The Dolores star., 1921-01-28

the construction cost Of such voad
/ Is prohbitive."
swell. since we're not going to build
more than twelve miles OF our road
during the next year, and probably not
| more than ten miles additional during
the present century, we won't worry
over IL. Ii doesn't cost cent more to
procure franchise to build road
from here to the moon. III we fail to
| build to Grants Pass, our franchise to
build the uncompleted portion of the
road merely lapses and we hold only
that portion which we have construct
ed. That's all we want to hold. More
over. deeds to rights of way can be
drawn with time-limit. after which
they revert to the original owners"
Good strategy. my son! And GER
tainly as common carrier we Will be
welcomed by the farmers and cattle
men along our short line"
"Well. that about completes the
rough outline OF our plan. We have
year in which to build our road; IL
we do not hurry, the mill will have to
shut down for lack Of logs. when our
contract with Pennington expires"
"You forget the manager for our
new corporation-the vice president
and general manager. He must be a
man OF real ability and a person you
can trust implicitly"
81 have the very man. His name Is
Buck Ogilvy and only this very day
received letter from him begging me
7 In, too
in ffth-class San Francisco hotel"
"Tell me about him. Bryce"
"I'll read you his letter. I claim
there Is more character In letter than
In face"
Here Bryce read aloud:
Golden Gate Hotel-Rooms Fifty
Cents-and Up.
"San Francisco, Cal. Aug. 16. 1916.
my dear Cardigan: Hark to the
voice OF one crying in the wilderness;
then picture to yourself the unlovely
spectacle OF strong man crying.
LET us assume that you have duly
considered. Now wind up your wrist
and send me rectangular piece Of
white, blue, green or pink paper bear
Ing in the lower right-hand corner. in
your clear bold chirography, the magic
words Bryce Cardlgan-wlth the lit
tie up-and-down hook and flourish
which identifies your signature given
In your serious moods and lends value
to otherwise worthless paper.
"When you knew me last was
prosperous young contractor. Alas
put all my eggs In one basket and pro-
duced an omelette. Took contract
to build railroad in Honduras. Hon
duras got to fighting with Nicaragua:
the government l had done business
with went out of business; and the
Nicaraguan army recruited all my Ia
borers and mounted them on my mules
and horses, swiped all my grub, and
told me to go home. I went. Why
stay? Moreover. I had an incentive
consisting Of about an inch of bayonet
fortunately not applied in a vital
spot-which accelerated rather than
decreased my speed.
"Hurry. my dear Cardigan. fin-
ished eating my overcoat the day be-
fore yesterday.
make 1t a hundred. and God will
bless you. When get 1t. I'll come to
Sequoia and kiss you. I'll pay you
back some time-of course.
"Wistfully thine.
"BUCK OGILvY.
"P. S.-Delays are dangerous, and
procrastination Is the thief of time
B."
John Cardigan chuckled. "Td take
Buck Ogilvy. Bryce. He'll do. Is he
honestT
81 don't know. He was, the last
time ! saw him."
"Then wire him hundred. Don't
wait for the mail"
81 have already wired him the hun
dred. In all probability he is now out
whirling like dervsh."
Good boy! Well. 1 think we've
planned sufficient for the present
Bryce. You'd better leave for San
Francisco tomorrow and close your
deal with Gregory. Hire good law
yer to draw up the agreement between
you; be sure you're right. and then 70
ahead-full speed. When you return
to Sequoia, I'll have few more points
to give You. III null them over In the
meantime" ~
CTo BE CoNTINuED)
selfshness Gains Nothing.