Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1920-05-07


ingly forth and rested affectlonately
upon his boys. "You forget, my son.
that we cannot last In business long
enough to get that road built, even
though Gregory should agree to
finance the building of 1t. The inter
est on our bonded indebtedness is
payable on the first"
eve can meet 1t, sir"
"Aye, but we can't meet the fifty
thousand dollars which, under the
terms Of our deed of trust. we are re-
qulred to pay in on July first Of each
year as Striking fund toward the re-
tirement of our bonds. Bryce, 1t just
can't be done. We'd have our road
about half completed when we'd bust
up in business; indeed, the minute
Pennington suspected we were paral-
leing his line, he'd choke off our wind.
tell you It can't be done"
But Bryce contradicted him earn.
estly. at can be done" he said. "If
we can start building our road and
have 1t half completed before Pen.
nngton jumps on us, Gregory will
(. IMPLY have TO come TO our aid in self
defense. Once he ties up with US. he's
committed TO the task Of seeing US
through. can do it, tell YOU"
John Cardigan raised his hand.
mo" he said firmly, 81 will not allow
you to do this. That way-that is the
Pennington method. If we fall, my
son, we pass out like gentlemen. not
blackguards. We will not take advan-
tage of this man Gregory's faith. If
he joins forces with us, we lay our
hand on the table and let him look"
"Then he'll never join hands with
us, partner. We're DONE"
"We're not done, my son. We have
one alternative, and I'm going to take
1t. I've got to--for your sake. More.
over, your mother would have wished
1t So"
"YOu don't mean"
"Yes, | do. Pm going to sell Pen
nlngton my Valley of the Giants. 1t
Is my personal property, and 1t Is not
Pennington can never
foreclose on it--and until he gets it,
twenty-five hundred acres of virgin
timber on SGuaw creek are valueless-
nay, source Of expense to him.
Bryce, he has to have it; and he'll pay
the price, when he knows mean
business
With sweeping gesture he waved
aside the arguments that rose to his
sons lips. lead me to the telephone"
he commanded; and Bryce, recognize
ing his slre's unalterable determina-
ton, obeyed.
"Find Pennington's number in the
telephone book" John Cardigan COM
manded next.
Bryce found 1t. and his father pro-
ceeded to get the Colonel on the wire.
Pennington, he said hoarsely, "thls
Is John Cardigan speaking. I've de-
cided to sell you that quarter-section
that blocks your timber on SQuaw
creek"
"Indeed," the Colonel purred. 81
had an idea you were going to pre-
sent it to the city for natural park"
"i've changed my mind. I've decld-
ed to sell at your last offer"
"I've changed my mind, too. I've
decided not to buy-at my last offer.
Slowly John Cardigan hung the re-
ceiver on the hook, turned and CROPPED
for his son. When he found him, the
old man held him for a moment In his
arms. LEAD me upstairs, son." he
presently. I'm 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 capltu.
lated at last" he cried exultingly. "Ile
just telephoned TO say he'd accept my
last offer for his Valley of the Giants"
"But you're not going to buy 1t.
You told him 20, Uncle Seth"
"Of course I'm not going to buy 1t.
{ my last offer. It's worth five thou
sand dollars In the open market, and
once | offered him fifty thousand for
1t. Now III give him five"
81 wonder why he wants to SELL
Shirley mused "From what Bryce
Cardigan told me once, his father at
taches a sentimental value to that
strip Of woods; his wife is buried
there"
Hes selling 1t because he's desper-
ate. If he wasn't lettering on the
verge of bankruptcy, he'd never let
me outgame him." Pennington replied
yayly. "I'll wait until he has gone
Dust-and save twenty-five or thirty
thousand dollars"
II think you're biting off your nose
10 spite your face, Uncle Seth. The
Laguna Grande Lumber company
needs that outlet. In dollars and
cents, what is Il worth to the COM
pany"
"If I thought l couldn't get It from
Cardigan a few months from now, I'd
70 as high as a hundred thousand for
t tonight" he answered coolly.
'In that event, advise you to take
I for fifty thousand. It's terribly
hard on old Mr.. Cardigan to have to
sell 1t, even at that price,"