The Dolores star., 1921-01-28

Womans sympathy, and IL was dear
Of you to give II to him."
"rd gladly die for him." MORA an
'wered simply. "Oh, Miss Shirley.
you don't know him the way we who
work for him do. II you did. you'd
love him. too. You couldn't help It,
Miss Shirley"
Tell me about his trouble. Moira.",
IL think It's money. He's been ter
ribly worried for n long time. and I'm
afraid things aren't going right with
the business. II hurts them terribly
4 to have to sell the Valley of the
Giants. but they have to; Colonel Pen
nington is the only one who would
consider buying 1t; they don't want
him to have it-and still they have
to sell to him. Mr. Bryce says his
father has lost his courage at last
and oh, dear. things are In such a
mess. Mr.. Bryce started to tell me
all about it-and then he stopped sud-
denly and wouldn't say another word"
Shirley smiled. She thought she
understood the reason for that. How.
ever. she did not pause to speculate
on 1t. since the crying need of the
present was the distribution of a ray
Of sunshine to broken-hearted Moira.
SILLY" she chIded. ''how needlessly
you are grieving! You say my uncle
has declined to buy the Valley Of the
Glants?'
MORA nodded.
MY uncle doesn't know what he's
talking about. Moira. I'll see that he
does buy It. What price are the Cardi-
gans asking for 1t now?"
"Well, Colonel Pennington has Of
fered them hundred thousand dol
lars for It time and again. but last
night he withdrew that offer. Then
they named a price Of fifty thousand.
and he said he didn't want 1t at ALL"
He needs 1t. and It's worth every
cent OF a hundred thousand to him,
Moira. Don't worry. dear. He'll buy
it. because I'll make him, and he'll
buy 1t Immediately; only you must
promise me not to mention a single
word of what I'm telling you to Bryce
Cardigan. or in fact. to anybody. Do
you promise?"
MORA seized Shirley's hand and
kissed It impulsively. every well.
then" Shirley continued. THAT mat
ter is adjusted, and now we'll all be
happy. Cheer up. dear. and remem-
Der that some time this afternoon
you're going to see Mr.. Bryce smile
again, and perhaps there won't be so
MUCH Of cloud over his smile this
time"
When MORN returned to the office
of the Cardigan Redwood Lumber
company. Shirley rang for her maid.
Bring me my motorcoat and hat.
Thelma," she ordered, "and telephone
for the limousine" She seated her
self before the mirror at her dressing
table and busted her adorable nose
with powder-puff. ''Mr. Smarty
Cardigan" she murmured happily,
"you walked rough-shod over my
pride, didn't you? Placed me under an
obligation l could never hope to meet
and then Ignored me-didn't your
Very well. old boy. We all have our
innings sooner or later. you know, and
I'm going to make substantial pay
ment on that huge obligation as sure
as my name Is Shirley Sumner. Then,
some day when the sun is shining for
you again, you'n come to me and be
very, very humble. You're entirely
too independent, Mr.. Cardigan, but,
oh, my dear | do hope you will not
need so much money. I'll be put to
my wits end to get it to you without
letting you know, because IL your af-
fairs go to smash, you'll be perfectly
intolerable"
She paused suddenly. mo. I'll not
do that, either" she soliloQuized. "Tll
keep 1t myself-for an Investment. I'll
show Uncle Seth I'm business wom-
an. after all. He has had his fair
chance at the Valley of the Giants,
after waiting years for 1t, and now he
has deliberately sacrificed that chance
to be mean and vindIctIve. I'll buy
the valley hut keep my identity secret
from everybody; then. when Uncle
Seth finds stranger In possession,
he'll have fit. and perhaps, before
he RECEIVERS, he'll sell me all his
Squaw creek timber-only he'll never
know I'm the buyer. Shirley, my dear,
I'm pleased with you. Really, l never
knew until now why men could be so
devoted to business. Won't 1t be Jolly
to step in between Uncle Seth and
Bryce Cardigan. hold up my hand like
a policeman, and say: Stop 1t, boys.
No fighting, If you please. And If
anybody wants to know who's boss
around here, start something"
When her uncle came home that
night, Shirley observed that he was
preOccupled and disincllned to con-
versation.
II noticed in this evenings paper"
she remarked presently, that Mr..
Cardigan has sold his Valley of the
Giants. So you bought 1t, after all?"
mo such luck" he almost barked.
''Tm an idiot. I should be placed in
ho ,.f,, In 90