Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-03-22
Copyright by Peter B. Kyne.
CHAPTER x.

4
| CHAPTER x.
When, her uncle came home that
night. Shirley observed that he was
pre-occupied and disinclincd to con-
versation.
II noticed in this evenings papey."'
she remarked presently, that Mr.
Cardigan has sold his Valley of the
Giants. So you bought 1t, after all?"
mo such luck!" ne almost jbarked.
I'm an idiot. / should be placed in
charge Of keeper. Now. for heav-
ems sake, Shirley, don't discuss that
timber with me, for If you do. I'll go
| plain, lunaitc crazy"
Poor Uncle Seth" she purred
sweetly. Her apparent sympathy
soothed his rasped soul. He contin-
ued:
ooh. TIL get the Internal prop
erty. and 1t will be worth what
have to pay for 1t, only it certainly
does gravel me to realize that am
about to be held up. with no help in
sight. I'll see Judge Moore tomorrow
and offer him quick profit for his
| client. That's the game, you know.
II do hope the new owner exhibits
some common sense, uncle dear she
replied. and turned back to the piano.
"Eut I greatly fear" she added to
| herself, that the new owner is go
| ing to prove a most obstinate crea-
ture and frightfully hard to discov-
err"
True to his promise, the Colonel
called on Judge Moore bright and
early the following morning. "Act
entitled The Valley Of the Giants,
my dear Judge" he announced pleas
antly. II play the lead in this act.
| You remember me, hope. played
bit in Act Two"
TN SO far as my information goes,
sir. you've been cut out Of the cast
IN Act Three. I don't seem to find
any lines for you to speak"
"One line. Judge; one little line,
What profit does your client want on
that quarter-section?"
That quarter section is not in the
market, Colonel. When it is. I'll send
for you. since you're the only logi-
cal prospect should my client decide
to sell. And remembering how you
butted in on politics in this county
last fall and provided a slush fund
to beat me and place a crook on the
supreme court bench, in order to give
you an edge in the many suits you
are always filing or having filed
against you, rise to remark that
you have about ten split seconds In
which to disappear from my office.
If you linger longer. I'll start throw
| ing paper weights" And as II to en-
phasize his remark, the judges hand
closed over one of the articles IN
question.
The Colonel withdrew with what
| dignity he could muster.
Upon his return from the office
that night, Bryce Cardigan found his
father had left his bed and was seat
| ed before the library fire.
'Feeling a whole lot better today
Ell, pal?"' his son queried.
John Cardigan smiled. YES. son,
he replied plaintively. Il guess III
manage to live till next spring"
"Oh, knew there was nothing
wrong with you, John Cardigan, thai
O. healthy check wouldn't cure. Wen
We can afford to draw our breath
now, and that gives US a lighting
chance, partner. And right after din
ner you and IIwill sit down and STAR
brewing a pot Of powerful bad medl-
cine for the Colonel
Accordingly, dinner disposed OF
father and son sat down together to
prepare the plan of campaign. Fol
the space of several minutes Sill
ence settled between them, the while
they puffed meditatively upon theil
cigars. Then the old man spoke.
why"
Because If Pennington knows,
or even suspects the identity OF the
man who is going to parallel MS
logging railroad, he will throw all
the weight of his truly capable
mind, his wealth and his ruthless
ness against you-and you will DC
| smashed. You have one advantage
starting out. The Colonel doesn't
think YOU have the courage to par
allel his road in the first place; In
| the second place. he knows you
haven't the money; and In the thiro
place he Is morally certain you can
&c. borrow =, because vow heven's
any collateral to secure your note
So. all things considered the Colonel
/ will be slow to suspect US OF having
an ace in the hole; but by links we
have 1t, and we're going to play It
You must engage some reliable en-
gineer to look over the proposed
4 route Of the road and give. us an
estimate OF the cost Of construction.
For the sake Of argument we will
consider that done, and that the esti-
mate comes within the scope Of the
sum Gregory 10 willing to advance
U.S."
1 "Now, then, you are going to
| build a road twelve miles long-and
q private road, at that. That would
be a fatal step. Pennington would
know somebody was going to build
a logging road. and regardless OF
| who the builders were, he would
have to fight them in self-protec-
ton. How are YOU going to cover
I;oa5 . t trail, : ~ son =
Bryce pondered. II will, to. begin
have dummy board OF directors
Also. my road cannot be- private;
since we must be common carrier
I've might as we'll carry. our oecep-
l %ln, ast1Ii P,,r<hnS md irNOrySOpn "a "a