Cleveland County herald., 1920-07-29

iitliC ddD VI ltihONA Is worth more to Pennington than to anybody else. However my client has given me instructions to go as high as a hundred thousand if necessary to get the property"
 "What?
 "I said 1t. One hundred thousand collars of the present standard eight and fineness."
 Judge Moore's last statement swept away Bryces 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 a moment Bryce stared stupidly 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 1t 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.
 Clients a bit modest. I take it,~ Bryce suggested.
 "Oh, very. Of course I'm only haz- arding a guess, but tkat guess is that the Colonel is in for dsrazooing at the hands of somebody with a small grouch against him."
 May 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 Penningtons Squaw creek timber at bargain"
 My understanding is that such is the program"
 Bryce reached for the deed, then reached for his hat. eff you'll be good 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 it 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 hun- dred thousand dollars on Bryce's desk and departed whistling Turkey in the Straw Bryce reached for the teIe- phone and called up Colonel Penning- ton,
 Bryce Cardigan speaking he be gan, but the Colonel cut him short
 My dear impulsiye young friend" he interrupted in oleaginous tones, 'how often do you have to be told that I am not quite ready to buy that quar- ter-section?"
 "Oh," Bryce retorted, 'I merely called up to tell you that every dollar and every asset you have in the world, including your hearts blood, isn't snf. ficient to buy the Valley of the Giants from us now"
 "Eh? What's that? Whyf"
 Because, my dear, overcautious and thoroughly unprincipled enemy it 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" He could hear distinct gasp. After an interval of five seconds, however, the Colonel recovered his poise "i congratulate you" he purred. q 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 a calendar on the wall with his cold phidian 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 it to induce the old man to sell at last. They're figuring on selling to me at neat profit And I 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 a buck and wing dance | around the room, while Moira McTav- ish, with her back to her tall desk, | watched him, iH her eyes a tremendous joy and a sweet, yearning glow of adoration that Bryce was too happy | and excited to notice.
 Suddenly he paused before her. l "Moira, you're q lucky girl" he de- clared. q thought this morning you were going back to kitchen in a log ging camp. It almost broke my heart to think of fate's swindling you like that" He put his arm around her and gave her br0therly hug. "It's autumn in the woods. Moira, and all the underbrush is golden"
 She smiled. though it was winter In her heart