The Jones County news., 1920-09-09

ceiver on tile hook. turned anc groped
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 70 bed"
When Colonel Seth Pennington
turned from the telephone and faced
his niece. Shirley read his triumph in
his face "Old Cardigan has capitu-
lafed az 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 10 buy IT..
You told him so, Uncle Seth"
"Of course I'm not going to buy It..
ar my last offer IT'S worth FIVE thou
sand dollars In The open market. and
once offered him fifty thousand for
it. Now IN give him five"
Il wonder why he wants to sell"
Shirley mused. From what Bryce
Cardigan told me once. his father at
taches sentimental value to that
strip Of woods; his wife is buried
there"
He's selling II 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. "Til wait until he has gone
husband save twenty-five or thirty
thousand dollars"
Il 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
pany7"
"If I thought ] couldn't get It from
Cardigan a few months from now, I'd
go as high as a hundred thousand for
II tonight" he answered coolly.
an that event, | advise you TO take
II 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 lie has to dig up fifty thou
sand dollars to pay on his bonded in
dcbtedness, ana he's finding it a diff
cult job. He's Just sparrlng 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
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. a thought. nebuous at first, gradual
ly took form in her head until even
tually she murmured loud enough for
the Colonel to hear:
an do It,"
DO whatf" Pennington querled.
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 Cardgan's office, sat
down uninvlted. and lifted his long
legs to the top Of an adjacent chair.
"Wel, Bryce, my boy" he began,
"a little bird tells me your daddy is
the sale of Cardigan's
Redwoods, or the Valley Of the Giants.
How about it?"
Bryce stared at him a moment Ques-
tioningly. Yes, judge" he replied,
''we'll sell, if we get our price"
"Well," his visitor drawled, Il have
a client who might be persuaded. I'm
here to talk turkey. What's your
priceg
Before we talk price, Bryce par
ried, 81 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
ynur business If were. directly or in