The Dolores star., 1921-01-21

ceiver on the hook. turned and snopesi
for his son. When he found him. the
old man held him for a moment In his
arms. Lead me upstairs. son." he
murmured presently. "Im tired. I'm
going to bed"
When Colonel Seth Pennington
turned from the telephone and faced
his niece. Shirley read his triumph In
his face. 'Old Cardigan has capitu-
lated at last" he cried exultingly. He
just teIephoned to say he'd accept my
last offer for his Valley Of the Giants.
But you're not going to buy 1t.
You told him so. Uncle Seth"
'.Of course I'm not going to buy 1t.
at my last offer. It's worth five thou
sand dollars In the open market, and
once I offered him fifty thousand for
It. Now I'll give him five"
II wonder why he wants to SELL
Shirley mused. From what Bryce
Cardigan told me once, his father at
taches sentimental value to that
strip OF woods; his wife Is buried
there"
Hes selling 1t because he's desper-
ate. II he wasn't teetering on the
verge OF bankruptcy. he'd never let
me outgame him." Pennington replied
gayly. "I'll wait until he has gone
husband save twenty-five or thirty
thousand dollars"
81 think you're biting of your nose
to spite your face. Uncle Seth. The
Laguna Grande Lumber company
needs that outlet. In dollars and
cents, what is II worth to the COM
panyr
"If thought I couldn't get It from
Cardigan few months from now. I'd
20 as high as a hundred thousand for
It tonight" he answered coolly.
'In that event. I advise you to take
1t for fifty thousand. It's terribly
hard on old Mr.. Cardigan to have to
sell 1t. even at that price"
"You do not understand these mat
ters, Shirley. Don't try. And don't
waste your sympathy on that old
humbug. He has to dig up fifty thou
sand dollars to pay on his bonded In
debtedness. and he's finding 1t diff
cult job. He's just sparring for time,
but he'll lose out"
AS II to Indicate that he considered
the matter closed. the Colonel drew
his chair toward the fire, picked up
magazine. and commenced Idly to slit
the pages. Shirley studied the back
Of his head for some time. then got
out some fancy work and commenced
plying her needle. And as she piled
1t. thought, nebulous at first, gradual
ly took form in her head until even
tually she murmured loud enough for
the Colonel to hear:
"Ill do It,"
"Do what?" Pennington queried.
"Something nice for somebody who
did something nice for me-" she an
swered.
About two o'clock the following aft
ernoon old Judge Moore Of the Su-
perIor court of Humboldt county. drift
ed into Bryce Cardigan's office, sat
down unlimited, and lifted his long
legs to the top of an adjacent chair.
swell. Bryce. my boy" he began.
ga little bird tells me your daddy is
considering the sale Of Cardigan's
Redwoods. or the Valley Of the Giants.
How about it?"
Bryce stared at him a moment ques-
uoningly. "Yes. Judge" he replied,
"we'll sell. II we get our price"
"weIl." his visitor drawled, II have
a client who might be persuaded. I'm
here to talk turkey. What's your
price?"
Before we talk price," Bryce par
ried, II want you to answer ques-
tion."
Let her fly" said Judge Moore.
"Are you. directly or Indirectly. act
Ing for Colonel Pennington"
That's none Of your business. young
man-at least, 1t would be none of
your business II were. directly or In