Evening star., 1921-10-02
o him than dollars and cents in the

to hlm tnan uollars anu eei's AZ ~
bank.
AS matter of fact. Scattergood had
amassed considerable more money tnan
even the gimlet eyes and whispering
tongues of Coldriver had been able 70
credit him with. 1t is doubtful II any
boiy realized Just how strong a foot
hold Scattergood was getting In that
valley but the men who came cloSest
to it were Messrs. Crane and Keith
lumbermen, who were beginning TO ex-
toward the fat hardware merchant.
They were irritated because. every now
and then, they found themselves shut OH
from the water. or from a DIT OF tln-
ber, or from some other desirable prop
erty, by some small holding OF Scatter
goods which seemed to have dropped
irto just the right spot to create the
maximum amount of trouble for them:
1t could be nothing but chance. they toid
each other for they had sat in Judgment
been that he was lazy lout with more
than a fair share Of luck.
''It's nothing but luck" Crane toio
his partner. 1.-The man hasn't brain
In his head-just big lump OF fat
"But he's always getting in the way
and he does seem to know water
power site when he sees 1t.
"Anybody does" said Crane. He
a doggone nuisance and We might as
well settle with him one time as an
'other-and the time to settle is be-
fore his luck gives him genuine
strangle hold on this valley. We've
got too much timber on these hills to
take any risks"
II leave it with you. Crane. You're
the outside man. But when you bust
him, bust him good"
Crane retired to his Office and de-
voted his head to the subject exclu-
sively, and because Cranes head was
that sort of head he devised an enter
prise which, If Scattergood could be
made to involve himself in it. would
result in the extinction of that gen.
tleman in the Coldriver valley.
X 4 X X
TT was a week later that a gentle
man. whose clothes and bearing
zen Of the city stopped at Scatter
goods store. Scattergood was sitting.
as usual, on the piazza. in his espe-
cially reinforced chair, lying in wait
for somebody to whom he could sell
a bit of hardware, no matter how
small.
Good morning." said the gentleman.
'Is this Mr.. Scattergood Baines?"
Its Scattergood Baines, all right
Don't call to mind bein' christened
Mister"
my name is Blossom
"Perty name" said Scattergood, un-
smilingly.
II wonder if can have little talk
with you Mr.. Baines?"
"Havin' 1t. hain't you?"
Mr.. Blossom smiled appreciatively,
and sat down beside Scattergood. I'm
interested in the new Higgins Bridge
Pulp Company You've heard of it,
haven't you?"
"Some," said Scattergood. Some
1--WE are starting to build our mill.
1t will be the largest in America. with
we're looking about for somebody to
supply US spruce cut to the proper
length for pulpwood. You own con-
siderable spruce. do you not?"
"Calclate to have title to a tree or
two"
"Good. I came up to find out il you
are in a position to swing rather
big contract-to deliver us at the mill
a minimum of twenty-five thousand
cords of pulpwood?"
Depends" said Scattergeod.
Mr.. Blossom drew a jackknife from
his pocket and began leisurely to
sharpen a pencil. 1t was a rather
battered jackknife and Scattergood
noticed that one blade had been
broken off He stretched out his
hand. "Jackknife's kind of lame. amt
it? Don't pear to be as stylish as
the rest of you?'
"It is a bit dilapidated."
Got some good ones inside. Fine
line of jackknives. Only carry the
best. Show 'em to you"
He lifted himself out Of the groan-
ing chair and went into the store. to
return with dozen or more knives.
which he showed to Mr.. Blossom. and
Mr. Blossom looked at them gravely.
He was smiling to himself. A man
who could interrupt deal involving
upward of hundred thousand dollars
to try to sell a jackknife certainly
was not Of a caliber to give serious
worry to an astute business man.
Recommend the pearl-handled one"
said Scattergood. 1.-TWO dollars n a
half"
I'll take it," said Mr.. Blossom, and