The Mena weekly star., 1921-02-17

'l should he glad to-" she answered ana seated herself on the brown car pet of redwood twigs close to hi, chair
 So you came up here to do n lIt ue clear thinking" he continued |, ms deliberate. amIable tones. ID, you come here oftenr
 This is the third time In ten years she answered. q feel that hay. no business to lntrude here. This |, your shrine, and strangers should no profane It."
 VI think l should have resented th, presence of any other person. Nils, Sumner resented you-untIl VOL spoke"
 I'm glad you said that. Mir. Cardi gan. II sets me at ease"
 T hadn't been up here for nearl, two years until recently. You see -i don't own the Valley of the Giant, any Uore
 Indeed To whom have you solo it?
 'i do not know Miss Sumner hat to sell there was no other way ou, Of the jam Bryce and were in SC l sacrificed my sentiment fer my boy However. the new owner has beer wonderfully kind and thoughtful. Shs reorganzed tliaf old Skid-road so ever an old blind duffer like me can lind his way in and nuf without getting losi--and she had this eaSy-chair made for me. have told Judge Moore. wh, represents the unknown owner. fo ex. tend my thanks to his client. But w"f'l~ gre so elnpty, Shirley Sumner If that new owner could only under. star'' how grateful I am-how pro. fnundlS her courtesy touches me-
 Tier couriesy?" Shirley echoed Did woman huy the GiantsY"
 He smiled down at her. Why certainly Who bnt a woman-and d dear kind thoughtful woman-w would have thouehI to have this chair madc and brought up here for me,"
 Fell long silence between them then John Cardigans trembling hand went gropng out toward the girl $ "Why. how stupid If me not fo have guessed if immediately :" he said You are lhe new owner. My dear child if the silent prayers of very unhanpy old man will bring Gois hless'rg on yon--there. there. girl l didnl intend to make you weep What a tender heart II is, to he sure r.
 She took hls great toil-worn hand. and her hof tears fell on It, for his gettleness, his benIgnancy had touch ed hcf seepis ,ph. you must na' tell an, ,holy You lnnSn't" she cripd
 lIc pul his hand on her shoulder a~ she kheii before him. Good isnd os love. girl. what made you do it; Why should s girl like you give hundred thousand for my Valley Of the Giantsf Were yeu"--hesitat tingly un- ele's agentY'
 No. bought Ii myself--wlth my oWu Houcy. WY unSAV ucSSH N"S" ' am the new owner. You see he want ed it--for nothing"
 "Ah. yes. suspected as much 8 long time ago. Your uncle Is the modern type of business man. Not very much of an ideallst Pm afrait. But tell me why you decided to thwarl the plans of your relative"
 q knew it hurt you terribly to sell your Giants. they were dear to you for sentimental reasons. understood, also, why ynu were forced io sell; SO I-well, | decided the Giants would he safer in my possession than in my uncle's. In all probability he would have logged this valley for the sake Of the clear seventy-two-inch boards he could get from these trees"
 That does not explain satisfactor. fly, to me, why you took sides with a stranger against your own kin John Cardigan persisted. "There must be 8 deeper and more potent reason Miss Shirley Sumner"
 Well" Shirley made answer, glad he could not see the flush of confusion and embarrassment that crimsohed her cheek when came to Sequoia last May. your son and met. quite incidentally The stage to SedaoIa had already gone, and he was gracious enough to invite me to make the lonr ney in his car Then we recalled hay ing met as children. and presently gathered from his conversation that ne and his John-partner. as he called you were very dear to each other was witness to your meeting that nigiif- I saw him rake you In his big arms and hold you tight because you'd gone blind while he was away having a good time. And you hadn't told him! I thought that was brave Of ynu and later. when Bryce and Molr'' McTavish told me about you--how kind you were. how you felt yonr responsibility toward your employees and the community-well. just couldn't help leaning toward John nartner and John-partners boy. be cause the boy was so fine and true to his fathers ideals"
 "Ah. he's man. He is Indeed. old John Cardigan murmured proudly "l dare say you'li never get to know him intimately, but if you should
 q know him intimately" she cor rected him. "He saved my lire the