The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1920-05-06

You told him so, Uncle Seth"
''Of course I'm not going to buy it.
at my last offer. It's worth five thou
sand dollars in the open market. and
once l 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
taches sentimental value to that
strip of woods his wife is buried
there"
"He's selling it because he's desper-
ate. If he wasn't lettering on the
verge of bankruptcy, he'd never let
me outgame him." Pennington replied
gayly. "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 and
cents, what is it worth to the COM
pany?"
'If thought I couldn't get it from
Cardigan a few months from now, I'd
go as high as hundred thousand for
it tonight" he answered coolly.
"In that event, advise you to take
it 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
tiers. 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
debtedness, and he's finding it diff
cult job. He's just sparring for time,
but he'll lose out"
AS if 70 indicate that he considered
the matter closed, the Colonel drew
his chair toward the fire, picked up
magazine, 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 nebulous at first, gradual
ly took form in her head until even
tually she murmured loud enough for
the Colonel to hear:
"I'll do it,
do what? Pennington queried.
"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 SUI
perior court of Humboldt county, drift
ed into Bryce Cauligan's office, sat
down unlimited, and lifted his long
legs to the top of an adjacent chair
"Well, Bryce, my boy" he began,
"a little bird tells me your daddy is
considering the sale of Cardgan's
Redwoods, or the Valley Of the Giants.
How about it?"
Bryce stared at him moment qucs-
tioningly. Yes, Judge" he replied,
swell 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
price,"
Before we talk price" Bryce par
ried, Il want you TO answer a ques-
ton"
Let her fly" said Judge Moore.
Are YOU, directly or indirectly, act
ing for Colonel PenningtonT
"Thut's none of your business, Young
man-at least, it would be none of
your business if We're, directly or in
directly, acting for that unconvicted
thief. To the best of my information
ana belief, Colonel Pennington doesn't
figure III this deal in any way, shape
or manner; and us YOU know, I've been
Your daddy'S friend for thirty years"
Still Bryce was not convinced, not
withStanding the fact that he would
have staked his honor on the judges
veracity. Nobody knew better than he
in what devious ways the Colonel
worked, his wonders to perform.
well" he said, Il can name you a
price. | will state frankly, however,
that believe it to be over your head.
We have several times refused to sell
u NolOJici Chill gum 1Oi d uuuuitu
thousand dollars"
Naturally that little dab of timber
is worth more to Pennington than to
anybody else. However, my client has
given me instructions to go as high as
hundred thousand if necessary to get
the property"
"What?"
81 said it. One hundred thousand
dollars of the present standard
weight and fineness."
Judge Moore's last statement swept
away Bryce's 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 CURLY refused to buy
the property for fifty thousand dollars.
For a moment Bryce stared stupidity
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 it soemnly. 1.-THE Lord loveth