Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1920-05-11
| tell You it can't be done. "


have it ha'f completed before pc~-
niogton Jumps on US, Gregory VIII
simply have Ia come to Our uiG in @ctl.
defense. once h" ties up with l~. he's
committed 10 the task of seeing II,
through. I can DO it, tell You"
john Cardigan raised his hand
'No.' he said firmly, Il Will not allow
you to do this. That Vay-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
II So"
You don't mean"
"YeS, / do. I'm going to sell Pen
nington my Valley of the Giants. 1t
- my P'I Noiiui III 'I'ti ~ anu II - HUI
mortgaged. Pennington can never
forecloSr on it---and until he gets it,
twenty-five hundred acres Of virgin
timber on SGudW creek are yalueleSS--
nay, source of expense to him.
Bryce, he has to have it; and he'll pay
the price, when he knows I mean
business"
With a sweeping gesture he waved
aside the arguments that rose to his
sons lips. lead me to the telephone"
he commanded; and Bryce, recognz-
| ing his sires unalterable determine
ton, obeyed
Find Pennington's number In the
telephone book" John Cardigan com
manded next.
Bryce found it. and his father pro-
ceeded to get the Colonel on the wire.
| Bloomington" he said hOarsely, "thiS
is John Cardigan speaking. I've de-
cided to sell you that quarter-Section
that blocks your timber on Squaw
creek"
Indeed" the Colonel purreI. 81
/ ilttl tll Hltu Sou NcIt SOllS W NV
sent it to the city for natural park"
"Tve changed my mind. I've decid-
cd to sell at your last offer"
"Tve changed my mind. too I've
decided not to buy--at my last offer.
Goodnight"
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 moment in his
arms. Lead me upstairs, son." he
murmured 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 capitu-
lated at last" he cried exultingly. "He
4 just telephOned to say he'd accept my
last offer for his Valley Of the Giants y
''But you're not going to buy 1t.
You told him so, Uncle Seth"
'Of course I'm not going to buy 1t.
n. my last offer. It's worth five thou
sand dollars in the open market, and
once | offered him fifty thousand for
It, Now I'll give him five"
81 wonder why he wants to SELL
shirley unused. "FrOm what Bryce
CARDIGAN told me once, his father at
tachcS a sentimental value to that
Sfrin 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 outgnme him." Pennington replied
cayy. "Tll wait until he has gone
husband save twenty-five or thirty
thousand dollars"
81 think you're biting Off your nose
to spite your face, Uncle Seth. The
Laguna Grande Lumber company
needs that outlet. In dollars ana
cents. what Is 1t worth TO the COM
pany?"
ar l thought couldn't get 1t from
! Cardigan n few months from now, Ia
go as high as hundred thousand for
It tonight" he answered coolly.
an 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
dehtedness. ana he's finding II "A din
cult lob. 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
magazine, and commenced idly to SILT
the pages. shirley studied the back
of his head for some time then got
ont some fancy work and commenced
pIving her needle And as she plea
II. a thought. uebulouS at first, gradual
" took form in her head until even
tually she murmured loud enough for
the Colonel to hear:
"I'll do it"
80 Whnt: Pennington querled.
"Something nice for somebody VINO