The Mena weekly star., 1921-01-13
The VALLEY 0f fhe GIANTS
By PETER B. KYNE Author of
 "Cappy Riciks"
oOpyrishs by Peter 3. Kyne
fcOntinued from a previous issue )

franchise lOu SIOp that WOrk for two hours, and I'll do the rest. Tell inc chief of police not to recognize that temporary franchise. He can be suspicious of it, can't he. and refuse to let the work go on until he finds out? And you can he hard to find for two hours. can you not? Delay. delay mani That's all I want. Yes, yes. understand You get down about day light and roast the chief of police for interfering hut In the meantimei
 Thank you, Tombstone. thank you. Good-by!"
 He stood at the telephone. the re ceiver still held to his ear and his right forefnger holding down the hook while the line cleared. When he spoke again. Shirley knew he was calling his mil office He got response immedi- ately. notwithstanding the lateness Of the hour
 sexton? Pennington speaking. I've sent over the Black Mlnorca with a rife and sixty rounds of ammunition.
 What? You can hear him shooting already? Bully boy with a crockery eye He'll clean the gang out and keep them from working until inc police arrive You've telephoned Rondeau. have you? Good He'll haze his men waiting at the log landing. and therell be no delay. Sex ton. we've got 10 block them Ii means a loss of millions to me If we fani"
 Shirley was standing in the doorway as he faced about from the telephone. Uncle Seth" she said quietly, use any honorable method of defeating Bryce Cardigan, but call off the Black Mlnorea shall hold you personally responsible for Bryce Cardigan's life. and if you fail me, 1 shall never for. give you
 silly silly girlr he soothed her Don't you know would not stoop to bush-whaeking7 There's some shoot Ing going on. hut It's wild shooting. just to frightep Cardigan and his men off the job"
 "You can't frighten him." she cried passionately You know you can't. He'll kill the Black Minorca. or the Black Minorca will kill him. Go in- stantly and stop 1t"
 "All right, all righti" he said rather humbly. and sprang down the front steps into the waiting car. "rll play the game fairly, Shirley, never fear"
 She stood in the doorway ana watched the red tail-light. like malevolent eye. disappear down the street And presently as she stood there, down the boulevard a huge gray ear came slipping noiselessly-so noiselessly, in fact. that Shirley recog. nixed 1t by that very quality of silence Ii was Bryce Cardlgan's Napier.
 'Georgew she called. Come here"
 The car slid over to the gate and stopped at the sight of the slim white figure running down the garden walk.
 "k Mir. Cardigan hurt7" she demand ed in an agony of suspense.
 George Sea Otter grunted .comtemp tuously Nobody hurt 'cept the Black hinorca. am taking him to your company hospital. miss He tried to shoot my boss so l shot him myself once through the leg Now my boss says; Take him to the Lagunn Grahde hospital. George Me. would drop this greaser in the bay If was the boss"
 she laughed iiysteficaiiy. On your way back from the hospital stop and pick ne up. George" she ordered.
 He touched his broad hat. and she returned 10 the house to dress.
 Meanwhile Colonel Pennington had reached the crossing once more. sim ultaneously with the arrival of Sam Perkins, the chief of police. accom- panied by two automobiles crammed with patrolmeh Perkins strutreSi up to Bryce Cardigan and Buck Ugilvy.
 Whats the meaning of esi thls row. Mir. Cardiean?" he demanded.
 Something has slipped. Sam," bryce retorted pleasantly. You've oeen calling nse Bryce for the past twenty years, and now you're mister ing mel The meaning Of this row. you ask!' Bryce continued. Well. I'm engaged in making jump cross ihg Of Colonel pennington's tracks. under temporary franchise granted me by the city council of Sednoia. here's the franchise" And he thrust the document under the police chiefs nose.
 This Is the first I've heard about any franchise" sam Perkins replied Mspiciously. Seems to me you been .nlghty secret about this job. How do ! Know this ain't a forgery3
 Call up the mayor and ask him" bryce suggested.
 I'll do that" quoth MT. Perkins ponderousls. And Tn the meantime. oon't do any more digging or rail-cut- ung" Re hurried away to his auto mobile. leaving lieutenant in charge of the squad.
 Also h tue meantime, young man.. colonel Penningron announced ''vou VIII pardon me 1T take possession ot my 'ocomofive aua flat ears oh- serve you nave finished unloading those rails"
 Help yourself. Colonel" Bryce re- pned with an assumption of hearti- ness he was far from feeling. Thank you so much, Cardigan V w'th the greatest good nature in life. remington elsrnhaa into fhe e1b