hundred thousand for 1t tonight" he answered coolly.
 "Tn that event, I advise you to take 1t for fifty thousand. It's terribly hard on old Mr. Cardigan to have to sell it, even at that price,"
 "You do not understand these mat ters, Shirley. Don't try. And don't waste your sympathy on that old humbug He has to dig up fifty thou sand dollars to pay on his bonded in- debtedness, and he's finding it diff cult job. He's just sparring for time, but he'll lose out"
 AS if to indicate that he considered the matter closed, the Colonel drew his chair toward the fire, picked up a magazine and commenced idly to slit the pages. Shirley studied the back of his head for some time, then got out some fancy work and commenced plying her needle. And as she piled it, thought, nebulous at first, gradual ly took form in her head until eyen- tually she murmured loud enough for the Colonel to hear:
 ''I'll do it''
 Do whatf" Pennington queried
 Something nice for somebody who did something nice for me-" she an swered.
 About two o'clock the following aft ernoon old Judge Moore of the Su- perior court of Humboldt county, drift ed into Bryce Cardigan's office, sat down uninvited, and lifted his long legs to the top of an adjacent chair.
 "Well, Bryce, my boy" he began, "a little bird tells me your daddy is considering the sale of Cardigan's Redwoods, or the Valley of the Giants. How about 1t?
 Bryce stared at him moment ques- tioningly. "Yes, judge" he replied, "we'll sell, if we get our price,"
 "Well," his visitor drawled, q have a client who might be persuaded. I'm here to talk turkey. Whats your price?"
 Before we talk price," Bryce par ried, q want you to answer a ques- tion."
 "Let her fly" said Judge Moore.
 Are you, directly or indirectly, act ing for Colonel Pennington"
 That's none of your business, young man-at least it would be none of vonr business if I were directly or in